Cave of the Winds Winter Experience offers visitors an opportunity to view the splendor of Niagara Falls from its lower decks. It is open from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. daily and will run through March 31. Sheila Guigliano, her son Gary and dog Lucy get their photo taken by her husband, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

Cave of the Winds Winter Experience offers visitors an opportunity to view the splendor of Niagara Falls from its lower decks. It is open from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. daily and will run through March 31. Ice formations are formed at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Photo taken, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

Day 44: Feb. 13, 2021 - Snow-covered Chapin Parkway and Gates Circle contrast with the trees and the dark asphalt road surface in this view from above.

Cave of the Winds Winter Experience offers visitors an opportunity to view the splendor of Niagara Falls from its lower decks.

One of my favorite things to do in Western New York is visit Niagara Falls, the Cave of the Winds in particular. Standing near the rushing water on a warm July day is exhilarating. The winter experience is a whole new way to enjoy the falls. Of course you are not as close to the rushing water as in summertime but the experience is still the thrill of a lifetime.

A rainbow falls on the ice formations at the bottom of the American Falls.

Sharon Cantillon visited this week and photographed its winter beauty, from ice formations to families taking selfies in front of one of the two viewing decks.

Bronislava Evrard takes a selfie with her daughters Mila, 9, left, and Anna, 6, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. The family moved from France to NYC.

In many of her photos the rainbows appear to be at arm's reach. If you would rather not brave the cold you can look through the many photos Cantillon put together in our gallery Cave of the Winds Winter Experience.

A rainbow veils tourists on the observation tower that extends out over Niagara Gorge at Prospect Point. Just one more opportunity to explore our area and enjoy the beauty of winter.

If you have something you think would be an interesting story or photograph, please let me know at ccurtiss@buffnews.com.

See the original post here:
[BN] Photography: On deck at Cave of the Winds - Buffalo News

Shane Coopersmith was fired from Below Deck, but he continues his activism by raising environmental and sustainability awareness. Find out more now.

Bravo'sBelow Deckfollows the interpersonal drama of superyacht crews, and the show has spawned several spin-offs because fans remain interested in the franchise. Below Deck season 8 is rife with drama, thanks to the crew and the impending COVID-19 crisis. The crisis added extra tension when it came to the crew and their relationships on and off the boat, and this wastough for ChefRachel Hargrove and her boyfriend. One of the most well-intentioned crew members was Shane Coopersmith, but he still brought the drama.

When Shane started out, he was the most relaxed member of the deck crew. While Eddie, Izzy, and James worked hard, Shane was often seen relaxing, and even got caught taking naps during his workday. Nonetheless, Shane tried his best and took notes regularly, as he always wanted to do better. Occasionally he would shine, but it was not enough for Eddie and Captain Lee, and the final straw came when Shane slept through an alarm he set for an early shift on the ship.

Related:Below Deck: Caroline Explains Who Pays For The Crew's Food & Drink Tab On Show

If a crew member sleeps through an alarm, they are not just late; they are making it harder for other crew members to rest. This proved to be too much for Captain Lee Rosbach, who ultimately fired Shane. Captain Lee is known forhis tough approach after years at sea, and he doesn't suffer fools gladly. Shocked but not broken, Shane left the ship to meet up with his girlfriend Aubrey Thomas and enjoy some much-needed relaxation. Ever since, Shane has focused on his relationship with his girlfriend and his second love, the earth. Check out the interview below:

Shane is an environmental activist. While working on Below Deck, he would mention the need for paper straws, renewable resources, and respect for nature. He was recently on aS'more Live episode on Instagram. During this interview, he made sure to highlight just what his mission is in life, by saying, For the audition itself, I jumped in front of the camera, talked about sustainability...I really wanted the platform and I wanted to implement some sustainability on the boat, too"

When not napping or messing up his deckhand duties, Shane was busy preaching about turtles. However, he is not particularly happy with the way the show portrayed him, as much of his teachings were left on the cutting room floor: "They made a meme of my environmentalism- pretty foolish on their part. All they showed were my paper straws and they just made it like save the sea turtles.'" Unfortunately, Shane's teachings were overshadowed by his lack of boating skills. Captain Lee could no longer justify keeping Shaneand paying his Below Deck wages,due to hislackadaisical attitude.

