• I took a day trip to Florida from New Jersey and back with my best friend.
• We spent 11 hours in Las Olas and had a great time lounging on the beach, shopping, and eating.
• My roundtrip flight was just $58, and I didn't need to pay for a hotel or tote around luggage.

Let's be honest, it is way too easy to spend $200 nowadays.

That money could be spent participating in one girls' night out or restocking just a few beauty staples at Sephora. However, that got me thinking: Why not spend the same amount of money on a memorable travel experience?

So, I recently challenged myself to take a same-day trip from New Jersey to Florida for under $200. Not only was my itinerary perfect, but also I didn't need to pay for a hotel or deal with toting around luggage.

Here's how I did it — and why you should try a quick turnaround trip on your next day off.

A cheap flight was the key to keeping trip costs low.

The biggest factor in pulling off a budget-friendly day trip is finding an affordable flight with good timing.

I needed one that left early in the morning and returned late at night so I'd have a full day to enjoy Florida.

So, I used the travel site Expedia to track prices and scored a round-trip ticket from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) for $58 on a budget airline.

I didn't need to pay to add bags since I got a free personal item, and I packed light for this day trip.

My flight left EWR at 5:45 a.m. and arrived in FLL at 8:51 a.m. My return flight left at 9:06 p.m. With this schedule, I had about 11 hours to explore the area.

I'm not a morning person — until I'm at the airport at 4 a.m. for a trip.

My best friend agreed to join me on the trip, and we woke up at 3:30 a.m. for our flight. Fortunately, the adrenaline of our spontaneous trip was enough to have us feeling wide awake.

By 4 a.m., we were out the door and on our way to the Newark airport.

Once we landed, our priorities were finding carbs and caffeine.

By 9 a.m., we were officially in Florida, ready to make the most of the day.

To skip the hassle of a rental car, I ordered a $24 rideshare from the airport straight to Las Olas Beach — an area in Fort Lauderdale known for its beaches and lively boardwalk filled with restaurants, shops, and bars.

We planned to stay on the Las Olas strip for the whole day, so we didn't need any other transportation.

Our first stop was Archibalds Village Bakery for iced vanilla lattes. (Our trip was on a Wednesday, but I heard they have killer cinnamon rolls on weekends.)

Then, we headed around the corner to Village Cafe for breakfast and a pitcher of mimosas. The café is attached to a hotel, and we used the lobby bathroom to freshen up and change into our swimsuits.

Next, we headed to the beach to soak up some sun.

Although New Jersey can get nice and warm, there's nothing like Florida sun. During our visit, the UV index was a 9, so we used lots of sunscreen and took frequent dips in the ocean to stay cool.

The beach had stunning views, and I even took a quick power nap.

We spent some time on the Las Olas strip.

When the sun became a little too much to handle, we walked up to Lona Cocina Tequileria for lunch. Nothing says "beach day" like chips, guac, and margaritas.

After refueling, we walked down the Las Olas strip, where we shopped, grabbed some fresh produce and juice, and popped into the Elbo Room bar for live music.

We then made our way to Quarterdeck, which had an outdoor setup with yard games, like cornhole, and a van serving drinks.

All good things must come to an end.

Before we knew it, it was 7 p.m., and we wanted to start getting ready to go to the airport. Again, we stopped by the bathroom in a nearby hotel lobby to freshen up and get changed.

Feeling tan and relaxed, we ordered an Uber to the airport (my friend paid for this one). I don't normally rest on planes, but on that flight home, I've never slept more soundly.

We landed in Newark at 11:59 p.m. and got picked up from the airport at around 12:15 a.m. I was in my own bed by 12:45.

I would absolutely do this again.

In total, I spent about $178 — $58 for my flight, $24 for a rideshare, and about $96 on food and drinks.

To me, this experience proved that you don't need a huge budget or multiple days to scratch a travel itch.

For others looking to take a quick day trip, start by looking for cheap flights to places you'd like to visit. I had a lot of luck routinely checking Expedia and playing with different combinations of dates and times.

If you can find a cheap flight, plan a solid itinerary, and embrace spontaneity, a fulfilling one-day adventure may be in your future.

• Escalating tariff threats are likely short-lived and theatrical, BCA Research's Marko Papic said.
• Markets may be overpricing trade war fears amid a reversible, policy-driven slowdown, the analyst said.
• Papic said this week's tariff rhetoric is "for the LOLz" and sees a US-China trade deal as likely.

Investors fretting over escalating US-China tensions may be overreacting, according to one leading macro strategist who said the latest tariff threats might just be "for the LOLz."

