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Brooklyn Public Library holds a free version of the Met Gala called the People's Ball

Fashion and flair for everyone.

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Something tells us Emma Watson would approve of this party.

Ah, the Met Gala. It’s the kind of fairy-tale ball Cinderella might find herself sneaking into, especially if the prince she seeks is into high fashion.

brooklyn library peoples ballHello stranger. Is that Armani?Giphy

Where, for a measly $35,000 (according to The Evening Standard) one can gaze upon celebrities walking the red carpet in outlandish ensembles both beautiful and bizarre. Some even come with a bonus political statement, free of charge.

That is, one could, if one were already on the guest list. The event is of course ultra-exclusive and by invitation only. Hence, why Cinderella has to go in disguise. Glass slippers and all.

But what if Cinderella was not only allowed to attend the ball, but allowed to attend for free?

At the Brooklyn Public Library, she can. Along with other New Yorkers.

(Yes, in this metaphor, Cinderella is from Long Island.)

On May 1, the night before the Met Gala, the Brooklyn Public Library will debut its third annual People’s Ball, described on its website as a “celebration of style, imagination, freedom, and you!”

The rules of the People’s Ball are quite simple. One, RSVP. Two, provide proof of vaccination. And three, “dress up in clothes that make you feel your most beautiful and authentic and walk the runway.” Basically, anything fancy and creative goes.

Where perusing through celebrity glamour shots can be entertaining, the People’s Ball aims to create a more immersive, accessible experience. One where everybody can celebrate their own individuality while walking their own runway.

The ball will also commemorate the BPL’s 125th anniversary and be hosted by authors Isaac Fitzgerald (known for his children’s book “How to Be a Pirate”) and Scaachi Koul (a senior culture writer for BuzzFeed News).

And talk about out-of-this-world entertainment: Guests will get to hear music from Rimarkable and Inyang Bassey along with viewing amazing modern-day circus acts from Opera Gaga and Paris the hip-hop juggler. Who even needs the Met Gala?

In many ways the BPL’s People’s Ball has extracted the very best parts of what the Met has to offer—the artistry, the fanfare, the glitz—and infused more humanity into it by tossing out the VIP list and opening it to everyone.

As the BPL’s Vice President of Arts and Culture László Jakab Orsós would gladly let us know, this is all part of the library’s inherent design.

“Brooklyn is home to some of the most diverse communities on the planet,” he told Public. “Over the past 125 years, Brooklyn Public Library has always been committed to embracing our incredible Brooklyn community. This event is a celebration of the best that Brooklyn has to offer.”

The BPL has led projects to honor that diversity and encourage more inclusion since its inception, including giving young adults and teenagers free access to banned books and providing healthcare programs and weekly adult learning classes.

A party where everyone is welcome, you get to dress up, dance, listen to cool music and be surrounded by books?! Dreams really do come true.

If you want to see what killer looks everybody sports at this shindig, you can check out the library’s Instagram page here.

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All In
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Joy

5 ways people are going "All In" this week

From the silly to the sentimental, there are so many ways people like to go “all in” on something. Here are our five favorite examples this week.

5 ways people are going "All In" this week
5 ways people are going "All In" this week
5 ways people are going "All In" this week
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When you hear the words “all in,” what do you think? You might think of getting groovy at a nursing home, a french bulldog having a total breakdown in the drive-thru, or maybe even a snack bar company promoting self care. Whatever you picture, the idea is the same: Going “all in” means doing something with total commitment—literally giving it your “all” and going completely over the top. No second guessing, no holding back—just full-throttle enthusiasm with some creativity and flair thrown in. That’s how we get those viral internet moments we can’t stop watching.

This DWTS dance trend 

If you’ve been watching TV or on the internet this week, you might have seen the viral dance move Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach performed while on Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) last week. The one particular move, where Dylan holds Daniella as she does a mid-air horizontal walk, is going viral with over 8k videos using the sound. Some of my personal favorites include a mom and her baby, two girls or a girl and her cat, proving this dance trend is truly for anyone to try.

