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- (4/11) The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the ‘Super Bowl’ of Dog Shows
- AUDIO The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the ‘Super Bowl’ of Dog Shows At America’s 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monty the giant schnauzer won the top prize. The lively schnauzer beat six other finalists in New York City to become the first of his breed to win Westminster’s “best in show.” The prize is the most important and respected in the U.S. dog show world. While Monty came close to winning Westminster the past two years, he fell short of the big prize. In December 2024, the dog won another big prize, the huge American Kennel Club championship. But for dog show lovers, Westminster is considered the Super Bowl of all shows. This year the comparison is especially fitting. That is because the most respected U.S. dog competition opened on the same weekend as the Super Bowl the most important game in American professional football. This rare happening came after the dates of both competitions changed in recent years. At Westminster, dogs first compete against other members of their breed. Then, the winner of each breed goes up against other dogs within different competition “groups.” Among the groups are sporting, working, toy, and herding. Group winners then compete in the final round. The best in show winner gets an award – a large, shiny cup called a trophy – and a place in dog-world history. The top prize, however, does not include money. In her report on the dog show, Learning English’s Caty Weaver explains that the Westminster show dates back to 1877. It centers on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the best in show prize. But over the last few years, the organization has added agility and obedience events open to mixed-breed dogs. In 2024, Sage, a miniature poodle, won best in show at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club dog show. And in 2023, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, named Buddy Holly, won best in show at Westminster. The breed he represents is known for its rabbit-hunting abilities. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story giant –adj. something unusually large or powerful finalist –n. a contestant in a competition finals breed –n. a particular kind of dog, cat, horse, etc. fall short (of something) –phrase fail to meet an expectation or standard for something herd –v. to move animals or people in a group agility –n. the quality or state of being ability to move with quick easy grace obedience –n. an act or instance of taking commands miniature –adj. something small of its kind https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/top-dog-takes-westminster-the-super-bowl-of-dog-shows/7975366.html
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- (4/10) Using Real Trees to Bring Nature Indoors
- AUDIO Using Real Trees to Bring Nature Indoors There is a growing movement worldwide to use plants in building design to establish closer connections with nature and soften hard city styles. The movement also seeks to improve designs to help protect the environment and increase personal wellness. Many of the efforts by architects and designers have centered on one natural element: trees. Examples of such design can be found in many places, including New York City. A building in Manhattan that houses the Ford Foundation has a 12-story light-filled entrance area, or atrium. It is also filled with plants and flowers including magnolias, eucalyptus, jacaranda, cryptomeria, iron bark and pear trees. Another example sits within New York City’s Brookfield Place shopping center. The center’s main atrium includes a collection of 12-meter-tall Washingtonia palm trees. In Singapore, the city-state’s Jewel Changi airport offers travelers an inviting environment. It has 2,500 trees native to nations including Madagascar, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. The airport includes a 2.4-hectare indoor forest with walking paths. Some apartments and mixed-use buildings are also putting trees and other greenery into their designs. Such buildings are sometimes called “greenscrapers,” a term that comes from the word “skyscraper.” In Milan, Italy, architect Stefano Boeri designed Bosco Verticale, a 44-story building with 800 trees and other greenery. In the Netherlands, he also built the Trudo Vertical Forest. This is a low-income apartment building with trees growing on all sides. Similar changes are also happening inside private homes. In some, trees are brought right indoors. In others, outdoor trees are carefully placed as important partners in the building plan. Some architects even build homes around existing trees. Others plant one or more trees inside the home. And some architects or designers imagine natural settings indoors by using parts of trees. These designs are meant to create the look and feel of real wood, while bringing feelings of peace and calm. A calm heart of the home Ryoko Okada is an architect at New York City’s Oda Architecture. She told The Associated Press that she and her co-workers aim to bring outdoor elements indoors as often as they can. “There’s nothing more calming than being surrounded by nature…” Okada said. She added that a living tree indoors can bring peace and happiness as people watch it grow and change. Framing the views with existing trees Another design example came from KAA Design Group in Los Angeles. A team from the company created a modern home that uses the property’s existing trees, such as cork oaks, rare Torrey pines, and magnolias. One very large, old cork oak sits in the center of the property. At first, the owners did not like the look and said they wanted the tree gone. One of the company’s partners, Grant Kirkpatrick, had to persuade the homeowners to keep it. Kirkpatrick explained he succeeded by pointing out that the tree was “a 300-year-old antique that should be featured rather than removed.” The driveway on that property also offers a calming design. A black pine