Marko Papic, chief strategist at BCA Research, downplayed the long-term significance of renewed threat rhetoric by the US and China, suggesting that much of the current tension is performative and likely to be walked back.

"As the kids would say — just for the LOLz," Papic said in a CNBC interview on Friday.

He pointed to both China's and the US messaging as evidence.

On Friday, China's finance ministry accused the US of "bullying". It warned the US risked becoming a "joke" on the world stage if it continued imposing higher tariffs that "no longer make economic sense."

The White House posted on X on Wednesday that the public should let President Donald Trump "cook," a meme-like phrase commonly used to suggest someone is executing a plan.

Papic argued that markets are already adjusting to the rising risk of policy-induced recession, especially in commodities. But he cautioned against becoming "overly bearish."

"It's not like this is a great financial crisis," he said. "It is a policy-induced slowdown," he said, saying such slowdowns can be reversed.

"I think the market, including for commodities, is going to look through further pain that may come from fundamental hard data if policymakers start talking about this as being just for LOLz," Papic said.

He also questioned whether elements of the administration's trade strategy, including using tariffs to raise revenues and reshoring US manufacturing, would materialize.

"I think the markets are going to slowly move away from the worst-case scenario, which is that we're in some sort of a neo-McKinleyist world where tariffs are used to raise revenue to finance tax cuts. When was the last time any US policymaker actually referred to them as revenue raisers?"

Markets appear to be taking a more cautious stance. The S&P 500 recently pulled back from a high of about 4,800 points, while the dollar has weakened sharply, especially against the euro, which has been up 10% over the past several months.

Still, Papic suggested investors take a step back from the headline volatility, noting that Trump on Thursday said he is looking forward to reaching a deal with Beijing.

• I was raised in the Coachella Valley, and I've gone to the Coachella music festival many times.
• I've seen visitors make the same mistakes, like not bringing a jacket or skipping small artists.
• Bring a reusable water bottle, and don't force yourself to the front barricade of every show. 

I was raised in the Coachella Valley, a destination known for its excessive heat, older demographics, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

I've been attending the festival since I was 15 years old — I've hung out with my parents there, partied both weekends, and even sat front row.

Luckily, I've been able to avoid some common missteps using my local knowledge and experience going to the festival. 

Here are 10 mistakes I always see festivalgoers make at Coachella — I suggest you try to avoid them if you want to have a great time. 

Taking rideshares to and from the event

When you're in the Coachella Valley for festival weekends, avoid taking a rideshare at all costs. 

The festival has multiple entry points, including a parking lot, shuttle hub, camping spaces, and rideshare entrance. In my experience, the rideshare entrance is typically the most hectic, with more lines of traffic than any other entry point. 

Getting home with a rideshare is also challenging since the cell service on the festival grounds isn't always great. Plus, rideshares get expensive because of surge pricing. 

Ideally, you may be able to avoid all of this by purchasing a shuttle pass. There are multiple shuttle hubs throughout the desert, and they tend to be much more efficient at getting you to and from your desired locations.

Not having a meetup spot for your group 

As I said above, the cell service is not always the best on festival grounds, so keep that in mind if you're going in a group and plan to split up.

Pick a landmark as a safe spot to meet if anything goes awry. I recommend the gigantic, easy-to-find art area or the Ferris wheel.

I also suggest each person in your group bring a charging cord or a portable charger because it's almost a guarantee that any phone battery will die at least once during the long weekend.

Forgetting to securely store and protect your pricey belongings

I've heard tons of horror stories about people losing expensive accessories or having their phones stolen at Coachella.

Make sure you have a secure place to hold your belongings (like a fanny pack) and consider keeping recognizably expensive designer accessories at home.

If you don't have a bag, try to keep your phone in your front pocket or an area where someone else can't get to it without you noticing.

Not bringing a jacket or hoodie

Contrary to popular belief, the desert does get cool. After the sun goes behind the mountains, the Santa Ana winds pick up, which can make for a crisp evening. 

If you can, rent a locker on the festival grounds and store a jacket for later. The lockers have a secure code and are easily accessible throughout the day.

Packing a hoodie in your bag is also ideal or, although you might be hotter during the day, wearing pants or a long-sleeve top can be a lifesaver at night. 

Spending your whole day running from stage to stage for music

It's easy to get caught up in running across the grounds to catch the next show, but I've always found my most relaxed years at Coachella were my best ones.

Instead of hopping from stage to stage, see all that Coachella has to offer beyond music.

Arrive early and visit the different art installations, ride the Ferris wheel, or explore the different brand events, which sometimes include food tastings and styling booths.