All In on Fiber

Speaking of trends, there’s one that really is about going “all in”, it’s called #fibermaxxing. After years of protein being the biggest nutrition trend, it looks like fiber might be taking over. For good reason too, while protein can cause issues with digestion, fiber can lead to better digestion, blood sugar management, weight control and reduced disease risk. Our friends at All In made a video explaining the #fibermaxxing trend. Each All In bar has 6 to 7 grams of fiber , plus they are delicious. Don't take our word for it, though: Click here to try it yourself (for free).

This child's long hair

This creator went all in… on pranking the audience. I don’t want to give away the contents of this video, but let’s just say it’s creative- and it made me quite literally laugh out loud. There are a lot of "momfluencers" out there who make content that uses their children, and as relatable and heartfelt as it is, sometimes a little satire break is worth appreciating.

Two entrepreneurs getting down to business


Lots of people dabble in entrepreneurship. These two went "all in" on helping others learn it. After four years of interviews with CEOs , research, edits, and a Penguin Random House book deal (yes, seriously), their book, Down to Business, has made its way into classrooms and libraries around the world. Now they are teaching other kids that age is not a barrier to entry in entrepreneurship; the earlier you start, the further you can go—and an entrepreneurial mindset will serve you no matter what you do in life.

Bridesmaids who went all in

Last on our list; two bridesmaids who committed to the bit. These ladies went “all in” in their remake of the legendary scene from the movie “Bridesmaids”. If you haven’t seen the original movie, starring Kristen Wig and Maya Rudolph, this might be your sign.

In the viral TikTok this bride, Caroline, had no idea what was coming when she put on her favorite movie while getting ready for her big day. The fact that she wanted to watch her favorite show before her bridesmaids surprised her, makes this going “all in” surprise all the better.

Snag your free (!!) snack bar here while this deal lasts. Just pick up a bar at Sprouts and text a pic ofv your receipt to get it for free. Enoy!

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Sustainability

Beavers were brought to the desert to save a dying river. Six years later, here are the results.

Their engineering feats are pretty dam incredible.

beavers, beaver dam, animals, wildlife, ecosystem, nature, earth, sustainability, deserts, waterways, rivers, pollution, climate change
Canva Photos

Can outsider beavers save this dried up river?

It's not easy being a river in the desert under the best of circumstances. The ecosystem exists in a very delicate balance, allowing water sources to thrive in the harsh conditions. These water sources in otherwise extremely dry areas are vital to the survival of unique wildlife, agriculture, and even tourism as they provide fresh drinking water for the people who live nearby.

But man-made problems like climate change, over-farming, and pollution have made a tough job even tougher in some areas. Rivers in Utah and Colorado part of the Colorado River Basin have been barely surviving the extremely harsh drought season. When the riverbeds get too dry, fish and other aquatic creatures die off and the wildfire risk increases dramatically.

About six years ago, one team of researchers had a fascinating idea to restore the health of some of Utah's most vulnerable rivers: Bring in the beavers.

beavers, beaver dam, animals, wildlife, ecosystem, nature, earth, sustainability, deserts, waterways, rivers, pollution, climate change Beaver on riverbank. Canva Photos

In 2019, master's student Emma Doden and a team of researchers from Utah State University began a "translocation" project to bring displaced beavers to areas like Utah's Price River, in the hopes of bringing it back to life.

Why beavers? Well, it just makes dam sense! (Sorry.)

In all seriousness, beaver dams restrict the flow of water in some areas of a river, creating ponds and wetlands. In drought-stricken areas, fish and other wildlife can take refuge in the ponds while the rest of the river runs dry, thus riding out the danger until it rains again.

When beavers are present in a watershed, the benefits are unbelievable: Better water quality, healthier fish populations, better nutrient availability, and fewer or less severe wildfires.

