Aya, 700 E. Kilbourn Ave. Photo taken Feb. 21, 2026 by Sophie Bolich. Aya, the new restaurant from Saffron owners Fatima and Hanish Kumar, opened to the public Feb. 23 following a four-service soft launch at 700 E. Kilbourn Ave. With wagyu kebabs, tableside Greek salad and caviar service, Aya breaks the Mediterranean mold in Milwaukee, offering staples reimagined through a Middle Eastern lens. Like its sister restaurant in the Historic Third Ward, showmanship is central at Aya, which wafts dry ice over colorful cocktails and finishes dishes — from salads to creamy hummus — with delicate edible flowers. Where Saffron is dimly lit and intimate, however, Aya is bright and open, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, reflective marble accent walls and a canopy of olive trees. Textured art and custom furniture bring additional depth to the spacious dining area, located at the ground level of Ascent, a 25-story luxury residential tower that gained recognition in 2025 as the world’s tallest mass timber building. “It’s my baby,” Fatima said of Aya, which transformed the former gray box space following its initial proposal last May. Most of Aya’s menu is dedicated to small plates, ideal for groups looking to sample and share. Raw bar selections such as scallop ceviche, wagyu carpaccio and seafood and caviar towers are listed alongside vegetable-focused options like fire-roasted aubergine and balsamic-glazed halloumi. An assortment of skewers includes wagyu, grilled octopus and oyster mushrooms, while the mezze platter offers a crash-course in Mediterranean flavors with hummus, batata harra, baba ghanoush, labneh, falafel and pickled vegetables. Salads include tabbouleh, fattoush smash, roasted beet and Aya’s elevated take on Greek salad — served in a poached whole tomato atop whipped feta and sliced tableside for added flair. Larger plates include high-end steaks, whole branzino and spicy harissa lobster linguine. The cocktail program plays with temperature and visuals while incorporating Middle Eastern flavors like rose, fig and olive brine. Standouts include the Volcano, poured from a tall decanter and presented with a cloud of dry ice fog, and Almas, a lychee-infused whisky drink scented with cherrywood smoke. A selection of beer and nonalcoholic cocktails is also available, with an in-house sommelier on hand to guide guests through Aya’s extensive wine selection. Aya is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be booked online. Photos

Gov. Josh Stein and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green visited Bluford STEM Academy in Greensboro on Wednesday to highlight literacy instruction during Public Schools Week. Public Schools Week is held each year Feb. 23-27. In his proclamation... The post Gov. Stein and Superintendent Green celebrate ‘Public Schools Week’ in North Carolina appeared first on EdNC.

NFL Scouting Combine drills begin on Thursday, with defensive linemen, edge-rushers and linebackers taking center stage. Before the showcase begins, here are five questions — and answers — to get ready.

Miami Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. sits down with Ran Carthon, Bryant McFadden and Ryan Wilson at NFL Combine.(00:00) Reacts to Mock Draft selection(01:16) Best skill(03:17) Playing inside or outside(06:08) NFL Comparison(07:57) Participation in the Combine(08:20) “Who do you want to sack?” game(09:40) Ryan's Mock Draft reactionSUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/user/CBSSportsWATCHCBS Sports HQ: https://www.cbssports.com/live/Paramount Plus: https://www.paramountplus.com FOLLOW US ON:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CBSSports/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cbssports/Twitter - https://twitter.com/CBSSports#nfl #nfldraft #nflcombine #miami #miamihurricanefootball

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 — Clean, well-circulated indoor air can reduce asthma attacks among adults, a new study says. Fans and air purifiers are essential for reducing the risk of flare-ups at home, researchers recently reported in the...

The Canon R8 is not new, and the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 arrived with mixed reactions. Yet this pairing keeps showing up as a favorite for travel and portraits when size and weight actually matter. [Read More]

I know nothing about laser cutter/engravers, and when I offered one to review, I was excited to try. Would I be smart enough to learn how to use it? Would I be creative enough to find a use for it? First Mistake: Smoke EverywhereLike an idiot, I assumed I could set the Falcon A1 Pro on my office desk, plug it in, and start engraving. Within minutes, my office was filling with smoke. [Read More]