Thinking you need to force yourself to the front of every barricade to have fun

At some shows, being at the barricade for a performance can be enjoyable.

However, I don't recommend spending your day waiting for a front-row spot at packed performances (like the headliners) or pushing your way through the crowd at the last minute to get to the barricade.

If you hang out in the back or middle of the crowd, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. There's more space to dance, the surrounding crowd is usually more accommodating, and the view is still superb.

Forgetting to bring a reusable water bottle

I suggest you bring a reusable bottle to avoid paying for overpriced water on the grounds.

The music festival usually has water-bottle-refill stations and they aren't super crowded, in my experience. 

You'll have to wait in line for water regardless, but your reusable bottle will most likely last longer than the small bottles you can buy.

Wearing something that's not comfortable 

If you want to make the most of your festival experience — and avoid annoying your friends by groaning in pain all day — try to wear something comfortable.

For starters, break in your shoes beforehand and test if they will give you blisters by going on a long walk. Wear clothes that won't cause chafing or dig into your skin. 

If you (understandably) want a stellar outfit you can Instagram, at least bring cozy clothes to change into.

Skipping the smaller artists and only seeing headliners 

Keep an open mind by researching all the artists on the lineup, no matter how small — you just might end up going to some of your favorite shows to date.

One year, for example, my boyfriend dragged me to a French band called L'imperatrice and it was unexpectedly the best show I saw all weekend.

Plus, there's nothing like the satisfaction of feeling like you saw (or knew) about an artist before the rest of the world. After all, huge stars such as SZA, The Weeknd, and even last year's headliner BLACKPINK started out on the small-font portion of a Coachella lineup.

This story was originally published on April 4, 2023, and most recently updated on April 11, 2025.

• Epaulet is a menswear brand that makes all its clothing in Los Angeles, New Jersey, or Rochester.
• Owner Eva Kuhle says Trump's tariff policies are too inconsistent to help American manufacturing.
• Her core customer base is being squeezed by the cost of living. Tariffs make things worse.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eva Kuhle, the CEO and designer of Epaulet, a Los Angeles-based menswear brand that manufactures all of its products in the United States. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

We opened Epaulet in 2008. I'm the owner and the founder. Originally, we had a storefront in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. We expanded and had a whole bunch of retail stores. In 2016, we revised the concept and became primarily an online direct-to-consumer seller.

My guiding light has been that I've always wanted to make everything in the United States. The most important thing is a local production that I can personally visit and interact with. I really love fabrics. I like being close to where things are made. And I take a lot of pride in providing local jobs.

To the extent that the Trump administration is kind of hyping up the idea of American workers and blue-collar labor and the American dream — that's actually really important to me. I don't want to be just a person who sells clothing and makes X amount of dollars every time somebody buys a pair of chino pants.

Donald Trump is a chaotic and unpredictable person. None of this is going to help manufacturing in America. No one is going to see that now there's a 10% tariff on UK fabric and say, "Wow, this is an amazing business opportunity. Let me retool a woolen factory from scratch, all using my own money to match a tariff policy."

This administration is not consistent, and you can see that after Trump flipped-flopped on the tariffs with no notice. We need to expect the government to stick by the numbers it commits to. Who in their right mind would ever take the policies seriously and risk their own money to expand production? The tariffs could change tomorrow.

I believe in manufacturing in America

100% of Epaulet-branded clothing is manufactured in the United States.

I have two aspects of my business. There is a ready-to-wear collection, which is almost all made in Los Angeles. The clothing is completely designed, cut, sewn, and constructed there. I also work with Rochester Tailored Clothing and Individualized Shirts in New Jersey to make one-off custom pieces for customers.

I like seeing that people are supported by the work that I do, and a really good example of that is Rochester Tailored Clothing. It took over the Hickman Freeman factory in Rochester, New York. I'm one of its largest independent clients. They make beautiful stuff. I think you could argue that they make the best-tailored clothing in North America.

This place is literally the American dream. It has first-generation immigrants from all over the world. Rochester is a reasonable city to live in. The wages are good. They're unionized. They have benefits. In a way, that company is a snapshot of how the American manufacturing industry should work.

People have built their lives around low-cost products

The stuff I sell is very high quality. Last year, we had about $900,000 in sales. My average retail price per order is about $375. I have plenty of people who buy one pair of chinos for $140, and then I sometimes have people who spend $8,000 on a custom order of several suits.

If you sell clothing like I do, a big portion of your business is going to be done with people who are DINKs, or maybe they're a SINK. A lot of lawyers, physicians, tech engineers. This is always a prime customer for buying clothes. They want to look cool, they're going out, they're taking vacations, they're earning money.