It's why beavers have earned the title of "keystone species," or any animal that has a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem around them.

beaver, dam, dam building, nature, ecosystem Pbs Nature Swimming GIF by Nature on PBS Giphy

Doden and her team took beavers who were captured or removed from their original homes due to their being a "nuisance," interfering with infrastructure, or being endangered, and—after a short period of quarantine—were brought to the Price River.

Despite the research team's best efforts, not all the translocated beavers have survived or stayed put over the years. Some have trouble adapting to their new home and die off or are killed by predators, while others leave of their own accord.

But sine 2019, enough have stayed and built dams that the team is starting to see the results of the effort. In fact, beaver projects just like this one have been going on all over the state in recent years.

- YouTube youtu.be

The water levels in the river are now the healthiest they've been in years. The fish are thriving and Utah residents are overjoyed with the experiment's results.

According to an early 2025 column in The Salt Lake Tribune (i.e. six years after the beaver translocation began) the revitalization of the Price River has "helped save [our] Utah town."

"A tributary of the Colorado River, the Price River runs through downtown Helper," wrote column authors Lenise Peterman and Jordan Nielson. "On a warm day, you’re likely to find the river filled with tourists and locals kayaking, tubing and fishing along its shore. A decade ago, it was hard to imagine this scene—and the thriving recreation economy that comes with it—was possible."

Of course, it wasn't JUST the beavers. Other federal water cleanup investments helped remove debris, break down old and malfunctioning dams, and place tighter regulations on agriculture grazing in the area that depleted vital plant life.

But the experts know that the beavers, and their incredible engineering work, are the real MVPs.

beavers, beaver dam, animals, wildlife, ecosystem, nature, earth, sustainability, deserts, waterways, rivers, pollution, climate change An actual beaver dam on the now-thriving Price River Public Domain

In other drying, struggling rivers in the area, researchers are bringing in beavers and even creating manmade beaver dams. They're hoping that the critters will take over the job as the rivers get healthier.

Utah's San Rafael River, which is in bleak condition, is a prime candidate. In one area of the river, a natural flood inspired a host of beavers to return to the area and "riparian habitat along that stretch had increased by 230%, and it had the most diverse flow patterns of anywhere on the river," according to KUER.

It's hard to believe that beavers nearly went extinct during the heyday of the fur trapping industry, and continued to struggle as they were considered nuisances and pests. Now, they're getting the respect they deserve as engineer marvels, and their populations have rebounded due to better PR and conservation programs.

It's about dam time!

This article originally appeared in June.

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Joy

Bride-to-be calls off $30,000 wedding, then feeds over 100 homeless people at the venue

“For me, it was an opportunity to let these people know they deserved to be at a place like this just as much as everyone else does.”

bride, wedding, sad bride, cancelled wedding, homeless man, soup
via Canva/Photos

A sad bride and homeless man eating soup.

Things can turn upside down in a jiffy, and life can get messed up before you know it. Yet, there is always something good in it for someone, as long as we’re selfless enough to look. A bride-to-be, Sarah Cummins, was ready for her big day when her wedding was called off a week prior for unknown reasons, per The Indianapolis Star. Despite the many painstaking realities ruining her dream day, she stepped up to look on the bright side and revamped her reception into something wholesome. Cummins shared that she and her fiancé made the heartbreaking decision to call off their wedding a week before the big day, per The Guardian. With $30,000 in preparations already invested, it was a tough call.

The couple had organized and paid for around 170 plates of food, and Cummins knew better than letting it go to waste, per CBS News. Despite her overwhelming feelings, she looked for the positives and decided to invite people from the Dayspring Center in Indianapolis and other shelters to enjoy the scrumptious meal. What was initially a wedding reception turned into a wholesome party. "I just wanted to give them a small comfort (at the dinner),” the woman said. She added that though she could have called any other group of guests, these had to be the ones. “I feel like they are some of the most ignored and judged people we come in contact with,” Cummins added.