Today, Shane is enjoying a happier, healthier, and more natural life. He is still preaching sustainability and using his new platform for good, which was always his goal. Plus, he is still with his girlfriend, and they are closer than ever, so all is well that ends well. Shane may have joined Below Deckin order to get his message out to the world, but he learned quickly that he was far too inexperienced to stay. Even though he left early on in the season, Shane left his imprint on Below Deck.

Next:Below Deck: Elizabeth Posts Kind Message From Charter Guest Post-Firing

Below Deckairs Mondays at 9 pm ET on Bravo.

90 Day Fianc: Why 'Baby Girl' Lisa & Usman's Relationship Was Never Going to Work

More here:
Below Deck: What Happened To Shane Coopersmith After He Was Fired? - Screen Rant

When Ben Baker Jr. arrived in Ramona in mid-January after short stays in Lakeside, La Jolla, Chula Vista and Poway, he discovered a way to combine his church mission with his love of art.

The 22-year-old, an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on his mission in the San Diego region, revived skills he had developed before the mission. They involve an X-Acto knife, a deck of cards and video editing on YouTube.

With the coronavirus putting the usual door-to-door visits on hold, Baker decided to reach out to Ramona residents virtually. He made a card sculpture of the Welcome to Ramona sign, posted a video of him making it on Facebook and announced a raffle for his artwork.

Ben Baker Jr., an elder doing a two-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, created a card sculpture of the Welcome to Ramona sign and held a raffle on Facebook to give it away.

(Photo courtesy Ben Baker Jr. )

For his sculptures, Baker slices through all 52 cards in the deck to create a colorful, three-dimensional image.

The cool thing about this is that everyone has their own perspective, things that click with them, said Baker. Me, I love movies and art. I knew that if I start doing this form of art and try to share it out, everyone who loves art would appreciate that and possibly reach out to see how I do things.

Ben Baker Jr., 22, with partner Slade Sevy, 19, who came up with the idea for the Welcome to Ramona card sculpture.

(Photo by Susan Gill Vardon )

Replicating the Ramona sign wasnt his idea. That suggestion came from his partner, elder Slade Sevy, 19, who had noticed in his several months living in Ramona that residents often expressed pride in their community.

I said, You can make that and post it, said Sevy, who enjoys helping people with genealogical research. With COVID we have to find other ways to connect with people and invite them to learn more about what we teach.

The frequent moves Baker is making during his two-year mission are nothing new. His family bounced around quite a bit living in Colorado twice, Germany twice and North Carolina twice because his dad was a munitions specialist in the Army. He considers Copperas Cove, Texas home.

When he was 13 or 14 his parents asked him if he wanted to go the route of the church and eventually embark on a mission. They told him they would support whatever decision he made, he said.

After reading The Book of Mormon and praying about his future, Baker said he decided a mission was in his future to help people come to Christ. His mission started July 3, 2019.

As for his art, Baker has always appreciated three-dimensional works.

I love looking at videos of sketchings but Im not good at sketching, he said. What I love is picking up an X-Acto knife and doing little details on a piece of paper. Or building things.

Ben Baker Jr. uses all 52 cards in a deck when he creates his card sculptures using an X-Acto knife.

(Photo courtesy Ben Baker Jr. )

Baker thought about using cards for his art, but wanted to work with them in a way they could be layered with the X-Acto knife to provide depth. How to do that? Use all 52 cards in the deck, he decided.

He had another inspiration for using all the cards in the deck. God doesnt consider anyone on Earth to be an extra, he said.

It takes a full deck to create the masterpieces, he said.

Bakers research on the internet showed that no one was creating the type of card sculptures he had in mind, so he started from scratch.

Ben Baker Jr.'s first card sculpture was a silhouette of James Bond and gun in Casino Royale.

(Photo courtesy Ben Baker Jr. )

His first card was, of all things, a silhouette of James Bond in Casino Royale, with the gun barrel pointing up. It took him four hours to complete.

That was the first thing that popped into my mind, Baker said. I have never seen Casino Royale but I know that silhouette. Im jumping on the Bond wagon when I get home.

He also has created card sculptures with his favorite Marvel movie character, Captain America, as well as several religious works.

One of Ben Baker Jr.'s religious card sculptures.

(Courtesy Ben Baker Jr. )

Bakers card sculptures and social media outreach have not gone unnoticed by church officials.

