During her time with Visit Longmont, Sarah Leonard tried to champion Longmont’s best features. From its excellent breweries to its convenient location along the Front Range, Leonard made sure to listen to what Longmont fans loved about the city. Leonard served as the chief executive officer of Visit Longmont, the destination marketing organization for the city, from early 2023 until earlier this month. On Dec. 1, Leonard will become the CEO of Visit Estes Park, which promotes the amenities of the Estes Park region. As CEO of Visit Longmont, Leonard guided the nonprofit through decisions aimed at making Longmont a true tourist destination. One of those decisions was the sponsoring the Ice Climbing and Dry Tooling World Cup, which was held at Longmont Climbing Collective in February. The event attracted athletes from around the world. By sponsoring and spreading the word about the event, Visit Longmont helped bring the ice climbing competition to Longmont for the first time. Longmont Climbing Collective, which has a five-year deal to host the competition, is already gearing up for next year’s World Cup weekend. “I just think that is the right size, the right vibe,” Leonard said of the competition. “Teams came and spent time at our hotels and also at our short-term rentals.” Another recent addition to the city’s tourism sector was the Longmont Tourism Improvement District. The special district places an additional fee on lodging businesses in the city, and the revenue will fund marketing programs and tourism improvements for Longmont. Visit Longmont spearheaded the formation of the district, talking to hotel partners about the program early last year. The Longmont City Council approved the establishment of the LTID in August. The proposed 2% tourism improvement district fee is estimated to raise an additional $450,000 annually. While the district is still in its infancy, Leonard believes that the revenue generated by the LTID will strengthen Longmont’s reputation as a vibrant place to visit. “It all goes into a pool for destination marketing, which makes, I think, Longmont more competitive,” Leonard said. “When we bring in new visitors who stay overnight, they’re spending more time and then more money supporting our local businesses. That can benefit everyone.” Leonard also presided over Visit Longmont during the birth of its mascot, Monty the Longmonster. Monty was chosen by locals to be the face of the city and can be spotted at community events. Leonard anticipates staying involved in Longmont’s activities going forward, citing “great collaboration” between the northern Colorado destination marketing organizations. Reflecting on what makes Longmont stand out as a tourist destination, Leonard highlighted the city’s museum, evolving food scene and diverse population. “Having that infusion of culture is really appealing to both visitors and residents,” she said. Applications for Visit Longmont CEO are open for another week. Leonard said she hopes the next leader of the nonprofit will take advantage of the new events coming to the region, such as the Sundance Film Festival. “Longmont is in such a good place for the next person to really take it to the next level, because it has so many exciting things going on,” she said.
https://www.dailycamera.com/2025/11/19/sarah-leonard-leaves-city-in-good-place-for-next-visit-longmont-ceo/
Tag: collaboration
Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini from Globetrotter wields a gun in saree; first look out!
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is back in Indian cinema, making a striking return after six years. The actress reunites with audiences in S. S. Rajamouli’s highly anticipated action-adventure epic, *Globetrotter*, co-starring Mahesh Babu.
The first-look poster of Priyanka as Mandakini from *Globetrotter* was unveiled on November 12, 2025, offering a powerful glimpse of her character. Draped in a flowing yellow saree, Priyanka is seen mid-action, aiming a pistol amidst crumbling temple ruins. Mandakini seems to embody strength and mystique in equal measure, blending Rajamouli’s trademark mythological grandeur with raw cinematic energy. This striking visual sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.
The poster has already sparked excitement online, with fans praising Priyanka’s commanding presence and the fusion of traditional and contemporary aesthetics in her look.
Her look was revealed just days ahead of one of the biggest film launch events of the year. JioHotstar will exclusively livestream the first look and teaser launch of *Globetrotter* on November 15 at 7 PM.
The grand event, hosted at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, will see over 50,000 attendees. It will feature a massive 130 ft × 100 ft screen—the largest ever used in India—for the teaser reveal, along with live performances by Shruti Haasan and rapper Divine.
