Five seminal scenes that turned great movies into masterpieces

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

(Credits: Far Out / MUBI / Criterion Collection / Columbia Pictures) Wed 8 January 2025 13:30, UK Some films are widely labelled as ‘masterpieces’, and hoards of movie lovers regularly rewatch them to deconstruct their favourite moments. When you feel that instantaneous click with a film that forever cements it in your brain as something that you love, it’s hard not to revisit it to recreate the feeling you had when first watching it.Whether you find yourself desperately trying to feel the same rush after watching Whiplash for the first time or the flood of tears that came after The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, any cinephile will relate to that relentless quest for recreation and understanding as you comb through a beloved piece of work.And sometimes, when re-exploring the classics that have shaped cinema, we notice certain moments that elevate the whole film, turning it from something great to the reason why you will always remember it.So, with that in mind, here are five scenes that turned great movies into certified masterpieces.Five scenes that turned movies into masterpieces: Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater, 1995) Few films capture the early stages of falling in love as beautifully as Before Sunrise, with the rest of the trilogy charting the natural course of a relationship in a way that is cripplingly honest and human. However, the first instalment shows the evolution of a romantic spark between two unsuspecting lovers who are taken aback by their encounter’s spontaneity. As the film goes on, we see them go through the ecstatic highs of initial attraction as they sneak glances at each other and are enthralled by every new piece of information they discover and the subtle lows of small disagreements that signal potential bumps in the road. While the film is widely loved by both cynics and hopeful romantics, one scene marks it as a masterpiece: the moment in the listening booth. There is nothing more thrilling than the perceived danger of stealing glances at someone you have a crush on, and the listening booth scene is beyond perfect in how it captures this feeling. There is something so innocent about it, with this lingering romantic tension hanging over them as they stand next to each other in this confined space, trying to focus on listening to a piece of music but most likely thinking about whether the other person is going to ‘make a move’. It’s completely wonderful and remains one of the most loved moments in Jesse and Celine’s relationship. [embedded content]8½ (Federico Fellini, 1963) The impact of Federico Fellini on wider cinema cannot be understated. His 1963 film 8½ is perhaps the most celebrated from his filmography, with filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Abbas Kiarostami often referencing his work. However, there is one scene from 8½ that crops up the most. 8½ is a semi-autobiographical story about a director looking back on his life and career, struggling to find purpose and creative motivation as he reflects on his memories. While there are many stunning moments in the film, with an introspective and sensitive performance from Marcello Mastrianni, the ending has elevated it to the status it holds today. During the final scene, all the characters from Anselmi’s life gather in one dance sequence on the beach, reaffirming the magic of filmmaking and revitalising his passion for life. In addition, it blends the story of making the film with the film itself, with the unbridled joy and bittersweet quality of this final moment becoming a wake-up call to the power of creativity and life itself. [embedded content]Beau Travail (Claire Denis, 1999) Beau Travail is one of the most hypnotic and mesmerising films of all time, with Claire Denis expertly commenting on the confines of masculinity through the lives of these soldiers in the desert. The film shows Denis at her best, expertly restraining information and showing everything with a masterful subtlety and precision that completely encompasses the audience. However, a film that is built on repressed feelings and sexual tension desperately needs a catharsis, and the ending scene allows for a euphoric release that cements the film as a true masterpiece. In the final scene, after learning that Galoup has killed himself, we see a sequence of the disgraced soldier dancing alone in a nightclub, surrounded by nothing but mirrors, as he finally lets himself go and frees himself from the facade. It’s a euphoric moment that is also marked by what comes before it, highlighting his duality and capability for softness that has always been pushed away, leaving us devastated by the tenderness he was distanced from. [embedded content]All That Jazz (Bob Fosse, 1979) Funnily enough, All That Jazz shares some similar qualities to the last two films but is starkly different in its vivacious energy and surrealist undertones. It follows the life and career of Joe Gideon, a genius musical theatre director whose health and personal life is rapidly declining after years at the top of the entertainment industry. Given that it was based on the life of Bob Fosse, it’s a brave and vulnerable piece of work in which the director critiques himself and his own personal failings, reflecting on his relationships, his treatment of women and his capabilities as a father. While there are many moments that stand out, the dizzying fantasy sequence towards the end elevates the project to a whole new level, with Gideon singing about his imminent death in a tongue and cheek way as all his loved ones come onto the stage and plead him not to die. It’s incredibly heightened and glittery, with larger-than-life set pieces and costumes that feel distinctly dystopia, given the subject matter of the song. No one has ever achieved anything quite like it, with Fosse showing that if you want your own really great biopic, then you simply have to make it yourself. [embedded content]I Saw The TV Glow (Jane Schoenbrun, 2024) I don’t think I’ll ever stop talking about I Saw The TV Glow, which remains one of the most profound cinema experiences I’ve ever had. It tells the story of Owen, a teenager whose reality begins to crack when introduced to a television show called The Pink Opaque. It’s a strange and ethereal piece of work that leaves you feeling as though you are also stuck in the screen, with a nightmarish quality that gradually builds into a scream as you realise that Owen is also trapped and unable to live authentically, forever stuck in alien-feeling skin. But in all the beautifully haunting moments from the film, there is one that truly rattled me to my core. Towards the end, there is a scene that takes place in the future, with Owen working in an arcade. But after years of not truly living and having all the joy and possibility sucked out of life, Owen is a hollow shell of a person, aged by the weight of an unrealised self. We see him look in the mirror and realise that there is all this potential glowing inside of him, but it dawns on him that it will never be reached. He lets out a horrific scream, scratching away at his skin as he desperately tries to make sense of his life and the crippling feeling of not being who you are supposed to be. It ends with an urgent and poignant message about self-realisation and someone who isn’t able to come of age, leaving us with a wake-up call about trans folk all over the world who face increasing challenges in living as their true selves. [embedded content]Related TopicsSubscribe To The Far Out Newsletter