Card sculpture... what is that? I had to study it, said Rebecca Davies, communications director for the San Diego region of the Latter-Day Saints church. Thats pretty amazing. How in the world did he learn to do that? And to have that skill grow into a raffle, that was pretty clever.

Social media has been a godsend during the pandemic, Davies said. Other missionaries have told stories virtually with Legos or have done musical performances where each part is videotaped separately and combined into a whole.

Whos really good at social media? The kids, she said. They were already doing this and fine-tuning their skills before they came out as missionaries. No one has to teach them. They run with it.

Baker considered his card sculpture video and raffle a way to let Ramona residents know Im here and super-excited.

It was also a way to conduct what he and Sevy call a social/religious experiment. To enter the raffle, participants had to choose a number from 1 to 531, which corresponds with the number of pages in The Book of Mormon. Baker would send participants the page from the book and ask them to mark up any references regarding a deity.

The point of the experiment is to see if the book testifies to any supreme being, Jesus or God if every page has something to do with that, Baker said. That is the purpose of the book, to teach people about Jesus Christ.

On Feb. 5, the winner of the Ramona welcome sign card sculpture was revealed: Ramona resident Karen Rawls.

Rawls said she saw Bakers video on Facebook and was amazed.

Ive never seen anything like it before, she said. I dont know how he came up with that idea. And his video was really well put together.

Rawls has the card sculpture on her piano.

I just love it. Im the only person who has one, she said.

Baker, who has about five more months on his mission, is already looking ahead. Joining the Air Force is one goal. The next is going to school to train as an architect.

He said he enjoyed getting to know Ramona residents on Facebook during his experiment. And he continues to do his card sculptures and share them.

Even if they didnt win the raffle, hopefully we can help them see the blessings that come from the page they got, Baker said.

Read this article:
Missionary answers religious and artistic callings by carving decks of cards - Ramona Sentinel

Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. And if youre into numbers, you should notice that today is a numerical sequence youll see repeated 10 more times this year whenever you write the date with the full year in Arabic numbers: 19/2021.

Your need to read time today is 90-seconds.

Had he lived, Justin Fashanu would be celebrating his 60th birthday today. Last year at this time, Britains first out male gay soccer player was posthumously inducted into the National Football Museums Hall of Fame. Hes also todays LGBTQ sports Black History Month hero. Read the story here.

Utahs Gov. Spencer Cox says he wont sign transgender sports bill as now written

State anti-transgender bills represent coordinated attack, advocates say

Co-president of the Gay Games: Whoever you want to be in sports, there is a place for you

Figure skating is on thin ice. Heres how to fix it

DeepMind researchers say AI poses a threat to people who identify as queer

Lesbian Roxane Gay Partners With MasterClass for Social Change-Themed Course

The San Diego Loyals Collin Martin will be on TikTok tonight talking with out gay college soccer captain Couper Gunn of the Sports Equality Foundation, LIVE at 7 p.m. EST.

If youre an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! SPACE to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.

Ashlyn Harris and Ali Kriegers newborn baby daughter Sloane wins the internet! #SheBelieves

Good call by Business Insider sports reporter Meredith Cash noting FS1s glaring error in deadnaming non-binary athlete of 2020, Quinn:

And ICYMI: Hello, Dolly! Such an icon.

If you want your social media post to be included here, or to share one showcasing LGBTQ sports, email us the link at outsports@gmail.com or tag @Outsports on Instagram or Twitter!

Nearly every day of the week, Outsports has a new podcast for your enjoyment. Today, Ken Schultz who helped in the naming of this new feature, On Deck Circle is back with 3 Strikes Youre Out. This week, his special guest is out former MLB umpire Dale Scott. Listen to part one by clicking here:

This and all Outsports podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and on every platform where you find Outsports!

MLB Spring Training:

Pitchers and catchers workouts are underway! Full-squad workouts start next week beginning Mon., Feb. 22. Click here for MLBs guide to your favorite teams schedules.

NHL:

Click here for ESPNs schedule of mens pro hockey action today.

NBA:

Click here for ESPNs schedule of mens pro basketball action today.

NCAAM:

Click here for ESPNs schedule of mens college basketball action today.

NCAAW:

Click here for ESPNs schedule of womens college basketball action today.

SOCCER:

Click here for ESPNs schedule of soccer action today.