Instead of wasting the food, she fed the homeless

wedding, wedding chairs, wedding table, wedding setting, wedding plates, A table set up for wa wedding.via Canva/Photos

When the time came, the woman didn’t get to don her wedding gown, but she still showed as much enthusiasm and smiles as she welcomed her guests. She explained, “For me, it was an opportunity to let these people know they deserved to be at a place like this just as much as everyone else does.” With formal attire donated by several businesses, a bus to transport them to the venue, a delightful help from Cummins’ family, a few bridesmaids, and a whole load of delicious food, the people at the shelters enjoyed an experience of a lifetime.

The people in the shelters enjoyed a feast of a lifetime

wedding food, wedding buffet, people eating, wedding dishes, wedding guests, People lining up for a wedding buffet.via Canva/Photos

The gesture received quite a bit of attention, but Cummins was simply glad to be a beacon of light for many homeless people. “It was more so just to bring inspiration and attention to the homeless community,” she mentioned. Though she was flooded with emotions about her wedding being called off, she went above and beyond to spread light. Recalling how the people interacted with and hugged her, she said, "We shared something so intimate and so unique that it was kind of hard for me to just say goodbye.”


Charles Allen, a member of the shelter, was grateful to be a guest. He remarked, “For a lot of us, this is a good time to show us what we can have. Or to remind us what we had.” The people have extended their thanks for a life-changing moment through the generous party. Others also expressed their support and gratitude, sending meaningful, positive messages for Cummins to hold on to. "It was nice to have an outpouring of support from strangers. It was reassuring that I did do a good thing,” she remarked.

- YouTube www.youtube.com


The Cummins' wedding that never happened is a wonderful example of turning lemons into lemonade. It could have been a day when the bride and groom-to-be were devastated that their wedding didn't happen as planned. But instead, it became a celebration of generosity, and they made memories for over 100 friends they never knew they'd meet. It's a great example of turning tragedy into hope.

This article originally appeared 5 months ago.

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Humor

A female writer asked what's a 'universal thing men like' and got 19 hilarious answers

“I just realized I don’t actually know any men in real life."

what men like, what men love, aubrey hirsch
via Unsplash

What do these men love?

Writer and illustrator Aubrey Hirsch jokingly asked her followers on Twitter what’s a “universal thing that most men like?” because she was writing a comic and “just realized I don’t actually know any men in real life." The tweet inspired an avalanche of funny responses.

Hirsch is the author of “Why We Never Talk About Sugar,” a collection of short stories, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, Child, American Short Fiction and Time.

The interesting thing about the responses is that they weren’t the typical stereotypes about men. She didn’t get a ton of people talking about sex, sports or toxic masculinity. Instead, there were a lot of folks that mentioned very specific male behaviors as if they were talking about a bizarre species they discovered in the wild.

There were two things that got the most comments on her post. First, men enjoy throwing heavy objects into bodies of water. Preferably, the larger the rock, the deeper the body of water and from the highest vantage point possible.

The other is watching construction sites. Evidently, the phenomenon is so popular in Italy that there is a specific word for this type of person in Italian.

Here are 19 of the best responses to the question, “What’s a universal thing that most men like?”

1.

When asked why men enjoy watching construction sites so much, a poster on Reddit named justdaps had the perfect response. "I just find it really satisfying and interesting to see the process behind things being built," he wrote.

2.

3.

4.

I have seen dudes do this and I have done it plenty of times myself. I usually stand while watching TV when I want to really focus on what’s happening and do not want to be distracted. This usually happens while watching sporting events or the news. It's also a great way to use your body language to let other people know that there is something very important happening on the television.

5.

When we do this 99% of the time we’re pretending that the sign is 10 feet high and that we have the ability to dunk a basketball. There are two types of men, those that can dunk and mere mortals.

6.

As a man, this one is near and dear to my heart. I can’t tell you the number of hours I have spent with my friends just throwing lines from “The Big Lebowski” back and forth.

“Nice marmot.”

“The Dude abides.”