The teaser is expected to introduce Mahesh Babu’s character through a breathtaking sequence shot in the Masai Mara. The evening will culminate with the superstar’s grand entry and a fireworks display lighting up the Hyderabad skyline.
For the unversed, *Globetrotter* marks the first-ever collaboration between S. S. Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu. The film also features Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles. Production is currently underway in Hyderabad and various international locations, with a worldwide release planned for 2026.
Also Read: Priyanka Chopra shares daughter Malti Marie’s sweetest memory from *Globetrotter* sets in Hyderabad: “Had best time with.”
Stay tuned for more Bollywood news and live updates!
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/priyanka-chopra-mandakini-globetrotter-wields-gun-saree-first-look/
SCOOP: Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani’s Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic shelved due to script issues
Earlier this year, Bollywood stalwarts Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani announced their much-anticipated reunion for a third time, collaborating on the yet untitled Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic. The announcement sparked a wave of excitement among fans and industry watchers alike, especially after their successful collaborations in cult films like *3 Idiots* and *P.K.*
However, in a surprising development, the duo has decided to put the Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic on hold.
### SCOOP: Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani’s Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic Shelved Due to Script Issues
Reliable sources have confirmed to Bollywood Hungama that Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani, known for their pursuit of perfection, were not satisfied with the current script of the biopic. According to the sources, “Aamir felt that the script is too dry for today’s audience and lacks the signature humour that fans expect from their collaborations.”
Despite numerous rewrite sessions, the duo collectively decided to pause the project. They believe that a personality as iconic as Dadasaheb Phalke deserves a script that is both emotionally stirring and universally engaging. Until they achieve that benchmark, they have no intention of rushing the film into production.
### What’s Next for Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani?
Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is busy reading multiple scripts as he explores options to lock in his next project. “He is currently reviewing at least 20 shortlisted scripts and plans to announce his next film in the first quarter of 2026,” insiders reveal.
Rajkumar Hirani has also begun the process of identifying his next subject and will soon start writing. Although the Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic is on hold, fans can rest assured that Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani will reunite for another project in the near future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting collaboration!
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**Also Read:**
Rangeela 4K trailer rekindles 90s magic ahead of theatrical re-release on November 28
*For more Bollywood news, keep following our live updates.*
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/scoop-aamir-khan-rajkumar-hiranis-dadasaheb-phalke-biopic-shelved-due-script-issues/
How an Alabama HBCU and a $5 Trillion Company Formed AI Partnership
By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times
About a year ago, Miles College President Bobbie Knight began conversations with a global company that would do something “amazing” for students, faculty, and the community in Alabama, she said. Those talks weren’t with just any company. Knight met with NVIDIA Corporation, which this month became the first publicly traded company to top $5 trillion in market value.
Last week, Miles College and the AI chip maker announced a collaboration to integrate AI across academic programs, faculty research, and community engagement on the Historically Black College and University’s Fairfield campus, The Birmingham Times reported.
“I wanted this partnership because the future is here. It’s not here in 10 years—it’s here right now and AI is part of the future,” said Knight during a panel discussion Friday in Birmingham. “I wanted to make sure that our students, not just at Miles but students in the City of Birmingham and Fairfield, HBCUs, and the state of Alabama are positioned to live in a world that is dominated by AI.”
Miles College is already implementing AI campus-wide, with nearly half of faculty regularly integrating AI into course design and student learning modules. Additionally, about 60 percent of the college’s research is supported by AI.
Louis Stewart, the Head of Strategic Initiatives for NVIDIA’s Global Developer Ecosystem, agreed with Knight that the partnership “is a ‘right now opportunity,’ it’s not a 5-10-year opportunity,” he said during Friday’s panel discussion.
“If all of you are not involved in AI right now, that’s a problem,” he told students. “If you don’t think about how AI can change the situations for your family, that’s a problem. If you’re not bringing your parents along, your brothers and sisters along, that’s a problem.”