When you expand, eventually you'll hit a ceiling of how many customers will pay for American-made. And then you've got to use Facebook and Instagram ads to try to find new clients. And you'll find there are some people who are just not spending $150 on jeans, no matter what. It doesn't matter. It has to be cheap.

I'm not saying this to be a wise-ass or an elitist, but we're at a point now where people are used to much lower prices for clothing. They've built their lives around the fact that jeans can only be $25.

The ship has sailed. People have gotten used to decades of lower-cost imported merchandise. The idea that they're going to go back, now that they've been given all these low-cost options, is crazy.

My biggest problem is the cost of living. Tariffs make it worse.

In theory, I should be pretty happy. I have fairly low exposure. All my manufacturing is done here.

I will have to pay tariffs on imported fabrics. In terms of my LA production, I'm not using cashmere or vicuna or anything crazy expensive. The duty won't be the end of the world when I have to order fabric from abroad.

But I don't see a single positive aspect of the tariffs. At my level, the overall cash squeeze on prime fashion customers is an even bigger issue than cheap imported competition.

Increasingly, the SINKs and the DINKs are facing a higher cost of living. My customer base is paying more for rent than ever before. They're paying a ton of money for health insurance. When they have a kid — forget about it. The expenses are through the roof.

When their iPhone goes from being $1,000 to even higher, or when they want to buy a car and the car is now suddenly $10,000 more, and you add that to the fact that car insurance is going up, people just have less discretionary income spend on whatever is not a total necessity, which includes Epaulet chore coats.

I used to sell a lot to Canada, and that has largely been decimated. I think that's due to the rising US dollar and the Canadian cost-of-living crisis. And now the fact that the Canadians very reasonably hate the United States is probably going to kill whatever remainder of business I had left in Canada.

Trump is already undermining the idea of helping domestic manufacturing

This notion that these tariffs are somehow going to inspire domestic production is ridiculous. I'm a good example.

I would need tax credits to expand my business. Maybe tariff exemptions for raw materials used to manufacture American end-products.

Suiting wool is a great example. There is literally one company in the United States that makes suiting wool. That's the last one. So if you want wool for a suit or a pair of trousers, that's the only place. Any suit that you find anywhere in North America is made with wool from abroad because all those industries are gone.

We need a consistent policy that we can trust. We can't have a policy where tariffs may or may not be enforced 90 days from now, and tariffs could also be any number whatsoever. Especially the really huge numbers — like 145% on China — these hysterical numbers make everything seem even less trustworthy.

You also can't support American manufacturing and also strike zero-tariff free trade deals. Look at Vietnam. Vietnam said it'll drop all the tariffs on US products. And then Trump said America would drop its tariffs and then celebrated that as a win because now there are no more tariffs on American goods.

But then how the hell do you repatriate anything? Then Vietnamese products will be cheaper than they've ever been.

• I've been to Palm Springs over 20 times and have eaten at many great restaurants in the area.
• Workshop Kitchen+Bar and Bar Cecil are my favorite fine-dining establishments in Palm Springs.
• When I want a more casual environment, I get brunch at Norma's or Billy Reed's.

Palm Springs is famous for its midcentury modern architecture, vibrant hues, and relaxing energy, and its food scene is also top-notch.

I live in Los Angeles but visit Palm Springs multiple times a year (it's just two hours away without traffic) and have enjoyed some of the best meals of my life there.

At this point, I've visited the vibrant California desert oasis more than 20 times — and finding great restaurants is always on my itinerary.

Whether you're looking for a fine-dining experience or a casual joint where you can stroll in wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, there's a plethora of options.

Whenever someone asks me for dining recommendations, these nine places always make my must-visit list.

Workshop Kitchen+Bar is my favorite restaurant in Palm Springs, hands down.

At this point, I've lost count of how many times I've eaten at Workshop Kitchen+Bar. 

Chefs Michael Beckman and Joe Mourani opened this farm-to-table restaurant in 2012, and it's been a mainstay of Palm Springs' fine-dining scene ever since.

Housed in the historic El Paseo building, which used to be a theater and city-council building, Workshop won a James Beard Award in 2015 for having the best restaurant design in North America.

The market-driven menu specializes in modern American cuisine and changes seasonally, so there's always something new and exciting to try. 

My recent favorites are the duck fried rice, butternut-squash risotto, black cod, and diver scallops.

The cocktails are also top-notch. My favorites are the citrusy, vodka-based California Dreamin' and the pineapple-based Pisco Punch.

I celebrated my 40th birthday in Workshop's back room with a custom-created, family-style menu. There's also seating inside in the modernist, concrete dining room and outside in a tree-dappled courtyard.