Outlook ’25: How Might the EU AI Act Affect Tech Implementation This Year?

Technology

In the United States, Congress can’t seem to agree on a comprehensive artificial intelligence bill or package. But elsewhere in the world, politicians have seen, and answered, the need for safeguards as the technology continues to proliferate. 
But a laissez-faire attitude in the U.S. could see companies scrambling to meet the requirements of what experts like Reiko Feaver, partner at CM Law, call “patchwork”-style state laws, especially once paired with international laws, like the EU AI Act. 

Already, a few U.S. states have implemented AI-focused legislation. Companies operating at an international scale—whether based in the U.S. or elsewhere—may soon be subject to a slew of opposing or differing pieces of legislation, depending where and how they choose to deploy AI-powered technology. 

Helen Christakos, partner at A&O Shearman, said the legislation in varying jurisdictions seems to keep a few central tenets in sight.  “There are threads of similarity that we’re seeing across jurisdictions, and some of those threads are around transparency and bias,” Christakos said. “These are common themes, but the implementation is a bit different in different jurisdictions, so the focus is on how we implement.” 

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When the EU AI Act passed, experts told Sourcing Journal they expected it would have a domino effect on other countries, and that they thought it might help U.S. legislators craft and pass a comprehensive AI bill. By and large, experts now say the hopes of such a package are likely to be dashed under the incoming Trump-Vance administration. 

Still, the EU AI Act remains relevant to U.S. corporations operating in or deploying customer-focused technology to the bloc, which means that, though the U.S. itself has not outlined how companies must handle the technology, the EU’s standards may soon become precedent. 

The EU AI Act is a risk classification system, with some more innocuous models coming in as “low risk,” and others on the opposite side of the spectrum being labeled “unacceptable risk.” The systems on the more dangerous end of the spectrum include those to do with biometric categorization, social scoring, emotion recognition in the workplace and more. 

Regulating models under the EU AI Act

According to Di Lorenzo, some of the most widely adopted use cases for AI systems in fashion and apparel, like using AI-enabled robots to make warehouses more efficient, are likely to be classified as low risk by the EU AI Act. Those operations, then, would not be affected by the AI Act.Other use cases, like using AI to generate digital models, will be subject to transparency requirements under the EU AI Act—even if they still qualify as low risk. 

“If you create deepfakes—images that present something that has never happened, and is a made-up thing—you need to qualify them; for example, by having text on them saying ‘Generated by AI,’” she said.

Transparency requirements, though, won’t come into effect until 2026. 

In the meantime, Christakos and Catherine Di Lorenzo, partner at A&O Shearman, said, brands and retailers should work to get their ducks in a row—to understand how the systems they already use, or are interested in using, will be classified and to put the necessary safeguards in preemptively. 

But systems developed—but in most cases for fashion, apparel and retail, deployed—by companies may not be the only issue companies have to consider. 

A March Pew Research report showed that 20 percent of U.S. adults already use ChatGPT to help them with tasks at work. If a company develops or deploys its AI-based technology to EU residents—which could include EU-based employees for multinational companies—it is responsible for those systems’ risk levels. 