A true partnership, Stewart said, is not about “how can NVIDIA invest in you, but how can NVIDIA come walk alongside you as a piece of the puzzle; and you are willing to bring the other pieces to the table. Without the rest of the puzzle, you [just] have a piece. That doesn’t do you any good.”
Knight added that she and Stewart spoke at a conference in San Jose earlier this year, which had 40,000 attendees, and at another in Washington D.C. last week with 10,000 present.
“That’s an audience that will have an opportunity to see what Miles College is doing with NVIDIA and hopefully create other opportunities for others,” she said.
The collaboration is bigger than Miles College, said the school’s president.
“We’ve talked about taking this out to K-12. Young people need to start now understanding AI and the implications of it in your daily lives, not just your life but in the lives of your parents and your grandparents because I think it has the potential to be life-changing for so many.”
https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2025/11/how-an-alabama-hbcu-and-5-trillion-company-formed-ai-partnership/
Tiny dwarf galaxies help solve a 40-year dark matter debate
For decades, scientists have puzzled over why galaxies spin faster than expected. The stars in their outer regions move so quickly that, by the laws of physics, they should fly apart. Something unseen—something massive—seems to be holding them together.
This invisible force has long been attributed to dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up most of the universe’s mass but has never been directly detected. However, some physicists have argued that dark matter may not exist at all, suggesting instead that the laws of gravity themselves might need rewriting.
Now, new research led by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) has taken a major step toward resolving this debate. By studying the smallest and faintest galaxies in the universe—known as dwarf galaxies—the team has found strong evidence supporting the existence of dark matter over alternative theories of gravity.
Their findings, published in *Astronomy & Astrophysics*, suggest that even the tiniest galaxies contain vast halos of dark matter that govern their motion.
### International Collaboration and Methodology
The study was carried out by an international collaboration of scientists from institutions including the University of Surrey, the University of Bath, Nanjing University, the University of Porto, Leiden University, and Lund University.
The researchers focused on 12 dwarf galaxies and carefully mapped how fast their stars move at different distances from the center. Because dwarf galaxies are so small and faint, gathering such precise data was previously impossible. But thanks to new observations and powerful simulations, the team was able to measure their internal gravitational forces in unprecedented detail.
### Testing Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND)
One of the competing theories they tested is called Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). First proposed in the 1980s, MOND suggests that the laws of gravity change under very weak conditions, eliminating the need for dark matter entirely.
Yet, when the team compared MOND’s predictions to the observed star motions, the numbers didn’t add up.
“Both the observations and our simulations show that the gravitational field cannot be explained by visible matter alone,” said Mariana Júlio, a PhD student at AIP and the study’s lead author. “This contradicts modified gravity predictions and reinforces the need for dark matter.”
### Simulations Confirm Dark Matter’s Role
To check their results, the team ran detailed computer simulations using the UK’s DiRAC National Supercomputer. Models that assumed the presence of dark matter produced far better matches to the observed data than those using MOND.
The simulations also revealed that dwarf galaxies behave differently from larger ones. While big galaxies follow a clear relationship between the amount of visible matter and their gravitational pull—known as the radial acceleration relation—this link breaks down in dwarf galaxies.
“Our results confirm that dwarf galaxies don’t behave like scaled-down versions of big galaxies,” explained Dr. Marcel Pawlowski, co-author of the study. “They show higher accelerations than expected, which means there’s more unseen mass—most likely dark matter.”
### Implications and Future Research
Professor Justin Read from the University of Surrey added that new data are allowing researchers to map the gravitational fields of galaxies in greater detail than ever before.
“We can’t explain what we see using only visible matter,” he said. “The simplest explanation is that these galaxies are surrounded by halos of dark matter, which encode the missing information. The modified gravity models just don’t fit.”