Dining reservations at Workshop can be hard to come by, but I recommend trying to get one.

Lulu California Bistro has a massive all-day menu and an affordable prix-fixe option.

If you like having a lot of choices, look no further than Lulu California Bistro, a restaurant in Palm Springs' central downtown area that's served California cuisine since 2011.

I tend to choose the prix-fixe menu, which features three courses and has so many options that I always have a hard time pinning down what to try. However, standouts include the wild-mushroom soup, meatloaf à la Lulu, and flourless triple-chocolate cake. 

The all-day favorites menu, which has everything from pizzas to sandwiches to cheeseburgers, makes it even more challenging to zero in on my selection.

The dishes that almost always rise to the top are the divinely tender braised short ribs, spaghetti Bolognese, and, of course, the hand-spun cotton candy, which is fun to eat, light, and tasty.

Hadley Fruit Orchards is an unassuming shop that makes the best date shakes in the area.

Hadley Fruit Orchards in Cabazon, California, is more of a general store than a restaurant, but it's the only place in Greater Palm Springs I go for a date shake. 

Date shakes are a local delicacy, and I've tried a lot of them, but none have been better than the one from Hadley.

Each one blends Hadley pitted Deglet Noor dates with milk and vanilla ice cream. If you don't drink milk, don't worry — Hadley also has a vegan option.

The small is my go-to order since this treat is definitely on the richer side.

The burger at Bar Cecil is picture-perfect and delicious.

Bar Cecil is so popular that reservations go quickly, so I suggest booking early and putting yourself on the waitlist if need be.

With restaurants this popular, I'm always a bit nervous that the food and drinks won't live up to the hype, but that's not the case at Bar Cecil.

Starters, like Cecil's bread rolls and the deviled eggs, perfectly complement the colossal shrimp cocktail, which is, as described, colossal and heavenly.

In addition to having a well-rounded cocktail and wine list, Bar Cecil also lets guests create their own martini. 

The revolving cocktail menu includes espresso martinis along with my personal favorite, the Lost Horizon, named after Frank Capra's 1937 movie that was partially filmed in Palm Springs.

My favorite menu item is the Beaton burger, which pays homage to photographer and designer Cecil Beaton. The perfectly cooked 6-ounce patty is topped with aioli, onion, tomato, and lettuce.

The restaurant presents the burger in a miniature box alongside french fries and a pickle. The "XOXO" on the bun just adds to the perfection.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar's central location is the perfect spot for a midafternoon pick-me-up.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is just the place for a good cocktail and easy snack. The restaurant doesn't take reservations and can get crowded, but its fresh fare is worth the wait. 

I love the ahi-tuna poke bowl, which comes packed to the brim with veggies, edamame, ahi tuna, and crispy wontons.

Guests can also choose between about 20 cocktails, many of which have island-inspired flavors. The blood-orange margarita is my favorite because of the fresh orange slice garnishing its rim. 

Prices are also very reasonable, with most food items capping at about $20.

Billy Reed's cinnamon rolls are the size of a small plate — and I have yet to find any that taste better.

To put it mildly, Billy Reed's, which has been open since 1975, is a lot in a good way.

The exterior facade and the decor feel like a grand parlor, and the menu features elevated diner food.

No matter what I've ordered at Billy Reed's, it's been good. It serves lunch, dinner, and all-day breakfast.

I personally love having scrambled eggs with extra-crispy bacon, hash browns, and rye toast for a satisfying dinner. That said, I usually come here for the cinnamon roll. These pastries are so good that I once walked to Billy Reed's to get one when it was 112 degrees out.

Each cinnamon roll is huge, taking up an area that's about the size of a small dinner plate. It's moist on the inside, flaky on the outside, and covered with sweet vanilla icing. The treat is large enough to share with multiple people.

When I'm in Palm Desert, I always sit for brunch at Wilma & Frieda.

Though Wilma & Frieda has a location in Palm Springs' downtown area, I prefer the one on Palm Desert's El Paseo Drive.

Not only have I found parking easier at the Palm Desert location, but also the inside also feels roomier and a bit more modern. 

The menu is so large that it's almost overwhelming. 

I tend to choose between the meals under the menu's Eeny, Meany, Miny, and Mo sections, which offer a wide variety of breakfast options. If you're looking for something on the sweeter side, the churro waffle is not to be missed. 

Wilma & Frieda also has lunch options, like salads and sandwiches, but I always crave breakfast when I visit.

No trip there is complete without a bloody mary, but if you're trying to keep your meal alcohol-free, the jug of Diet Coke is a great alternative.