Share your thoughts in the comments below or email us at outsport@gmail.com

Well be back Monday! A new On Deck Circle posts every weekday morning on Outsports.com

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On Deck: Justin Fashanu, Carson Wentz, Utahs governor and Dolly Parton - Outsports

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Some Connecticut woke up to slippery surface areas around their homes.

Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons said there were two different weather zones this morning: those who got rain and those who got ice and freezing rain.

LIST: School delays or remote learning days

He said areas more inland were in the ice zone.

Good morning Connecticut! Two different weather zones out there! Rainy and foggy in one area and freezing rain/ice in the other. Temperatures will be rising through the morning. We will be tracking this change live with reports and the radar 4-7AM on @WTNH ! pic.twitter.com/QDxN6H1RIL

He said the freezing rain should be all changed over to plain rain and will have move out by mid-morning.

Simmons said temperatures could hit near 50 degrees in the eastern and southern parts of the state this afternoon.

A Flood Advisory has been issued for Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties.

Another storm is possible Thursday into Friday morning. Snow will develop late Thursday. Then slowly increase overnight with the snow switching to sleet/freezing rain across southern Connecticut into early Friday.

Those going outside this morning are urged to be careful as decks and stairs could be slippery.

RELATED: 5 safety tips when walking on snow or ice

Take it from News 8s very own Laura Hutchinson.

The rest is here:
Icy roads, sidewalks and decks possible this morning; freezing rain changing over to rain - WTNH.com

When I was growing up and my dad, a museum administrator, had to go out of town for meetings, my mom had two rituals: make breakfast for dinner, including waffles with strawberries and ice cream, and redecorate the house. She took advantage of her temporary insomnia by painting and wallpapering rooms through the night.

Dad flying to New York? Down comes some old velvety floral monstrosity and up goes old-timey black-and-white 19th-century newsprint advertising in the kids bathroom. Dad is in Chicago for a few days? Thats just enough time for my bedroom to get green, yellow and blue flower paper, and my younger sisters room a burst of pink, red and orange flowers. Sometimes, after we got home from school, Mom recruited us to help steam and scrape off layer upon layer of old paper. I still have olfactory memories of that distinctive aroma of wet paper and old paste.

And I have never approached wallpapering for my own home, as a result.

But Im rethinking that now. According to Homes & Gardens, an interior design and garden design magazine, wallpaper is a key trend for 2021. And its changed dramatically since the 1970s when Mom was putting it up and certainly since the 13th century, when the earliest wallpapers were used in Europe. These were domino papers pasted on the walls of homes of devout religious believers, featuring popular religious icons.

The Amhara design, available at Thomas Lavin, is based on a linen print called Zig & Zag, a playful take on a mixture of African and Asian designs and symbols.

(Courtesy of James Malone at Thomas Lavin)

Now, of course, wallpaper may be too limiting a name. Think wallcovering since, according to Debra Lyons, owner of Lyons Wallpaper in San Diego, the sky is the limit as far as materials used. She pointed out that thin wood, bamboo, raffia, silk, plaster, metals, glass beads and leather are many of the options. Other designers incorporate woven papers, cork and grass cloth as well.

Printing methods, too, have evolved.

Methods used in production range from hand-painted, drum roll printing and silk screen to digitally printed on large-format printers, Lyons said.

Stephanie Moffitt, design director of Mokum Textiles in Sydney, Australia, explained that digital printing has become a huge innovation for wallpaper.

It allows you to print photographic quality and play with much larger scales, she said. This has created a growing trend towards landscape and panel-style wallpapers.

Moffitt pointed out other trends for 2021 and 2022:

The Les Petites Histoires (miniature journeys) pattern, shown in Broceliande (enchanted forest), offers a stroll through a fantastical setting.

(Courtesy of litis)

Trends are now very layered. The area we focus on in the Mokum brand is translating our textile patterns into wallpapers and, as a result, our curated range is very pattern-rich. The key trends we are referencing in our next Catherine Martin for Mokum range, due early 2022, are maximalist in tone and grounded in escapism and nostalgia. We believe that escapism will become even more relevant, with patterns engulfing rooms to create immersive environments. Patterns will continue to reference tropical foliage, creating lush interiors and surreal landscape.

Historical patterns are another key trend which is often explored via digital print, with designers reinterpreting and modernizing traditional techniques and archival patterns via scale and color, she added. This trend allows you to create an interior space with a sense of historic splendor, adding antiqued surfaces or architectural details via wallpapers or panels.