Why Should I Watch General Conference? We live in the time of the ongoing Restoration, a time when the heavens are open and God wants to continue to speak to us. And He does! He teaches us both through personal revelation and through His appointed servants at general conference. Twice a year, we have the opportunity to listen as God’s mouthpiece – the prophet – and also other global leaders teach us what God would have us know. However, our lives become busy, and the commitments on our social and work calendars fill up. It’s hard to take two weekends out of the year and completely step away from the world, tuning in to general conference broadcasts all weekend when there are so many other things we could be doing. Our Heavenly Father knows that it is a big sacrifice. He blesses us for our efforts to hear from Him, no matter how big or small those efforts are. Here are three specific reasons why we should watch general conference: To find answers to questions To receive spiritual power To increase our faith Finding Answers to Our Personal Questions General conference is a way for God to speak to us individually. Our leaders are inspired by Him in the messages that they prepare for conference. Even though they may not know us personally, we have a loving Heavenly Father who does. He is aware of every trial, pain, heartache, and question we face. We can come to general conference to find answers to our questions. In the Book of Mormon, the missionary Ammon taught, “And he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning” (Alma 18:32). Just as we receive revelation from the scriptures, listening to our prophet today is our modern-day scripture and revelation for our lives. Wilford Woodruff invited the Saints in an 1881 discourse, “Seek after God; call upon Him in your secret places, and do not turn away from righteousness and truth. There is nothing to be gained by doing that, but everything to lose.”[1] CONTINUED HERE The post Why Should I Watch General Conference? appeared first on FAIR.Continue reading at the original source →

Check out these adorable Easter crochet patterns! There are so many amazing patterns for Easter out there. Here are a few I have found and compiled for you guys. If I had to pick a favorite from this collection, I would definitely have to say number 1, The Easter Bunny Gnome. But, The Ragdoll Spring Bunny is a close second! I love all the details on her! Easter Bunny Gnome Llama Easter Basket Wheat Stitch Easter Bunny Basket Easter Egg Lamb Hat Puff Flower Easter Egg Easter Eggs Ragdoll Spring Bunny Easter Egg Cozy Peek A Boo Bunny Hat Click the images below for more Easter patterns! Even more! The post Easter Crochet Patterns IV appeared first on The Lavender Chair.

I got my VA projects organized … I plan on working on Little Quilts in between all the family and friends visits that are planned. 5 tops are fitted with backs and batting … and I’m not sure my hands are up to it but I’m going to try to hand quilt one of these. Luckily, I have lots of crochet cotton, perle cotton, and even embroidery thread to choose from when I’m looking for the right colors. I used to do some embroidery but now … just some hand quilting on little quilts. I also pulled some more choices for Mom for the Strippies I’m going to kit up for her. There will be some knitting in VA too. Easier to travel with than my blankets but there are 3 Lightning games before we leave so I’ll have plenty of crochet time here.

What do you do when you're planning a shoot in the woodlands during winter, but you live in a region that doesn't see much snow or fog? You walk for hours in this unforgiving environment, trying to find a decent composition, and you end up feeling frustrated that nothing is working. [Read More]

While the broader advertising market spent much of the last year losing heat, Australia’s billboards kept the lights on in spectacular fashion. The Out of Home (OOH) industry announced its full-year net media revenue results for 2025. The numbers paint a picture of a sector that actively takes a larger slice of agency media spend. The industry recorded an 11.43% total increase in net media revenue over the 12-month period. Overall net media revenue for 2025 surged to $1,449.5 million, a healthy step up from the adjusted figure of $1,300.8 million recorded in 2024. Digital dominance and attention metrics It will shock absolutely no one in the agency village to learn that Digital Out of Home (DOOH) inventory remains the undisputed powerhouse of the sector. Revenue from DOOH accounted for 76.6% of total net revenue in 2025, creeping up from the 74.9% recorded the previous year. This growth involves more than just switching on extra screens. Australian marketers increasingly ditch the ‘how much’ mindset for ‘how well’, focusing heavily on attention quality. Programmatic DOOH (pDOOH) also breaks through, giving media buyers the agility to trade outdoor inventory with the same data-led precision they expect from online channels. Out of home full year results for 2025. Where the money was made The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) provided a category breakdown detailing exactly where advertisers parked their budgets over the year. Unsurprisingly, big roadside inventory led the charge. • Roadside Billboards (over and under 25 square metres) proved the most lucrative category, generating $591.5 million in 2025. This figure jumped from $536.2 million in 2024. • Roadside Other (street furniture, bus and tram externals, and small format) secured $321.8 million. The previous year saw this category bring in $295.8 million. • Transport (including airports) saw a significant boost as commuter and travel habits normalised, rising to $222.2 million. This is up from $172.5 million in 2024. • Retail, Lifestyle, and Other categories collectively accounted for $314.1 million. This is a solid increase from the $296.4 million recorded the prior year. The move to MOVE These record figures arrive at a critical juncture for the industry. Next month, the sector transitions to the highly anticipated MOVE measurement system. Launching on 16 March 2026, the updated audience measurement currency promises unprecedented temporal granularity and campaign reporting precision. Elizabeth McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer of the OMA and MOVE, said, “2025’s results are a testament to the strong performance of Out of Home across formats.” She noted that, “Over 11 per cent growth year on year demonstrates how OOH continues to be an incredible and increasingly powerful medium to run campaigns, and one that delivers for brands.” And finally, “We look forward to the continued growth of OOH in 2026 and beyond.” With DOOH already proving its ability to deliver short-term performance and long-term brand building, the new MOVE rollout might just be the catalyst the OMA needs to keep outshining legacy channels in 2026. Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox. The post OOH revenue defies soft ad market to hit $1.44 billion in 2025 appeared first on Mediaweek.