Norma's serves some of my favorite brunch foods, like blueberry pancakes and yogurt bowls.

Every brunch I've had at Norma's, a restaurant at the Parker Palm Springs, has been out of this world.

Before you even begin dining, you walk through the Parker, an exquisite, Jonathan Adler-designed hotel.

The unassuming restaurant entrance is located past the reception desk, and the restaurant has both interior and garden dining areas. I've eaten in both and love them. 

I love the menu, which has whimsical category names like "Mom Can't Make This," "Benny Sent Me," and "Eggs Cellent." 

The blueberry pancakes, doughnuts, and chilled yogurt with fresh fruit are must-tries. I also recommend adding pecans and macadamia-nut granola to the yogurt.

However, the potato pancake is the standout. The James Beard Award-winning recipe creates an almost deconstructed potato pancake alongside homemade cranberry-apple sauce and sweet-carrot payasam, an Indian pudding. 

You can also choose from a selection of classic brunch cocktails like mimosas, Bellinis, and bloody marys here. Every time I've eaten at Norma's, our server also gave us mini smoothies to kick off the meal.

This story was originally published on April 13, 2023, and most recently updated on April 11, 2025.

• I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
• It can hold up to 7,000 guests and has eight "neighborhoods" full of activities and amenities.
• The ship was even bigger than I imagined. Here's a tour of the 18 decks and all the venues.

In April 2022, I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas and it was bigger than I could even imagine. With 18 decks to wander, I felt like I was in a small town in the middle of the ocean.

Back then, Wonder of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world. Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas took over the title in January 2024.

Step aboard the Wonder of the Seas, complete with eight "neighborhoods" full of activities.

Sailing since March 2022, Wonder of the Seas is nearly 1,200 feet long and 210 feet wide with 18 decks. It can hold about 7,000 guests.

I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom on deck eight for $2,000. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000.

During my voyage, the ship sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's own private island in the Bahamas.

The enormous ship had eight communal areas, which Royal Caribbean called "neighborhoods." Each neighborhood had its own activities.

To get up and down the ship's many decks, there are 24 elevators taking guests to 16 of the 18 levels. The top two decks are accessible only for suite guests.

During my cruise, the elevators were packed during busy parts of the day, so I found it faster to take the stairs on either side of the elevators.

Decks seven, 10, and 11 hold only staterooms, but most decks have a combination of staterooms, restaurants, venues, and activities.

Decks two and three have boarding areas to enter and exit the ship. Deck three is the lowest deck with staterooms.

The main dining room spans levels three, four, and five.

Meals in the main dining rooms were included in the price of my ticket.

On deck four, you'll find Entertainment Place, a neighborhood with fun venues surrounded by framed art on display.

One of the venues, Studio B, is used for shows and large-scale activities like ice skating and laser tag.

Down the hall from Studio B is the casino, where guests can gamble on a floor full of game tables and slot machines.

Entertainment Place also has a sushi restaurant, Izumi.

While most shows were free, many restaurants like Izumi cost extra.

On deck five, there's a neighborhood called Royal Promenade, lined with restaurants, bars, and stores.

I thought the Royal Promenade felt like a mall.

A venue called the Royal Theater also hosts shows on decks four and five.

One of the bars in this area is Bionic Bar, where robots make drinks.

The Royal Promenade neighborhood also has two coffee shops — Starbucks and Cafe Promenade.

The Boardwalk is an outdoor neighborhood on deck six.

The Boardwalk deck caters to families with kids with a carousel, a candy store, and rock-climbing walls.

Here, you can get hot dogs, burgers, and fries.

There are two restaurants on the Boardwalk: a hot dog stand, which is included for guests, and a Johnny Rockets, which has burgers and shakes for an added fee.

Across from the Boardwalk restaurants is Playmakers, a sports bar.

The Boardwalk ends at the Aquatheater.

This is where Royal Caribbean hosts outdoor movies and a water show featuring dancers, divers, and acrobats.

At night, the boardwalk lights up for the show.

On the other side of deck six, Vitality at Sea is the spa and fitness center neighborhood.

Just past the Vitality at Sea entrance is a café before the spa area and gym, which was full of cardio and strength machines I've seen in most fitness centers.

From the fitness center, there's access to an indoor track.

Up on deck eight, there's another outdoor neighborhood, Central Park.

This deck is home to 20,000 plants, according to Royal Caribbean.

This lush neighborhood has many spaces to chill, including benches and outdoor couches. I thought it was the most relaxing area on the ship.

Central Park is home to three upscale restaurants.

The restaurants are Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Giovanni's Italian. There's also Park Cafe, a casual eatery that is free for guests.