Di Lorenzo noted that, under the EU AI Act, it will likely become important for companies to set guardrails around employees’ use of general-purpose AI models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. 

For example, if an HR team uses ChatGPT or another open-source model to make decisions on recruitment and hiring, that could become a high-risk use case, which may leave a company at risk of violating provisions of the AI Act without proper oversight.

A few specific pieces of the EU AI Act—particularly related to models with “unacceptable risk”—will become effective in 2025, but by and large, this year will be a game of preparing for the full slate of regulations to come into effect in 2026.

Globally, it’s probable that other legislation will pass and become effective prior to all sections of the AI Act; Di Lorenzo said it’s important to keep an eye on budding laws and compare them with already established legislation. 

“The important thing is to identify which are the laws that apply to you, and try to define a common denominator under those laws,” she said.

James Stewart confessed his favourite of his movies was ‘nothing phenomenal’

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

James Stewart was a titan of Golden Age Hollywood, starring in 80 films throughout his epic career.The Oscar-winning World War 2 veteran and Presidential Medal of Freedom holder was incredibly relatable for audiences with his everyman characters.Yet out of all his films, it turns out his favourite was probably his most famous: Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.Reflecting on the Christmas classic, which is now considered one of the greatest movies ever made, he once said: “A friend told me recently that seeing a movie I made more than 40 years ago is a holiday tradition in his family. “That movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, and out of all the 80 films I’ve made, it’s my favourite. But it has an odd history.”Inspired by A Christmas Carol, Stewart starred as George Bailey, a selfless and down-on-his-luck businessman who is saved by an angel and shown what his life would have been like had he never existed.The uplifting and life-affirming film had “an odd history” because it didn’t perform well at the box office upon its release in 1946.It wasn’t really until the 1970s, when it entered the public domain and was regularly shown on TV, that it suddenly became a family festive staple.Stewart added in Guideposts: “It seems to me there is nothing phenomenal about the movie itself… It’s simply about an ordinary man who discovers that living each ordinary day honourably, with faith in God and a selfless concern for others, can make for a truly wonderful life.”

Antarctic sea ice rebounds from record lows: US scientists

Science and Health

Antarctic sea ice rebounded in December after a long period of record lows, US scientists said, giving pause to speculation that Earth’s frozen continent could be undergoing a permanent change.The rate of sea ice loss during the warmer spring months of November and December slowed to well below average, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said in a statement on Tuesday.This followed a “prolonged period of record to near-record daily lows” in 2023 and 2024 — the hottest years in the history books for global temperature rises driven by climate change.By the end of 2024, Antarctic sea ice extent had recovered to 7.3 million square kilometres (2.8 million square miles) — very close to the 1981 to 2010 average, NSIDC said.This erased the record and near-record low extents of October and November, it added.”This provides a sharp illustration of the high variability of Antarctic sea ice extent,” NSIDC said.Ocean temperature records — both at the surface and deep below — have tumbled since 2023, driven partly by an El Nino phenomenon that elevated heat around the globe.

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Scientists have been concerned since mid-2016 that global warming could be setting in motion more lasting changes in how much sea ice forms around the world’s coldest continent.NSIDC said this “regime-shift idea” took hold particularly after a persistent stretch of below-average sea ice and “dramatic” records or near-records in 2017, 2023 and 2024.”The recent slowdown in extent loss during December gives some pause to this idea”, it said, though cautioned that a one-month rebound was not enough to contradict the theory outright.Overall, sea ice concentrations in Antarctica remain “generally low over large areas of the pack”, it added.”This, combined with indications of a warm spring with high surface melting on the continent itself, will make for an interesting upcoming summer.”np/phz