While the study doesn’t reveal what dark matter actually is, it narrows the range of possible explanations and strengthens the case for its existence. Future observations of even smaller and more distant galaxies may bring scientists closer to finally uncovering the true nature of the universe’s invisible matter.
https://knowridge.com/2025/11/tiny-dwarf-galaxies-help-solve-a-40-year-dark-matter-debate/
After Jatadhara, Prerna Arora to co-produce another supernatural-mythological film with Zee Studios
Producer Prerna Arora Set to Co-Produce Another Supernatural-Mythological Film with Zee Studios
After the recent announcement of her upcoming film Jatadhara, producer Prerna Arora is gearing up to co-produce yet another supernatural-mythological project in collaboration with Zee Studios.
**Strengthened Partnership with Zee Studios**
Sharing her thoughts on the association, Prerna Arora said,
“Zee Studios has always been my backbone, my foundation, and I’ll always be grateful to them. I began my journey in collaboration with Zee Studios through *Rustom* with Akshay Kumar sir, and now, with *Jatadhara*, a powerful bilingual in Telugu and Hindi, our association has only grown stronger.”
**Praise for the Zee Studios Team**
Prerna expressed her appreciation for her co-producers, stating,
“As a filmmaker and producer, it’s very important to find your own voice and vision—something I’ve truly discovered while working with Zee Studios. It’s a great team that believes in meaningful, large-scale cinema. Mr. Umesh Bansal (CEO, Zee Studios) is not just a business leader but someone who deeply believes in content that resonates with a wider audience. His conviction and clarity of thought make every collaboration creatively fulfilling.”
**Upcoming Ambitious Project**
Looking ahead, Prerna added,
“My next film is also with Zee Studios, an ambitious Pan-India film that will expand into a grand mythological universe. I’m truly excited for this new journey together and it’s now under pre-production. It will go on floors by April 26.”
**Read More**
– [Makers of Jatadhara performed real tantric rituals and chanted authentic mantras during shoot](#)
– [Jatadhara Box Office Collection](#)
**Stay tuned for more Bollywood news and live updates!**
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/jatadhara-prerna-arora-co-produce-another-supernatural-mythological-film-zee-studios/
Pundit Identifies 10 Ways the Ripple and Mastercard Partnership Is Good for XRP
**Ripple Announces Partnership with Mastercard: A Boost for XRP**
*By Sam Wisdom Raphael | TheCryptoBasic | November 5, 2025*
Ripple recently unveiled a significant partnership with global payment giant Mastercard during the Ripple Swell 2025 event held in New York. This collaboration also involves WebBank, a U.S.-regulated financial institution that issues the Gemini Credit Card, and crypto exchange Gemini. Together, these entities plan to pilot blockchain settlement for fiat-based credit card payments using Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, which operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
### Revolutionizing Payment Settlements with Blockchain
The initiative aims to replace traditional, slower financial rails with near-instant blockchain transactions, leveraging the speed and efficiency of the XRPL. Over the coming months, the partners will begin onboarding RLUSD on the XRP Ledger once required regulatory approvals are obtained. Simultaneously, they will plan the integration of this new blockchain settlement process into Mastercard and WebBank’s existing payment systems.
### Why This Collaboration is Good for XRP
Industry experts have pointed out several key benefits this partnership brings to XRP and the XRPL ecosystem:
1. **Boosts XRPL Adoption:** Connecting XRPL to real-world financial services like Mastercard settlements demonstrates blockchain’s practical utility beyond niche applications.
2. **Strengthens Ripple’s Credibility:** Collaborating with respected financial institutions such as Mastercard and WebBank validates Ripple’s technology compliance with major industry standards.
3. **Increases Transaction Activity:** The use of RLUSD for Mastercard payments could significantly increase on-chain transaction volume, enhancing XRP’s utility.
4. **Drives Demand for XRP:** With RLUSD’s circulation recently surpassing $1 billion, growing adoption could naturally elevate demand for XRP.
5. **Key Regulatory Milestone:** The partnership signals Ripple’s ability to develop blockchain payment models that comply with U.S. financial regulations, a major win in the crypto space.
### Additional Potential Benefits for XRP
Beyond these immediate impacts, pundits have identified five more ways XRP could benefit from this collaboration:
6. **Bridges Traditional and Decentralized Finance:** The partnership deepens XRP’s reach by connecting legacy finance systems with decentralized blockchain solutions.
