SAN FRANCISCO — 

I don’t want to be our village’s lonely monk forever. Been almost a year since we lost my wife, and there are whispers that maybe I should get out there and date a little.

Gasp! Bartender!! Medic!!!

I come with more baggage than a failed French king: gobs of grief, a snarky and wonderful teen boy and a sarcastic dog that might be a wolf, might be a muse, might be the town drunk.

Point is: You don’t just get me, you get the three of us, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, three hopeful-yet-sometimes-wistful souls bent on making the best of our current situation, by opening the door to others.

My dating profile: “Obstinate former Chicagoan, wants to learn to sail.”

That’d be about it. There’s more to me but not that much.

Or: “Former sandlot second baseman, sings for loose change.”

That’s a little obtuse. Note that most of my descriptions come with the word “former.”

Or perhaps: “Lover of old comedies, college bars and long walks to nowhere. Wants more kids but can’t afford them. Will stick with the ones he has, and you have to accept them as they are: three comics with great hair and amazing teeth (thanks to American orthodontics, the best in the world). Drawbacks: Quotes George Carlin, overdoes most major holidays, especially Super Bowl. Emotional eater. Kisses dogs on the lips. Hopes to be in love by Christmas.”

I won’t say which Christmas. Any Christmas. Christmas 2035, most likely.

In any case, always nice to be in love for the holidays, though not necessary achievable. I get that. Besides, I won’t ever be a lonely monk as long as I’ve got the kids, the wolf, the Chicago Cubs and my batch of insane friends. That’s plenty for now. They’re all a little needy, a trait I cherish in people.

See, variations on romance are all around, particularly here in San Francisco where we are visiting — for a friend’s wedding no less.

Can I find someone to love as much as I love San Francisco? It is sort of a waking dream, a Brigadoon with bridges featuring a fetching gloom. San Francisco isn’t a city, it’s more of a limerick.

Tony Bennett left his heart here. I left my liver. Same thing. As long as you leave behind some major organ, your hosts are happy.

To me, great cities have their own perfumes, in this case sourdough bread. I’ve gone from cafe to cafe, sipping milky chowder, slurping cloudy craft beers. I treat sports bars like tanning salons. There are worse ways to gain a little color than from the glow of a great college game.

I really like San Francisco though. It’s a little “off,” a little not quite right in the head. Like ventriloquists. Like gym teachers.

With me are the kids and their accomplices. Weddings are front and center for us right now, with our lovely and patient older daughter getting hitched this spring. She and Finn will wed at the same Santa Monica church where Tom Brady got married.

“Better than a 7-Eleven in Pacoima,” I keep saying, though I was really hoping for Soldier Field. Still am.

See, if nothing else, I’m an optimist, as I write checks, consult my tax guy, consider the consequences of a fairly severe financial obligation.

Given that my daughter is 36, my buddy Reynolds thinks I can claim depreciation, since I’ve spent a half-million bucks raising and educating her.

Frankly, that was a bargain. Her sister, Rapunzel, spent that much on prom.

Anyway, weddings consume us right now, though the lovely and patient older daughter — while always polite — offered to handle all the arrangements, as long as I produce a significant check.

“Could I Bevmo you the money?” I offer.

“Venmo, Dad?”

No, actually I just want to send over a case of wine. Or Bevmo you some bourbon, which I’m drinking more and more these days, one of the candied autumnal spirits, dark as a rain puddle.

In any case, we’ve really enjoyed San Francisco, walked the Golden Gate, shot pool at a dive bar (this entire town is a dive bar) and toasted the marriage of our amazing young friends Chelsea and Ethan, who tied the knot on a chilly weekend to remember.

Funny term, “tied the knot.” As if there’s a hostage involved. That would be the groom, I suppose — and probably only other grooms will laugh at that.

So be it. When it comes to weddings, you can laugh, or you can sob.

I choose both.

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“The space was designed and built especially for Tigerlily based on a brief set by the creative team,” Lesleigh Jermanus, the brand’s head designer tells Vogue of Tigerlily’s Alexandria-based workspace, which she describes as both warm and welcoming.