‘This is like a movie scene’: California’s Eaton fire burns multiple homes

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.Jan. 8, 202505:39‘We’re praying for mercy here’: KNBC reporter describes devastation by Eaton Fire03:54NBC News reporter breaks down how journalists safely cover wildfires03:16Now Playing’This is like a movie scene’: California’s Eaton fire burns multiple homes05:39UP NEXTCalifornia wildfire scorches abandoned cars left behind by evacuees01:47Fire chief on out-of-control LA wildfires, ‘consistent’ wind gusts02:00Unprecedented wildfires scorch Pacific Palisades in California01:39LA official on California wildfires: This is a public safety emergency02:47Stunning new images emerge of intensifying California wildfires02:40California firefighter: ‘Get in your cars and leave the area’01:09Homes ravaged by Eaton Fire in southern California as residents fight to save properties01:27Destructive winds will lead to explosive fire growth in Southern California01:03LAFD firefighter and multiple civilians injured, official says05:48Nursing home in Pasadena evacuated as thick smoke from wildfire approaches08:00‘We were choking on the smoke’: Witness shares scene as he evacuated from Eaton Fire02:47Doctor encourages masks to protect from poor air quality amid wildfire 02:37‘Get out if you want to live’: Man describes moments he evacuated his car06:25‘There were flames everywhere’: LA resident describes seeing wildfire outside home04:35Bulldozer moves cars blocking Palisades Fire escape route00:49California Gov. Newsom urges residents to heed evacuation warnings as Palisades Fire grows02:44‘You’re not going to save your house’: Palisades Fire threatens homes, burns cars in Los Angeles01:18KNBC reporter Michelle Valles walks through an Altadena, Calif., neighborhood as homes ignited by the Eaton Fire burn around her. The fire double in size overnight, consuming thousands of acres and destroying multiple homes.Jan. 8, 2025Read

The week’s bestselling books, Jan. 12

Arts & Culture, Books

Hardcover fiction1. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) A woman upends her domestic life in this irreverent and tender novel. 2. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 3. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Grove Press: $20) During the 1985 Christmas season, a coal merchant in an Irish village makes a troubling discovery. 4. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history and the people they love. 5. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books: $30) Two worlds collide when a teenager vanishes from her Adirondacks summer camp. 6. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt & Co.: $29) An unexpected wedding guest gets surprise help on her journey to starting anew. 7. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (Scribner: $30) A seductive and cunning American woman infiltrates an anarchist collective in France. 8. The Women by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press: $30) An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time. 9. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Random House: $30) A return to the town of Crosby, Maine, and its colorful cast of characters. 10. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Hanover Square: $20) A Tokyo cafe gives customers the chance to travel back in time. …Hardcover nonfiction1. Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown & Co.: $32) The bestselling author reframes the lessons of his first book 25 years later. 2. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer’s guidance on how to be a creative person. 3. Atomic Habits by James Clear (Avery: $27) The self-help expert’s guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones via tiny changes in behavior. 4. The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World: $30) The National Book Award winner travels to three sites of conflict to explore how the stories we tell, and the ones we don’t, shape our realities. 5. Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik (Scribner: $30) Eve Babitz’s diary-like letters provide a window into her fellow literary titan, Joan Didion. 6. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson (Crown: $35) An exploration of the pivotal five months between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the Civil War’s start. 7. The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides (Doubleday: $35) An epic account of Capt. James Cook’s final voyage. 8. Patriot by Alexei Navalny (Knopf $35) The memoir of a political opposition leader who paid the ultimate price. 9. What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (Gallery Books: $35) A memoir chronicling a year’s worth of meals from the actor. 10. Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (Crown: $34) The Barefoot Contessa shares the story of her rise in the food world. …Paperback fiction1. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17)2. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18)3. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22)4. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Vintage: $19)5. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Catapult: $18)6. The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Hogarth: $17)7. North Woods by Daniel Mason (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $18)8. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Vintage: $18)9. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (Celadon Books: $18)10. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Entangled: Red Tower Books: $21)…Paperback nonfiction1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12)2. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18)3. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $35)4. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17)5. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (Crown: $20)6. All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley (Simon & Schuster: $19)7. The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga (Atria Books: $19)8. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (Vintage: $17)9. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $18)10. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (Harper Perennial: $18) More to Read

Direct Flights Between Albania and Israel: Rama Emphasizes Cultural, Tourism, and Business Opportunities

Travel

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the launch of direct flights between Albania and Israel, describing the new connection as a gateway to cultural exchanges, tourism, and business growth.
Rama underlined the deep historical bond between the two nations, including Albania’s heroic role in sheltering Jews during World War II, as a foundation for stronger ties moving forward.
“This is fantastic news for further strengthening the ties between Israel and Albania! Direct flights will not only make travel more convenient but will also unlock opportunities for cultural exchanges, tourism, and business. The historic relationship, including Albania’s vital role in sheltering Jews during WWII, provides a solid basis for even closer cooperation. Encouraging Israelis to explore Albania’s stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and growing economy will undoubtedly foster stronger friendships and partnerships. A future of collaboration and mutual respect could lead to extraordinary opportunities for both nations. Here’s to unforgettable memories and a thriving friendship.”
Rama also expressed his appreciation for Israeli President Isaac Herzog, thanking him for bringing a distinguished group of Israeli entrepreneurs to Albania and for his inspiring words to the Jewish business community, urging them to see Albania as a land full of opportunities.
/k.s/