The Central Park deck also has two bars — Trelli's and Rising Tide, a moving bar that goes up and down floors five through eight.

The Youth Zone neighborhood is on deck 14.

The deck is a kids' area with an escape room.

Deck 15 is the pool deck.

Three large pools made me feel like I was at the beach, with water coming up and around the lounging chairs.

The deck also has a handful of whirlpools, small plunge pools for relaxing, and a water playground called Splashaway Bay.

In the middle of the pool deck, Sprinkles has all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mixed flavors. It's included for guests.

Deck 15 also has the Solarium, an adults-only indoor lounge.

The lounge has pools, a bar, a complimentary bistro, and stunning views.

Outside the Solarium, there's a bar called Vue with more ocean views.

Deck 15 is also home to Windjammer, a complimentary buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The buffet served a wide range of food options, including everything from waffles and bacon to fried chicken and tacos.

Up on deck 16, there are more lounging areas and a big screen for outdoor movies.

There are also covered casitas for lounging that guests may reserve.

Deck 16 is also where guests play games.

Up here, there's an indoor arcade, outdoor mini-golf, table tennis, basketball, water slides, and a stationary surf simulator.

The eighth neighborhood is the most exclusive — Suite Class Neighborhood.

Decks 17 and 18 are accessible only for guests with suites and include private pools and terraces.

The ship felt bigger than I imagined, especially since I'd never been on a cruise before.

As we left the port to start our journey, I marveled at how the ships passing by looked like toy boats in comparison.

• Sports teams and leagues have been relatively stable investments amid recent economic uncertainty.
• Arctos Insights, the research arm of a top PE firm in sports, outlined why the sector is resilient.
• The firm also shared key risks for the sector in a global trade war.

Sports franchises may be safe from some of the worst effects of the economic turmoil, new investor research suggests.

President Donald Trump's tariff policy incited investor panic and sent markets on a roller coaster this month.

But sports have proven relatively resilient to outside chaos during recent market downturns, Arctos Insights, the research and content arm of private-equity firm Arctos Partners, outlined in a note shared with Business Insider. The firm expects the industry to remain a relatively stable area for investment.

"Sports franchises have proven to be remarkably resilient assets during periods of economic instability," Arctos Insights wrote in a research summary. "While trade wars and macro volatility will likely disrupt many sectors of the economy, North America's professional sports franchises will likely emerge largely unscathed."

Arctos Partners has invested in sports teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arctos Insights wrote that loyal fans, revenue from long-term media deals, and fixed costs have helped sports franchises remain relatively stable.

There are still potential risks. The National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association have franchises based in Canada, which could pose exchange rate issues. The tariffs could also affect stadium construction as the cost of steel and other raw materials goes up.

Tariffs also slashed the value of sports stocks by $318 billion in a week, roughly 10% of the sector's value, Sportico reported Wednesday. Companies like Under Armour and Nike, which produce apparel outside the US, were some of the hardest-hit sports companies.

But, some investors have continued flocking to sports teams and leagues in recent times of uncertainty.

"Over the past three market cycles—including the Tech Bubble, the Global Recession, and the COVID-19 shock—sports franchise valuations have not only held firm but in many cases appreciated," Arctos Insights wrote.

Fixed costs, media rights revenue, and fan engagement help keep sports stable

One of the biggest reasons sports could be relatively insulated from the impact of the trade wars is that its supply chain — namely its players — is largely US-based, according to Arctos Insights. Player salaries, which typically represent about 45% to 50% of revenue, aren't subject to tariffs and are fixed per their respective collective bargaining agreements.

"Beyond athlete compensation, franchise operations rely heavily on local human capital — executives, coaches, marketing teams, and stadium staff — whose wages are unaffected by trade policy," said the note.

Media rights deals between leagues and broadcast companies, apparel deals, and stadium naming rights run for years at a time, with some lasting decades. The revenue these deals generate helps build up sports' resilience to market instability because they may not need to be renegotiated for a while.

The NFL and NBA, for example, have media deals that run into the 2030s, though some sports organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship are looking to renew their media contracts this year.

Additionally, sports teams can lean on fans during hard times. While the rising cost of consumer goods could hit consumer's wallets and make them wary of spending on tickets to a game, history suggests the impact won't be alarming. Arctos Insights found that the Big Four sports leagues — NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB — experienced "marginal declines in attendance" during the 2008 financial crisis.

Risks of a global trade war could affect money and stadium development

Still, there are risks for some corners of the industry, such as Canadian teams within US-based leagues. The NHL, for example, has several teams in Canada. Those teams tend to generate a lot of revenue in Canadian dollars but pay expenses like player salaries in US dollars. Arctos Insights said there could be potential issues with exchange rates tied to a global trade war.