Decorated with oversized pot plants and antique rugs, the Tigerlily space offers the creative team an abundance of natural light. “We work in a modern converted warehouse with original features, it feels more like a creative workshop than a traditional office,” says Jermanus, who shares that the building boasts a high corrugated steel ceiling with wooden and steel beams, a whitewash brick wall and hard wooden flooring.

In terms of what the Tigerlily team have planned for the future of their workspace, Jermanus shares a green office is what they are aiming for. “We are in the planning stages of growing a green room so stay tuned,” she tells Vogue. “Oh, and a brand spanking new design room,” she adds. Jermanus’s current open-plan design room features pin boards, where hand-drawn illustrations hang, and a series of bespoke copper and wooden rails.

Below, Tigerlily’s head designer takes Vogue through the space.

“Storytelling begins in the [design] space. The creative process unravels and as it progresses strong opinions are listened to and the collection evolves. Pin boards are up, where you’ll find hand-drawn illustrations and mood boards, fabric swatches and inspiration. We have bespoke copper and wooden rails for vintage pieces and inspirational shapes.“

“We sit opposite each other and are in revolving conversations. As it is open-plan we can call out to each other to discuss things that matter, like newly arrived hand block printed textures from our artisans that we can gasp over.”

“We have industrial lights hanging from the ceiling, which complements the natural light that shines through the windows, creating a bright space and environment that encourages creativity. We use natural sustainable materials where possible, keeping in line with the brand’s ethos.”

“I love our open-plan environment keeping our crew connected, from a communal lunch area to setting up different work stations so that we can move around the office, we have a modern and optimistic space allowing creativity.”

“Our digital team require multiple screens and sit close to the marketing and social teams where they are in constant conversation. The space allows for open communication and also space to retreat.”

“Behind a glass sliding door protects our brainy finance team from the distraction and noise from all of the creatives and our busy sales team.”

“The pattern and technical team are an integral part of the process and sit in a pod next to the production and design teams. They sit at a large square hand-made table where they develop patterns before handing over to our in-house machinist.”

“I design in the office, however I move around depending on what feels good intuitively on any given day. Space and light are crucial in setting up the right environment, it has to feel happy so the collections feel that way too.”

“We often hold design meetings outside during the afternoons that linger on so we set up well with cushions and floating mood boards, art diaries and a pack of pencils to let our creative conversations flow.”

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There is little doubt that a genuine smile is a truly wonderful thing. However, despite laughing around eight times a day, the research shows that, a) a lot of us are self-conscious about our teeth and yet, conversely, b) we’re still not very good at actually looking after our teeth.

A survey carried out by OnePoll found that 57 per cent of Americans feel so insecure about the appearance of their teeth, they hide them when smiling or laughing. Proving this dental angst isn’t confined to America, Mintel report that 30 per cent of Brits are unhappy or very unhappy with their teeth and 69 per cent believe having visibly damaged teeth impacts emotional wellbeing. Yet, despite these concerns, it’s evident we’re not quite there yet in terms of looking after our teeth. Almost one-in-five people only visit the dentist when something is wrong (FYI, men are worse than women on this), 29 per cent admit to not having seen the dentist at all in the last six months and only 63 per cent of people actually clean their teeth twice a day.   

That said, things are changing, slowly but surely, which is why the global cosmetic dentistry market is now valued at $18.79 billion and it’s expected to reach a $32.73 billion by 2026. According to cosmetic dentist and international lecturer Dr Rhona Eskander,“the days of going to the dentist and just blindly doing as we are told are long over. We’re far more involved in every aspect of our lives and appearances now and we’re used to being in control of every decision that affects our health and beauty.” 