7. **Builds on Previous Successes:** This venture extends Ripple’s earlier achievements, such as the Gemini XRP Credit Card launched in August, which demonstrated XRP’s practical payment use cases.
8. **Improves Market Sentiment:** The announcement is likely to boost investor confidence and reinforce belief in Ripple’s strategic roadmap, which includes ongoing acquisitions and partnerships.
9. **Fuels Broader Ecosystem Growth:** Increased adoption of Ripple’s services, including Ripple Payments, may result from heightened visibility and institutional backing.
10. **Opens Doors for Institutional Adoption:** If Mastercard’s pilot proves successful, similar models could be adopted by other global banks and card issuers, expanding XRP’s footprint in mainstream finance.
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### Market Insights: XRP and Broader Crypto Developments
– **XRP Rally Target:** Market analyst CasiTrades expects XRP to surge toward a $4.50 rally, signaling an end to its consolidation phase.
– **Cardano Breakout:** A prominent chartist highlights a falling wedge breakout in Cardano, potentially leading to a run above $2 after touching $1.20.
– **Bitcoin Dominance:** Analyst Michaël van de Poppe observes a critical tipping point in Bitcoin dominance that may trigger an altcoin season.
– **Ethereum Gains:** Ethereum has narrowed the gap, nearly matching Bitcoin’s annual performance following strong Q3 gains.
– **Citibank Price Predictions:** Citibank projects Bitcoin to hit $231,000 and Ethereum to reach $7,500 within the next 12 months.
– **XRP Price Scenarios:** Industry leaders speculate on XRP’s growth potential, especially if Bitcoin hits the $1 million milestone.
– **Analyst Price Targets:** EGRAG Crypto maintains a bullish stance, suggesting XRP remains in a strong accumulation zone with macro targets as high as $50.
– **Shiba Inu and Dogecoin Updates:** Shiba Inu recently fell to a 23-month low but could rebound strongly after touching key support levels. Dogecoin shows positive signs of following its initial bull cycle, with analysts forecasting potential price surges.
—
### Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed reflect the author’s personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of TheCryptoBasic. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. TheCryptoBasic is not responsible for any financial losses incurred.
—
**About the Author**
*Sam Wisdom Raphael* is a seasoned crypto news writer and journalist with five years of experience covering blockchain, DeFi, and cryptocurrency developments. His active engagement with the crypto community and deep knowledge enable him to deliver clear price analyses and explain complex blockchain concepts effectively.
https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/11/06/pundit-identifies-10-ways-the-ripple-and-mastercard-partnership-is-good-for-xrp/
Innovate Alabama launches statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama
**Innovate Alabama Kicks Off Statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama**
Innovate Alabama recently launched its statewide Network Roadshow in West Alabama, titled “Connecting Alabama: Igniting the Innovate Alabama Network.” The event brought together community leaders and elected officials to celebrate regional progress, strengthen collaboration, and highlight the people and partnerships fueling innovation across the state.
Hosted by Innovate Alabama Network member Main Street Marion, in partnership with the Marion Military Institute, this event marked the first stop in a six-region series. The Roadshow showcases Alabama’s growing innovation ecosystem—from rural towns to urban centers—and demonstrates Innovate Alabama’s commitment to investing in every corner of the state.
“This Roadshow is about more than a celebration; it’s about connection,” said Sen. Bobby Singleton, Innovate Alabama board member and representative of Senate District 24. “Programs like the Innovate Alabama Network empower communities to work together, access new resources, and build a stronger economic foundation for our region. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration and investment can move Alabama forward.”