Sois Changeante (between silks) wallpaper, shown in Yuzen, is reminiscent of silk painting. The collection also offers plain designs and stripes.

(Courtesy of litis)

Other trends we see continuing to grow across both wallpapers and textiles are retro and vintage style patterns via the current obsession with Bauhaus geometrics and hand-painted abstract designs.

While these wallcoverings are designed and created to last for years, temporary wallpaper is another option think peel-and-stick designs that make it easy and inexpensive to put up and take down. They can be found at retailers from Wayfair to Urban Outfitters to West Elm, and can be a perfect option for a renter, for a kids bedroom, for someone who wants to create the illusion of a design element or for someone who just cant make up their mind.

Designer Kim Nadel used a vibrant Missoni-style wallcovering on the back panels of a wall unit in this California contemporary coastal home. The choice was inspired by the clients love of yoga, the 1970s and a beach vibe.

(Courtesy of Kim Nadel / Gaia Inspired Design and Consulting)

Encinitas interior designer Kim Nadel of Kim Nadel/Gaia Inspired Design and Consulting has used it for her clients. For one client, she installed a vibrant Missoni zigzag pattern on a removable panel behind the shelves of a custom-designed wall unit/room divider because the client was concerned about committing. The pattern is one of several for the client.

I had panels made up that were covered in different things so she could pop the back panel out if she wanted to and change it out with another.

For a quick, low-cost way to add visual impact to her own fireplace, designer Kim Nadel used a temporary wallpaper around the arch that looks like tile. The effect also helps balance a large TV hung above.

(Courtesy of Kim Nadel / Gaia Inspired Design and Consulting)

She also put in temporary wallpaper strategically in her own home around the arch of her fireplace to balance having a massive TV over the fireplace.

It probably needed some beautiful Spanish tile, but because of the expense and the time involved installing it, I found a temporary wallpaper that looks like tile, Nadel said. People think its real and it cost a fraction of tile. And we could do it ourselves.

The Papillon wallpaper pattern, shown in Powder, brings a romantic, floral look to the room.

(Courtesy of Mokum Textiles)

Whether you choose a unique textile or temporary paper, you have to be strategic in the design you choose and where you put it. Still, both Nadel and Lyons insisted there are no rules. It just depends on your aesthetic and the impact youre looking to make.

There are no rules, but I would say in general for a small room, like a powder room or a den, if you put it on all the walls and use a large pattern, understand that it will give you a cocoon feeling, said Nadel. If youre trying to add just a little pizazz or wow factor for a living room, you could put a small pattern on every wall.

If its a large pattern, think about the scale and what else you have in the room. Will it compete or clash with a patterned area rug or other textiles or complement them? Is it meant to stand on its own for attention or be a background for art?

Nadel pointed out, You might want a calmer pattern or color in your bedroom unless you put it just on the wall behind your bed where it wont impact your sleep.

But, she said with a laugh, if you want to be adventurous in a guest room or an office wall, a hallway, stairwell or the powder room, go for it. They can be fun spaces to be in.

And, she added, you could even put it on the risers of stairs.

LOdyssee collection by James Dunlop displays exotic flowers, foliage and jungle animals in a colorful, artistically rendered style.

(Courtesy of James Dunlop Textiles)

If youre only going to choose one wall in a room for installing wallcoverings, Lyons recommends making it the wall you see when you first walk into the room or wherever you want to create a focal point or setting.

Should you do it yourself?

Wallpaper installation can be fun and challenging, Lyons said. But if you are purchasing a high-end wall covering, I definitely recommend hiring a professional. The best way to find a good installer is a referral from someone who has had wallpaper installed. Check out websites online or sites like Yelp, where you can read reviews. Always make sure the installer is a licensed contractor who is bonded and insured.

Golden is a San Diego freelance writer and blogger.

More:
Deck the walls with lush florals, patterns and a whiff of nostalgia - The San Diego Union-Tribune

This week Bungie reaffirmed their dedication to Destiny 2 and the entire Destiny IP in a major way. Theyve revealed that theyll be expanding their Bellevue, WA headquarters, investing in new key talent, and welcomed new members to the Bungie Board of Directors from the Entertainment and Media Industry. Keep this moment in your mind it may be a key point at which Bungie pushed Destiny beyond the borders of a traditional game, into the multi-media stratosphere.