tree rises up from the driveway like a piece of natural art. In addition, views from almost every window in the house feature the beautiful nature outdoors. Things to consider Okada says she suggests people do not plant a full-size tree in their home without first seeking expert advice. She notes that a living tree will only do well if certain conditions – such as air, light and soil – are right. Okada added that a living tree “…needs to be supported by proper infrastructure to stay alive and avoid home damage.” She also urges people to heavily research a tree’s natural environment to avoid drawing in unwanted pests. Kirkpatrick noted that planting a tree indoors can be difficult. He explained that at least 1.2 meters of soil depth is needed, along with lots of natural light and the right temperature. Other ways to use trees besides having a live one Kirkpatrick said he worked on one property that experienced a serious fire in 2016. His team decided to use parts from one of the burned manzanita trees in the interior design. The piece was painted black and placed inside the property. He said it now represents an eye-catching, natural art piece. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story skyscraper -n. a very tall building style -n. a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed architect -n. a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction apartment -n. a room or set of rooms used as a dwelling antique -adj. being in the style or fashion of former times feature -n. a part or detail that stands out infrastructure -n. the underlying foundation or basic framework pest -n. a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/using-real-trees-to-bring-nature-indoors/7945659.html
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- (4/9) What Is Art Deco and Why Is It Popular Again?
- AUDIO What Is Art Deco and Why Is It Popular Again? Art Deco is an international artistic style that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Now, interest in the style and its qualities is growing. A new generation is enjoying the style’s roots and turning it into something new. A public showing, or exhibition, at the Museum of the City of New York provides a look at the style that helped define the city 100 years ago. Famous Art Deco buildings include the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. The public showing, called “Art Deco City: New York Postcards from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection,” also has clothing and film clips from the time. In London, the Victoria and Albert Museum has a collection of day and evening clothing, jewelry and more. The collection comes from Les Ballets Russes, a dance company that had a major effect on fashion. And in Paris, organizers of the 2024 Olympics created Art Deco posters last year to celebrate the games and mark the one hundred years since the 1924 Olympics, which Paris also hosted. A style of the 1920s and 30s Experts have different opinions about Art Deco. Design writer Arricca Elin Sansone, for example, said last year in Elle Décor magazine: “Ask three historians to define the term Art Deco, and you’ll likely get three varying answers.” Appearing after World War I, the first Art Deco era had a spirit of creativity and freedom. With the aim of appearing modern, the style became one of the most important forms of design in the 1920s and early 1930s. The Art Deco style is believed to have first appeared at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, in Paris. The early 1930s saw the development of the style in Miami where South Beach’s Art Deco District is popular with visitors and a center for design. In some large cities, low-rise buildings of two or three floors turned into landscapes of high-rise skyscrapers. Public and private spaces showed themes involving geometrical designs and luxurious materials. In transportation, faster cars and better trains suggested a new age while jazz music urged people to celebrate. “A fashionable renaissance” The same energy can be found in today’s fashion shows and red-carpet events for stars. Some of today’s colorful clothing suggests the Jazz Age, another name for the period when Art Deco was popular. Stars like Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Demi Lovato have used elements of the Deco era in new ways. “The aesthetic of the 1920s is enjoying a fashionable renaissance,” said Kirsty Thatcher of the Australian fashion magazine Russh. A “renaissance” represents a rebirth of something from the past. New York-based interior designer Vanessa DeLeon told the Associated Press, “The boldness and elegance of Art Deco are what appeals to me.” Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy of the London design company Divine Savages include Art Deco elements in their collections of products for the home. Watkins suggested: “It’s no wonder we’re drawn to it again.” Lynda Klich is the co-organizer or curator of the exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York. Klich noted that postcards were the social media of their day. Travelers at the time busily wrote messages to friends and family. New York’s famous Art Deco buildings appear in over 250 postcards. There is also a selection of clothing from the 1920s, shoes and other objects. “Art Deco was the look that sold the city to the world,” said co-curator Lilly Tuttle. The exhibition in New York City runs through February 17. ___________________________________________ Words in This Story style –n. a particular form of design that is repeated through a period because it is popular fashion – n. the popular or dominant style (as in clothing or dress) during a particular time poster –n. a large picture that is often used to advertise for a show or movie vary – v. to have or show differences between items or things theme – n. a special quality or characteristic; a subject or topic of artistical representation https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/what-is-art-deco-and-why-is-it-popular-again-/7935369.html
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