### Recognition of West Alabama Organizations
During the West Alabama event, Innovate Alabama recognized 13 West Alabama organizations for their leadership and impact through the Innovate Alabama Network:
– CHOICE Uniontown, Perry County
– City of Marion, Marion County
– City of Selma, Dallas County
– City of Thomasville, Clarke County
– City of Uniontown, Perry County
– City of York, Sumter County
– Industrial Development Foundation of Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa County
– Main Street Marion, Perry County
– Town of White Hall, Lowndes County
– Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa County
– Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Foundation, Tuscaloosa County
– Tuscaloosa Sports & Tourism Foundation, Tuscaloosa County
– University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa County
The Innovate Alabama Network currently includes 168 total designees, representing 38 counties across the state.
### Building Stronger Local Economies Through Innovation
“The Innovate Alabama Network Roadshow is designed to bring our partners together in their own regions to listen, celebrate, and build on what’s working,” said Karri Green, program director of the Innovate Alabama Network. “Each stop of this tour will help us identify opportunities to strengthen local economies through innovation and ensure that communities across the state have the tools and connections they need to prosper.”
In addition to celebrating local impact, the Roadshow provides a platform for discussions among Innovate Alabama leadership, local organizations, and elected officials. Conversations focus on how Innovate Alabama’s programs and funding are helping communities grow jobs, attract investment, and expand opportunities statewide.
### Event Highlights in West Alabama
The West Alabama event featured remarks from Innovate Alabama board and staff leadership, along with local and state officials. A community awards presentation recognized organizations advancing innovation in their regions.
Attendees also toured Main Street Marion’s Harris Technology Center, a local hub supporting education and workforce development in the Black Belt region. This center was made possible through Innovate Alabama’s Network designation program.
### Roadshow Continues Across Alabama
Continuing its focus on strengthening innovation in Alabama’s rural communities, the Innovate Alabama Network Roadshow will travel across the state in the coming months, with stops planned in additional regions.
Stay tuned for updates as the Roadshow connects with more communities and continues to ignite innovation throughout Alabama.
https://www.alreporter.com/2025/11/04/innovate-alabama-launches-statewide-network-roadshow-in-west-alabama/
Ray Enhances Scheduling with New Label Selectors
Ray, the distributed computing framework, has introduced a significant update with the release of label selectors—a feature designed to enhance scheduling flexibility for developers. According to a recent announcement by Anyscale, this new capability enables more precise placement of workloads on appropriate nodes within a cluster.
### Enhancing Workload Placement
The introduction of label selectors is part of a collaboration with the Google Kubernetes Engine team. Available in Ray version 2.49, this feature is integrated across the Ray Dashboard, KubeRay, and Anyscale’s AI compute platform. It allows developers to assign specific labels to nodes in a Ray cluster, such as `cpu-family=intel` or `market-type=spot`. This labeling system streamlines the scheduling process for tasks, actors, or placement groups on specified nodes, providing greater control and efficiency.
### Addressing Previous Limitations
Previously, scheduling tasks on specific nodes presented challenges for developers. Many had to rely on workarounds that mixed resource quantities with placement constraints, leading to convoluted and less effective solutions. Label selectors overcome these issues by enabling more flexible expressions of scheduling requirements. They support exact matches, any-of conditions, and negative matches—such as avoiding GPU nodes or specifying particular regions like `us-west1-a` or `us-west1-b`.
### Integration with Kubernetes
Ray’s label selectors are inspired by Kubernetes labels and selectors, enhancing interoperability between the two platforms. This development aligns with ongoing efforts to integrate Ray more closely with Kubernetes, allowing users to leverage familiar APIs and semantics for more advanced scheduling use cases.
### Practical Applications
With label selectors, developers can achieve a wide range of scheduling goals, including:
– Pinning tasks to specific nodes
– Selecting CPU-only placements
– Targeting nodes with specific accelerators
– Keeping workloads within designated regions or zones
The feature supports both static and autoscaling clusters. Anyscale’s autoscaler takes into account resource shapes and label selectors to appropriately scale worker groups based on current needs.
### Future Developments
Looking ahead, Ray plans to expand the label selector feature with enhancements such as:
– Fallback label selectors
– Library support for common scheduling patterns
– Improved interoperability with Kubernetes
These improvements aim to simplify workload scheduling further and enhance the overall user experience.