Bungie is clearly preparing to expand Destiny beyond the borders of the game. Adding Trace Harris and Viacom CBS Pamela Kaufman to their board of directors is only the latest in a line of developments that suggest Bungie is ready to roll with Destiny not only as a game, but as a universe that can exist in media beyond the gaming PC and gaming console.

To make things extra clear, Bungie announced the following this week. To expand the Destiny IP and bring new stories and experiences to their highly engaged community, Bungie appointed Mark Noseworthy (Vice President, Destiny Universe) and Luke Smith (Executive Creative Director, Destiny Universe) to oversee and prepare for the expansion of the Destiny Universe into additional media.

Bungies announcement this week suggested that the addition of Harris and Kaufman bring years of expertise in multi-media IP expansion to the company. As President of ViacomCBS Global Consumer Products, Kaufman oversees licensing and merchandising for brands like Paramount Pictures (Paramount Movie Network), Nickelodeon, Showtime, and more. Bungies connections to major media networks expand in a major way thanks to Kaufman alone.

If this is any indication of what Bungie is preparing for Bungie in the future, their initial promises and outlook for the franchise look like theyll be coming to fruition in a major way. Take a peek at the timeline below to see several times Bungie made it clear Destiny will stay the course.

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Destiny 2s future is set: Bungie just stacked the deck - SlashGear

Preview

The Yachties Ditch Their Uniforms and Bring the Drama for the Below Deck Season 8 Reunion!

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Though the charter season may have ended on an abrupt, emotional note for the Below Deckcrew, the yachties will be all smiles when they sit down for the virtual Season 8 reunion on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Monday, February 22 at 9/8c.

However, it looks like those smiles will quickly fade as the My Seanna crew gets into the buzziest moments of the charter season, as you can see in the above sneak peek of the reunion. "Hold on to your frickin' horses!" bosun Eddie Lucas teases in theclip.

We'll see the yachties dish on all the crew shakeups this season, from Chef Rachel Hargrove's decision to quit but then eventually return to the yacht, as well as Shane Coopersmith's challenging charter season before ultimately being let go by Captain Lee Rosbach. "If this show is just roasting me, I'm literally going to log off," Shane says in the preview of the reunion.

Elizabeth Frankini and James Hough will also discuss their fling this season and whether or not they will ever rekindle their romance. Host Andy Cohen will even ask them the million dollar question: "Was the night of passion worth it?"

The My Seanna crew will also dive into all the workplace drama this season as Izzy Wouters holds nothing back while venting her frustrations about Rob Phillips this season. And prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor when Elizabeth makes an accusation about Francesca Rubi and Ashling Lorger that takes both of the stews by surprise.

"I'm actually really glad I logged in for this," James cheekily says in the sneak peek.

Oh, we know we will be, too.

Want more Below Deck? Catch up on every episode ever through the Bravo app.

Check out more from the reunion in the below clip exclusive to Bravo Insider.

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The Daily Dish is your source for all things Bravo, from behind-the-scenes scoop to breaking news, exclusive interviews, photos, original videos, and, oh, so much more. Subscribe to The Daily Dish podcast, join our Facebook group, and follow us on Instagramfor the latest news hot off the presses. Sign up to become a Bravo Insider and be the first to get exclusive extras.

Go here to see the original:
Shane Coopersmith Is Ready to "Log Off" at the Below Deck Season 8 Reunion Amid All the Drama - Bravo

Below Deck star Rob Phillips revealed his experience on the show. The deckhand made his debut on Season 8. At first, fans loved how dorky he was. Rob seemed like an innocent man who didnt know how to flirt with a woman. He was a guy who loved to hide away in the woods and travel the world.

But, then, the tide quickly turned against Rob. Fans didnt like it when he disrespected Isabelle Izzy Wouters when she became lead deckhand. They felt that he had a condescending attitude. On Friday, February 19, Rob held an Ask Me Anything Reddit Q&A.

Below Deck fans wanted to know if Rob is still in touch with the Season 8 crew. One fan asked: Whats your relationship like with the rest of the crew post-season? He admitted that he stays in touch with almost all of them as much as possible. Rob called them good people who just ended up riding the weird ride of having the internet play a game of jumping to conclusions about them.