“Say what you want about the tenets of national socialism, Dude. At least it’s an ethos.”

A movie that's running up the ranks of being among the most quotable is another dude buddy pic, "Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood."

"All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?" ... "Rick, it's a flamethrower.”

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Evidently, after reading the responses, Hirsch knew what was going to happen next. No need to feel ashamed about going viral. It just means you created something that people love.


This story originally appeared two years ago.

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Pets

A woman adopted a blind senior dog. Her 28-day update left everyone a blubbery mess.

Rooster had the best first and last month ever.

Old dog, rescue dog, pets, adopted animals, pet grief
Photo credit: Canva

Adopting a senior dog sometimes means you don't get very long with them.

Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy, whether you've had them for years, months, or even just weeks. It is easy to fall hard and fast for a furry friend, and one special dog named Rooster got people both falling for him and feeling his loss, even though his owner only had him for a total of 28 days.

A video shared by Kate Schakols has been seen over 100 million times on TikTok because it is a touching example of empathy and human kindness. It also shows that a dog who’s lived a life of hardship can find joy and peace when finally given a loving home.

dog, senior dog, rescue dog, adopted animals, pet grief TikTok · Millie_Archie www.tiktok.com

Rooster had a lot of problems, but Schakols fell in love

Schakols and her family fell in love with Rooster, a dog estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old, at the Gulf Coast STARS rescue in 2020, and adopted him. Rooster was blind in one eye, had benign lumps, and most of his elbow pads and teeth were worn down from digging in concrete for food.

"The bond I had with Rooster was unreal," Schakols told People. "I'd never felt that specific type of connection before, and it was obvious to everyone that he had chosen me to be his person." Sadly, after 28 days, Rooster developed dog bloat and had to be humanely euthanized. Even though their time together was far too short, Schakols was happy to have comforted Rooster in his final days.

She told their brief but touching story in a slideshow video from Rooster’s perspective. Rooster is seen rolling in the grass, playing with new siblings, enjoying a car ride, while heartbreakingly sweet messages about "mom" appear onscreen.

"I think I love my mom the most. I hope she knows. She’s loved me more than anyone ever has," one reads.

Old dog, rescue dog, pets, adopted animals, pet grief An old dog thrives on love.Photo credit: Canva

Another says, “She doesn't seem to care that I can’t see very well, that I have missing fur and teeth, and I’m old and lumpy,…She says I’m beautiful every day.” Then on Rooster's final day, we read, “I think it’s time to go. I hope my mom will be okay. I can hear her crying and begging someone named God not to take me.”

By telling the story from Rooster’s point of view, Schakols shows the incredible empathy and understanding she shared with the dog. It also gives people who may not be considering adopting a senior dog an idea of what it means for an older dog to live in comfort in their final days.

"There are so many stories of dogs being adopted but passing soon after, and I think they finally felt peace and comfort and safe to let themselves go," one person wrote in the comments. "It’s like he held on until he could feel love and joy. When he did he was finally at peace and able to cross the rainbow bridge," another added.

Shakols shares other videos about pet loss and how she believes her pets that have passed have sent her new animals to love and care for.

dog, senior dog, rescue dog, adopted animals, pet grief TikTok · Millie_Archie www.tiktok.com

Losing a pet can evoke profound grief, often comparable to the loss of a family member, and it's important to acknowledge and process these emotions. That's exactly what Schakols continues to advocate for on social media.

“All I ever want from my page is to encourage people to understand that pet loss is valid and a very real type of disenfranchised grief."

A powerful way to process some of these tough emotions, as Schakols has demonstrated, is to memorialize your fur baby in some way. Be that through a video, making a donation in their name, or creating a photo collage. It can be as extensive or minimal as you see fit. It doesn't take away the pain, per se, but it does make it easier to move through the loss and find peace on this side of the rainbow bridge.

This article originally appeared last year.

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Movies

Comedian's brief breakdown of the love story plots in 'Love Actually' has people rolling

Are any of these storylines actually romantic?