For more detailed instructions and API information, developers are encouraged to consult the Anyscale and Ray official guides.
*Image source: Shutterstock*
https://Blockchain.News/news/ray-enhances-scheduling-with-new-label-selectors
NYC’s creepy Ratbubu is here to terrify your dreams, just in time for Halloween — but good luck getting one
New York is gross — and we love it.
A new pop-up is raising a big stink, celebrating the city’s signature grime with a cheeky collection of rat-themed merchandise and chaotic charm. Among the highlights is the sold-out Ratbubu: a tattooed and pierced Labubu dressed like a rodent.
The WELOVENYC “Comeback Collection” features everything from creepy Ratbubu plushies to trash-bag earbud covers ($25), “Legal Cocaine” coffee mugs ($35), and “S-t Shield” sneaker guards ($12). True New Yorkers are embracing the grit and grime of our beloved dirty city through this quirky lineup.
“It’s more about what New York is really like. The funky stuff,” Tanya De Poli, a co-creator of the WELOVENYC collection, told The Post. This curious compilation is a collaboration between numerous New York artists, which drew a long line of locals to the dingy corner of Walker and Lafayette for its Friday night opening.
“Rats are a part of that, so why not play that up?” she added. That seems about right, considering the Big Apple has even employed a “rat czar” and features a rat whisperer who offers tours of the city’s most populous rodent hangouts.
Shoppers were greeted at the teeny pop-up space at 101 Lafayette St. by a back wall covered in real rat traps spray-painted with “We Heart NYC.” Hanging there were some of the creepy-but-cute $55 Ratbubus, the store’s priciest item.
The first 300 limited-edition toys sold out on opening night, sending desperate fans back to the store Saturday morning or sliding into the team’s DMs begging for one. “They went crazy,” De Poli told The Post with a laugh as a fresh shipment arrived Monday afternoon.
Labubus are small, plush toy keychains of an elf-like monster adorned with pointed ears, a wide serrated grin, large eyes, and fuzzy costumes. These have gained popularity after being sported on the designer bags of celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, David Beckham, Emma Roberts, Hilary Duff, Kim Kardashian, and countless others. Some have sold for as high as $10,000.
But the new, coveted Ratbubus are much cheaper—at least for now.
Opening night also offered free, pre-designed “flash” tattoos by Chris Torres with any $50 purchase. The team was stunned by how many people waited patiently to have a rat permanently inked on their skin.
However, don’t worry if you have FOMO: Ratbubus and more rat tattoos return Tuesday night, this time with rat-shaped latte art by Moonface. Keep in mind, though, that only 100 Ratbubus will be available, so you’d better hurry.
The third and final Ratbubu drop happens Thursday, capped off with a rat costume contest so fans can twin with their new furry accessories.
“I knew it would be both memorable and iconic. One of my favourite aspects of this is the New York creatives involved who came together to make this happen,” Rick McGuire, the founder and creator behind SubwayCreatures, told Little Black Book. He partnered with the WELOVENYC team to curate the pop-up, which will run through Saturday, Nov. 1.
Among the artists popping up is Pamela Barsky, known as the “Original New York Bag Lady” for her line of scrawled-on totes. Her radical rodent bags ($35) offer phrases that include “Sometimes I think the rats run this city better than we do” and “Real New Yorkers don’t scream when they see a rat.”
“It’s the new and more honest New York,” WELOVENYC co-creator Checha Agost Carreno proclaimed to The Post, celebrating the authenticity of the project which clearly has an appreciative homegrown audience. “We didn’t want this collection to be for the tourists,” De Poli added.
If you’re ready to embrace the funky, gritty spirit of New York, this pop-up is definitely worth a visit. But hurry—these rats are running wild and won’t stick around for long!
https://nypost.com/2025/10/27/lifestyle/nycs-creepy-ratbubu-is-here-to-terrify-your-dreams-just-in-time-for-halloween-but-good-luck-getting-one/