Things to do in the Loveland area on Wednesday: Blues jam, book club, story times

Arts & Culture, Books

TodayBlues Jam: 6-9 p.m., Black and Blues Music and Brews, 423 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland. blackandbluesmusicandbrews.com.
ReadMore Book Club: 10-11:30 a.m., Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. The January book is “Once Upon A Wardrobe” by Patti Callahan Henry. Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.
Homeward Alliance Family Resource Navigator: 10 a.m.-noon, Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. Office hours to help families and individuals with housing and rental assistance, obtaining documents, employment navigation and assistance applying for public benefits. Website: homewardalliance.org.
Baby and Toddler Storytime: 10:15-10:45 a.m., Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. For up to age 3 and their caregivers. Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.
Preschool Storytime: 11-11:30 a.m., Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. For ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.
Texas Hold’em: 7-8:15 p.m., Boise Tavern, 1475 N. Boise Ave., No. 4, Loveland. Free, rockymountainpokervenues.com.
Walk-In Book Donations Accepted: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays, The Sorting Place, 1010 W. 10th St., Loveland. The Friends of the Library is accepting books, puzzles, games, DVDs and CDs for the May 2-4, 2025 Used Book Sale. friendsofthelovelandlibrary.org.
“Merry and Bright: Color and Stripe”: noon-6 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins. Exhibit of art by Anne Bossert, Noelle Miller and Niraja Lorenz will run through Feb. 7. Free, 970-221-6730 or visit lctix.com.
Upcoming
Longs Peak Talk: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland. On the 100th anniversary of the first-ever wintertime East Face Summit of Longs Peak, the Loveland Historical Society will hear Kurtis Kelly recount the harrowing story of that climb. Free and open to the public; donations accepted, 970-988-3951.
Bize-Sized Conversations With SAVA Center: 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland, in the Erion Room. A monthly opportunity to discuss topics surrounding the effects of sexual violence, survivor support, and self-care in a safe and supportive environment. The topic for January will be sexual violence and gender in the media. For ages 16 and up.  [email protected].
Reggae Jam: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Black and Blues Music and Brews, 423 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland. blackandbluesmusicandbrews.com.
Texas Hold’Em: 7-8:15 p.m. Thursdays, Charlie L’s Pub, 271 14th St. SE, Loveland. Free to play, rockymountainpokervenues.com.
Small Batch Trivia: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, MeadKrieger Meadery, 452 N. Washington Ave., Loveland. Free, bit.ly/46DR4H6.
Lions Club Bingo: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Bingo Planet, 281 E. 29th St., Loveland. $10, [email protected].
Homeward Alliance Mobile Laundry: 9 a.m-noon Thursdays and Fridays, drop off at Loveland Public Library parking lot, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. Pick up by 2:45 p.m. the same day. Call 970-460-6451 or email [email protected].
Family Storytime: 10:15-10:45 a.m. Thursdays, Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. For up to age 5 and their caregivers. Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.
Bilingual Storytime: 11-11:30 a.m. Thursdays, Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland. For up to age 5 and their caregivers. Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.
Waggin’ Tales: 4-5 p.m. Thursdays, Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., Loveland.   Children can practice reading with a licensed therapy dog. Come to the Children’s desk during or up to 30 minutes before the program to sign up your child/family for a session with the dog.  Free, lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events.

Poudre Pub Talk: 6-7 p.m. Thursday,  500 Linden St., New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins. A look at the history of the Poudre Trail and a trail completion update with speakers George Moncaster, lead researcher/author at Colorado State University, and Zac Wiebe, planning and natural resource specialist with the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources. Reserve a spot at poudreheritage.org/poudre-pub-talks.

Author Kat Mackenzie Celebrates First Novel at The Garden District Book Shop

Arts & Culture, Books

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Garden District Book Shop announced that debut author Kat Mackenzie will be at the shop on Jan. 14 to celebrate the release of her first novel “Work in Progress.” 
The Garden District Book Shop shares “Work in Progress” is a warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver. 
The evening will kick off at 6 p.m. Mackenzie will be joined by fellow rom-com author Alexandra Vastri. The two will chat about all things romance and answer guests’ questions. Afterwards, Mackenzie will be available to personalize copies of her book. The event is free but guests are encouraged to RSVP and reserve their book on Eventbrite.