The number of health care and social assistance jobs will increase more quickly than any other industry between now and 2034, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 10-year employment projections released last fall. North Carolina’s labor market, according to... The post Meeting workforce needs: NC community colleges launch and expand high-cost health care programs appeared first on EdNC.

Components are dead. Use your words.

The Simple Lightroom Steps That Make a Subject Pop Alex Cooke January 27, 2026 - 1:53 pm January 28th, 2026 Lightroom can make a flat landscape feel like it has a clear subject, but only if you control where the light goes. This video shows how simple masks can push attention without turning the edit into a fake-looking mess.

A photography workflow is simply a repeatable way of working. It covers how you prepare, how you shoot, and how you deal with your images afterward. In landscape photography, where light, weather, and access are often limited, having a workflow removes uncertainty and prevents small mistakes from becoming lost opportunities. It is not about being rigid or technical. It is about reducing friction so that your attention stays on the landscape rather than on what you forgot or what comes next. [Read More]

AI didn’t create the craft crisis in design—it exposed the technical literacy gap that’s been eroding strategic influence for over a decade.

Leaving a corporate healthcare salary to run a full-time photo and video business sounds bold until you look at the math. Matching an average U.S. salary took more than 200 clients and nearly 300,000 images in a single year. [Read More]

Just 24 hours after posting a sharp earnings decline, ARN Media has reportedly made a senior redundancy, with its Head of Content Operations, Daniel Underhill, understood to have exited the business. Sources told Mediaweek that Underhill, who was based in Western Australia, has been ‘let go’. It’s understood he played a key role in completing the national KIIS and GOLD network builds, regularly travelling between markets as ARN stitched together its east–west strategy. According to one source, the restructure is not limited to a single role. “There’s more to come,” they told Mediaweek. “And it’s going to be across a number of departments.” Mediaweek has contacted both ARN and Underhill for comment. Daniel Underhill. Source: file A reset under pressure The move follows ARN Media’s FY25 result, which laid bare the scale of the challenge facing the audio group. Underlying EBITDA fell 23% year-on-year, sliding from $61.8 million to $47.5 million. Total revenue declined 10% to $285.2 million, while statutory EBITDA dropped 27% to $45.7 million. The numbers reflect sustained pressure in metro radio, with softer advertising demand weighing on earnings. Management has pointed to cost discipline, debt reduction and a renewed digital focus as offsets, but the topline contraction underscores the urgency of the reset. CEO Michael Stephenson described FY25 as the execution phase of a broader strategic shift – a pivot from expansion and network consolidation to tighter operating settings and digital growth. Underhill’s reported departure is notable given his involvement in completing ARN’s national KIIS and GOLD networks – a project that has reshaped the group’s metro footprint and content alignment. Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox. The post EXCLUSIVE: ARN cuts Head of Content Operations after 23% EBITDA fall appeared first on Mediaweek.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25, 2026 — If you avoid getting vaccinated because you dread one needle stick after another, there’s hopeful news from scientists at five major U.S. universities. They’ve taken a major step toward developing a...