An Instagram-perfect smile
When it comes to our teeth, this means we have higher expectations than ever; the current trend is for super straight and shockingly white teeth and—perhaps, not so shockingly—it’s being fuelled by social media. “People want to look like they’re filtered,” says Eskander. “There are many Instagram and Snapchat filters that make your nose smaller, your lips fuller and your teeth bigger and brighter. People are addicted to seeing this version of themselves and they want to look like that in real life, despite it not actually being achievable.” It is for this very reason that Instagram announced in October that it would be removing all augmented reality (AR) filters with plastic surgery effects. Whether this move has any kind of real impact on how people – especially young and impressionable adults – see themselves and what they aspire to look like, remains to be seen.  

But, what about the rest of us? Surely the majority of those considering some kind of cosmetic dentistry are only looking to improve on what they’ve already got? After all, the Ross Geller-esque teeth we see on Instagram and reality TV aren’t for the faint hearted. “I think the majority of us are coming round to a more natural look,” says Eskander. “Whether we’re talking facial fillers or cosmetic dentistry, tweakments are the way forward and that’s very much my own aesthetic; my work is minimally invasive.” 

Top of the cosmetic trends
At the top of everyone’s list is straightening, says Eskander. “People are still choosing fixed braces, in particular the kind that sit behind the teeth. They’re discreet, but the downside is they’re expensive and they can cut up your tongue.” As far as Eskander is concerned, Invisalign—the clear retainer that can be popped in and out of the mouth—is the gold standard. “You wear Invisalign for 22 hours a day and it straightens your teeth, it’s that simple. Despite being around for years, we’re seeing a lot of innovation with Invisalign. Moving on from messy moulds, Invisalign uses iTero, a piece of technology that scans the teeth and shows within just one minute what the results will be at the end of the treatment. In a digital world where we expect everything to be instant this is brilliant, because it allows me to show patients what they can expect from the start.” 

And the tech advancement just keeps on coming. The same kind of imaging technology we see in Deepfake videos (if you haven’t seen the video of Bill Hader morphing into Tom Cruise, you must) is set to change orthodontics. “Your smile isn’t static so we need to make sure we’re thinking about what your smile will look like as you’re moving, talking and laughing before starting treatment,” says Eskander. Digital Smile Design is a technique that uses pictures and videos of you to virtually bring your new teeth to life and superimpose them onto your face as the ultimate try-before-you-buy. Invisalign will be launching the technology soon and it’s thought to be a game-changer. 

Caution: don’t be lured into signing up for direct-to-consumer at-home straightening kits, your teeth need to be assessed in real life by a dentist before you can be confident that your gums and teeth are suited to aligners. “There have been a few cases where people have actually pulled out their own teeth because they had gum disease and were not suitable for treatment,” warns Eskander.

Healthy teeth via dental tech
Cosmetic dentistry can’t work miracles, so if your foundations are weak, you won’t see the results you might be hoping for. Twice-daily brushing (minimum) and flossing are non-negotiable if you don’t want to see decay set in, but if it does, new dental tech is proving to be an efficient detection tool. “iTero scans the teeth and detects decay—without x-rays. You can just imagine how useful this is if you’re pregnant and can’t have an x-ray. It’s pretty amazing,” Eskander says.  

If you have ever tried to fib your way through a dental examination you’re in for a shock. Not content with just cleaning, the latest electric toothbrushes connect to an app on your phone so that you can see at a glance where your brushing routine may be falling short. Toothbrushes like Oral-B Genius X with Artificial Intelligence and Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected, use motion sensors to analyse your brushing technique and report back on areas where improvement is needed. One day soon, Eskander believes dentists will be able to use this information too. “Your dentist can collate your data via the app and then create a tailored programme for your own needs.” 

Watch out for natural alternatives
Like most sectors of the health and beauty industry, oral care is feeling the impact of consumers looking for natural and organic products. However, unlike your skincare routine, your at-home dental regimen is unlikely to benefit from natural products. Charcoal toothpaste, for example, should be avoided at all costs. 

“People have just become way too health obsessed, to the point that they embrace every fad going,” says Eskander. “Charcoal has its benefits—for example, it’s used in hospitals to counteract the effects of poison—but it doesn’t have a place in your dental routine. At worst, it’s too abrasive and strips away your enamel, damaging your teeth and staining white fillings, and because it’s black you tend to scrub harder to remove it. At best, it does absolutely nothing, making it a complete waste of money.” 