As for Rob, he would rather avoid the social media game. Instead, he shares adventures on his Instagram. Then, a second fan wanted an update on his bromance with James Hough. Rob said that theyre still good friends. He also went on to call James a wonderful person who is hardworking, honest and loves a good laugh. The two keep in touch and he plans to visit James when he can. Rob jokingly called him a fun-gi that has so much on his horizon. Fans were happy to hear that James and Robs bromance is still strong.

The Below Deck Season 8 star says he has a different account as to what happened in his last conversation with Izzy. He tried to apologize to her for his behavior. But, it didnt go as well as it came across on camera. Rob insisted that his apology was sincere but production had a hand in the situation.

And part of deescalating the situation, Rob wrote. But as soon as he apologized, five cameras took over because they planned out the scene.

I first grabbed my mic, stared into one of the cameras, and said really a**holes, were doing this? he continued. James had told me she was flustered and looking for a confrontation, so I spoke first and tried to address a situation that had not realized existed.

Rob claims that Izzy never mentioned that she was hurt by his behavior. If she had gone to him directly, he would have rectified the situation. Instead, she lashed out at him, according to Rob. He explained what really happened during that conversation.

[Credit: Rob Phillips/Instagram]After apologizing for my comments and their outcome she was a little stunned and then went rage mode for a bit, Rob said. She screamed, You are a c***! You are an a**hole! I cant believe you make productions life so hard a few times.

Rob learned from that situation. Hes more careful with who he chooses to crack jokes with, and how he says them. Also, he plans to address problems and move forward. However, this scene didnt end up on the season finale even if production planned it.

The Below Deck Season 8 reunion airs Monday, February 22 at 9 p.m. ET.

Chanel Adams is addicted to reality TV. But more importantly as a Catholic, she is finding out the truth of a story. When she's not watching TV, she can often be seen reading, practicing yoga, or spending time with friends.

Read the original post:
'Below Deck' Rob Phillips Reveals If He's Still In Touch With The Crew - TV Shows Ace

Swab the decks! Below Deck alum Kate Chastain may not appear on the Bravo reality show anymore, but she knows a bad crewmember when she sees one.

The Florida native sat down with Us Weekly to promote Below Deck Galley Talk and revealed which Real Housewives stars she thinks would make the best and worst crewmates.

Gizelle [Bryant], I think, would make a great second stew. I think shes very supportive. I think shed be fantastic at the job. Also, Sonja Morgan would just make me laugh, Chastain, 38, explained in her interview with Us. I dont really think shed be amazing at the job, but man shed make me laugh.

As for the worst, it was a no brainer for Chastain.

I definitely think that we can all agree that Ramona Singer would not be great. She would probably not want to unpack the luggage for other people. She doesnt even like to do it for herself! the reality TV personality joked.

Chastain also shared her dream crew with Us, sharing that in a perfect world shed work with Captain Lee Rosbach, Eddie Lucas, Rachel Hargrove, Josiah Carter, Courtney Skippon and Connie Arias.

I dont really care about the rest of the deck crew, she noted, adding that she probably [doesnt] talk to them very much since quitting the show.

She does, however, stay in close contact with Josiah, though she admitted living in different time zones has been a challenge. Chastain told Us she recently reached out to the British steward to celebrate a new addition to his family.

Hes [in] a different time zone in Mallorca or Manchester, but they did just get a dog him and his lovely partner Michael so I kind of sent him a little message from my dog saying, Cant wait to meet you!' she said.

One notable Below Deck alum not mentioned? Hannah Ferrier. The former friends are no longer on speaking terms, according to a December 2020 interview with Us.

I have not spoken to her since she had a baby, but she looks happy, Chastain said. Im so happy for her.

In November 2019, Chastain shocked Below Deck fans when she revealed that she and the 34-year-old Below Deck Mediterranean alum were no longer friends.

Over the years, watching Hannah, I could just always tell we had very different styles of being a chief stew, but I just wanted to be supportive, she told Us at the time. But now, were not really friends because I heard she was talking poorly about me behind my back.

Ferrier, who left the Bravo series after being fired from Motor Yacht Sienna in an August 2020 episode, welcomed daughter Ava Grace in October 2020 with her fianc, Josh Roberts. She confirmed the news in a statement via Instagram days later, writing, Josh and I are so happy to welcome to the world our little girl Ava Grace Roberts. Born on the 26th of October. She is already a little menace that has captured our hearts forever.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi.

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Below Deck Alum Kate Chastain Says This RHONY Star Would Make the Worst Crewmember - Us Weekly