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This scene is romantic if you don't look at it too hard.

Love Actually has become a holiday classic in many homes across the U.S. for over two decades, and the film always prompts a range of reactions. Some celebrate it as a sweet, fun romantic comedy, while some loathe it as unrealistic and dumb. Some simply can't get past Alan Rickman's character's betrayal of Emma Thompson's character, while others watch it just for the iconic Joni Mitchell scene. But one thing most of us agree on is that the love stories in the film are…um, less than perfect.

Comedian George Lewis highlighted the film's strange love stories with a series of brief synopses, and when you see them all laid out this way, it's pretty wild. Some might even say it's disturbing how the plotlines range from obviously problematic to downright pathological, and yet people love the movie anyway.

"Oh, this film's so romantic," Lewis begins. "Oh, the Prime Minister's trying to sleep with one of the women who works for him after calling her fat."

Ah, yes, Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister gets all googly for a junior staffer whom he said weighed a lot, while other characters described her as chubby or plumpy or having "thighs like tree trunks," even though she was not actually overweight.

Lewis continues, "Oh, the writer's trying to sleep with the woman he's hired to cook for him, even though they've never had a conversation."

Yep, the Colin Firth storyline with the Italian woman who works for him while he's on a writer's retreat. They learned just enough of each other's language to confess their love for one another, despite never having had any other actual conversation, and this was seen as peak romance.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Oh look, she's trying to sleep with her boss, and he likes it, so he's going to be nicer to her than to his own wife," Lewis went on, "because she's younger."

This was the infamous Alan Rickman character flirting with cheating, leading to an Oscar-worthy performance from his on-screen wife, Emma Thompson, when she realizes the necklace she'd found in his pocket wasn't for her. Heartbreaking. People still can't forgive Rickman for what he did to his wonderful wife in the film.

"Oh, even though he's barely spoken to his best friend's wife, he's telling her that he loves her, while his friend's only meters away, and she's only about seventeen."

The oft-mocked scene of Andrew Lincoln holding up a series of placards confessing his love for his best friend's wife, Keira Knightley (who really was 17 when the movie was filmed), would theoretically be one of the most romantic of the whole film if it weren't for how utterly weird it is. Sure, he just needed to get his feelings off his chest so that he could move on, we're led to believe. But the way he does it, with his friend right there in the next room, is so bizarro. And Keira Knightley's character finds it sweet and then kisses him? Hoo boy.

And that's just a few of the love stories that Love Actually laid out for us. Some people responded to the video, saying they have always hated the film. Others defended the film, despite its obvious flaws.

"The movie has flawed characters, but it also makes me laugh and cry. There’s a lot of humanity in it, and people are complicated. As a feminist, I can identify why Love Actually is problematic, but as a flawed human, I will never stop loving this movie."

"So tired of people pretending relationships are clean and pretty and always politically correct. This movie shows messy real-life relationships. I love it."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Is this movie problematic? Yes. Do I love it and watch it every year? Also, Yes."

"I actually love Love Actually despite all the (deserved) hate it gets. I’m flawed and sentimental."

"Will forgive it forever not least because of the closing sequence…it’s funny to read the take downs of it, they are an accurate and witty perspective.. and I think it’s still ok to love the movie for all its quirks and faults and its occasional brilliance- Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Mark Addy, Hugh Grants PM taking down the US president ( we wish!!!) - at its heart it’s a quintessential British film full of warmth, humour and contradiction!"

And that's really the crux of it, isn't it? Are these good examples of healthy relationships? Absolutely not. As licensed therapist Jonathan Decker said on Cinema Therapy, "'Love Actually treats infatuation as love," and, "In many ways, Love Actually in many ways is a movie in love with the idea of love." That sounds about right. But kudos to the filmmakers for managing to give us all the warm, cozy holiday rom-com feels while also offering a series of disturbing love stories. It's quite a feat, really.

You can follow George Lewis on Instagram and TikTok.

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