The future of teeth
The holy grail of dentistry is a tooth that can regenerate itself. If this sounds like science fiction, you might be surprised to know that the technology is well on its way to reality. Researchers at King’s College London are looking at ways to mobilise stem cells in the teeth to repair damage and even regenerate tissue. They’re a long way off from human trials but maybe, just maybe, in a decade or so, fillings, caps and crowns will be a thing of the past. That’s definitely something to smile about. 

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The 22-year-old model wore a little black dress that puts all other little black dresses to shame to attend the Vanity Fair Oscar party. Designed by Redemption, an Italian brand that gives 50 percent of all their proceeds to charity, the minidress is one to prep for.

The piece elongated her already-miles-long legs and was so super short that one InStyle editor wondered if she was wearing bike shorts. Because, honestly, how could you not wear some sort of safety net with something that length? And the huge puffy sleeves! Imagine two tutus on each arm and a bandeau corset bra worn as a body suit. That’s the dress.

George Pimentel

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The sides of the low-cut number were sheer with a delicate lace pattern that screamed lingerie dressing.

VIDEO: Oscars After Celebrity Arrivals

So now we know where Kendall has been. Prepping and repping for the entire Kardashian Klan at an Oscar party. Was it worth it? We think so.

How does a company teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and besieged by dozens of sexual assault allegations rebound? A former Obama administration official is trying to provide an answer after reaching a deal to buy the Weinstein Company‘s assets, Reuters reports.

Former Small Business Administration chief Maria Contreras-Sweet has promised a sweeping set of reforms to bring the powerhouse studio back to life. To start with, she plans to install a majority-female board and open a victims’ compensation fund under the umbrella of a new entertainment firm.

“This next step represents the best possible pathway to support victims and protect employees,” Contreras-Sweet told Reuters.

The deal, hammered out after lengthy negotiations, is reportedly backed by supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle.

The embattled Weinstein Company—known for producing titles such as Silver Linings Playbook, The King’s Speech and Django Unchained—has been struggling since more than 70 women came forward and accused film mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct including assault and rape. Weinstein denies ever engaging in non-consensual sex.

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Last month, the Weinstein studio nearly closed an alleged $500 million offer from investors led by Contreras-Sweet and Burkle, but the negotiations reportedly derailed after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit alleging the company had failed to respond to sexual harassment complaints from employees. With the sale seemingly off the table and no other buyers apparent, the company said it planned to file for bankruptcy.

RELATED: 7 Bombshells You’ll Learn from Frontline’s Harvey Weinstein Documentary

The buyout was resuscitated after the addition of a plan to make an $80-90 million compensation fund available. The new investors have also agreed to pay off the Weinstein Company’s estimated $225 million debt, a person familiar with the deal told the New York Times.

Neither Harvey Weinstein, nor his brother and the studio’s co-founder Bob, will receive money from the sale, according to the Times.

The Weinstein Co., a mainstay film and television production house since 2005, began looking for a financial lifeline since firing Harvey Weinstein last October.

In the wake of the public allegations against Weinstein, women in the entertainment industry reignited the #MeToo social media movement to call out sexual misconduct. Several other powerful men in media, entertainment and politics have since been held accountable for allegedly inappropriate behavior.

Justin Theroux and Aubrey Plaza surprised plenty of people when they were spotted out together in N.Y.C. on Wednesday, going for a stroll and heading back to Theroux’s apartment. But fans of the two stars would know that this seemingly unlikely friendship actually makes a lot of sense.

The actors met years before Theroux’s split from Jennifer Aniston when they worked together on an episode of Parks and Recreation. Theroux guest starred on four episodes of the show in 2010, when he played the love interest of Amy Poehler’s character Leslie. Plaza starred on the show for seven seasons as the hilarious character April Ludgate, who was known for her deadpan humor.

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Clearly, the two began a friendship back on the set, and when Plaza was in N.Y.C. this week, she met up with Theroux to catch up. As far as we know, the actor is enjoying the single life since splitting from Aniston, and there’s nothing to imply that these two are anything more than friends. “They met to discuss a potential film project,” a source told People of their meet-up.

“He’s just doing his thing,” a source told People of Theroux’s life post-split. “He eats at the same time, goes to the same places, hangs with the same people.”

Curiously, his second Instagram post since announcing the breakup came Thursday morning, the same day these photos were published, but Plaza is nowhere in sight. Instead, it’s a video tribute to the hilarious Amy Sedaris, who turns 57 today. “Making me laugh for over 76 years. Brother from another brother,” he joked.

RELATED: This Is How Jennifer Aniston Is Moving On After Her Split from Justin Theroux

The actor is definitely keeping busy, and he has a new project in the works. On Tuesday, Variety reported that he will co-star alongside Olivia Munn in the upcoming drama Violet. Munn recently worked with Theroux’s ex, Jennifer Aniston, on Office Christmas Party.

There’s no doubt there will be some interesting stories swapped on the set.

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2018 has been rough for celebrity love, with breakup after breakup taking Hollywood by storm. And though it has been sad, all the drama makes it even nicer to see a star couple thriving in the spotlight. A prime example of that: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.

“J-Rod” has been keeping things extra cute lately, even moving in together, but on Monday, they took it to the next level in a set of matching white tops.

Courtesy of TruFusion

Lopez and Rodriguez wore twin white zip-up tops and sunglasses while promoting TruFusion Gables in Miami. They toured the facility and watched workout classes together, all while wearing the same clothes.

Courtesy of TruFusion

While they almost matched from head-to-toe, there was one slight difference between the two: the pants. While A-Rod opted for a simple pair of black sweats, J. Lo wore a bright patterned pair of Niyama Sol leggings, which made her look standout even more.

On the same day, Rodriguez talked about Lopez with Ellen DeGeneres, and spilled all the details of how they first met.

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez Is Finally Launching Her Own Makeup Collection

“I’m walking outside and I forget where I park my car. I have no idea,” Rodriguez said. “Someone taps me on my shoulder, and I turn around and I do not recognize this person. And it’s Jennifer, but she’s dressed up as Harlee from Shades of Blue, and she’s in her jeans and her big boots. And it took me about 4 or 5 seconds. And she says ‘Jennifer. It’s Jennifer.’ And I said ‘Oh my God, Jennifer, you look beautiful.’ I was so embarrassed and then I got a little nervous.”

After they met, J. Lo gave him her number and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Scarlett Johansson was hit with an onslaught of backlash after not only accepting the role of a transgender man in the upcoming film, Rub & Tug, but also for defending her casting in a biting, dismissive manner.

But after some introspection, Johansson has decided to drop out of the film altogether. In a statement released Friday, she said she now understands why embodying Dante “Tex” Gill, a transgender man and massage parlor operator connected to Pittsburgh’s underground sex industry the ‘70s, would have been offensive to the LGBTQ community.

“In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project,” said Johansson. “Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive.”

She continued, “I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood. While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film.”

When news of her casting initially broke earlier this month, critics took to Twitter to explain that the story of the transition of a transgender man should be portrayed by a transgender person, not a cisgender woman. But it was Johansson’s confrontational response that made matters worse.

RELATED: Janet Mock on Coming Out as Trans and Pulling Off a Career 180

“Tell [critics] that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” Johansson’s publicist said initially, referring to other cis actors that have portrayed trans characters in Transparent, Dallas Buyer’s Club, and Transamerica, respectively.

On Twitter, trans actors Trace Lysette and Jamie Clayton clapped back at the situation, and explained their point of view.

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Johansson isn’t alone in changing her tune regarding the casting of cisgender actors in trans roles. Tambor, a cis man, has often said that he now understands why his role of Maura (a trans woman) on the hit Amazon series, Transparent, should have gone to a trans actor. 

Though it doesn’t always feel like it, perhaps Hollywood really is listening to the conversation.

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