Construction for new arenas and stadiums could also face challenges. According to Arctos Insights, roughly one-third of the cost of a new stadium goes toward raw materials. Though Arctos said recent US stadium projects, such as SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, relied largely on domestically sourced materials. Still, projects in the planning phases could face supply-chain issues depending on the tariff situation.

Stadium development and upgrades have been big draws for some PE firms investing in sports franchises. While stadiums and arenas are largely used by the professional teams that call them home, these investors see an opportunity to expand events like concerts as alternative ways to grow revenue.

• Eating enough protein is important for muscle development and your overall health.
• Protein is also more filling than other foods, which can make it hard to eat a lot of.
• Making high-protein swaps and splitting meals into snacks can help you hit your targets.

I calculated my recommended protein intake, as someone who works out and wants to build muscle. I needed a minimum of 53 grams of protein a day, but closer to 114 grams if I really wanted to make gains.

But hitting that isn't so easy. On a typical day, my morning oatmeal is 5-6 grams of protein, my lunch salad or grain bowl is a measly 10-15 grams, and my salmon fillet dinner is 25 grams — just 40-45 grams of protein total.

Morgan Walker, a sports nutritionist at Lebanon Valley College, said this is a common occurrence.

For one, high-protein foods fill you up faster because they're structurally more complex than most nutrients. Protein needs additional enzymes to be broken down in the body, Walker told Business Insider. When we consume protein, hormones are released that "help to promote satiety, too," she said.

Additionally, if you work out a lot, you might even lose your appetite. "Exercise itself can be appetite-suppressant for a lot of individuals, especially high-intensity exercise and endurance-type training," Walker said, due to anti-hunger molecules that form in the body.

Ironically, very active people who need to eat more protein for muscle repair may struggle to get adequate amounts of protein in their diets.

Walker shared a few ways to eat enough protein if you feel too full to even think about another hard-boiled egg.

Use versatile ingredients like cottage cheese and Greek yogurt

Walker is a "big fan" of cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, which are complete protein sources and easy to snack on, such as Greek yogurt with honey and berries or cottage cheese on toast.

They both have more amino acids than lower-protein foods, which help muscle-building by repairing and growing new muscle fibers.

You can also use them as protein boosters in other meals. Cottage cheese, at about 200 calories and 23-28 grams of protein per cup, can be blended into pasta sauce or eggs. Greek yogurt, with similar levels of protein and caloric content, can be used in smoothies, dips, or condiments.

Make easy protein swaps

A balanced diet isn't all protein — you also need fiber and carbohydrates. Fitting all of that in can be tough, though.

Walker recommended protein swaps to get more protein and other nutrients, such as using farro or quinoa as a base instead of rice. You can also replace regular pasta with higher-protein versions that use lentils or chickpeas.

If you're cooking grains and want to sprinkle in some extra protein, Walker said you can also boil them in bone broth, which contains 9 to 11 grams of protein per cup.

Break your meals up into snacks

If fitting in three big, protein-heavy meals a day just isn't working for you, there's good news: snacking might be better for you in the long run, anyway.

"Consistent protein intake throughout the day is very beneficial for promoting muscle-protein synthesis," Walker said.

Breaking big meals down into smaller and more frequent protein-rich snacks also makes it easier to get more protein without stuffing yourself. In the long run, consistent protein intake is more important than chugging a huge protein shake after a workout.

Walker loves Greek yogurt, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, turkey jerky, shelled edamame, nuts, and smoothies to graze on throughout the day.

Divvy up your protein powder

Protein-packed liquids, such as smoothies and shakes with protein powder, are usually less filling than big meals.

Still, not all protein drinks are the same. Walker said ready-to-drink shakes, which can pack 20-30 grams of protein per bottle, tend to be more filling. If they're too difficult to chug, she suggested incorporating protein powder in drinks and meals throughout the day, rather than all at once.

"Maybe it's scooping a little bit of the protein powder and mixing it into a yogurt, smoothie, or oatmeal," she said. If one scoop is 30 grams of protein, you can have 15 grams in your breakfast and 15 grams in a post-workout shake.

Add variety

Some active people assume gains require culinary sacrifice, subjecting themselves to the same cliché gym bro meal of chicken breasts, brown rice, and broccoli every night.

"I have a lot of clients who will eat very similar meals and even though they're extremely well-balanced, they're not getting a lot of variety," Walker said. Not only is variety important for gut health; it also keeps you from getting bored.

Walker said sheet pan dinners are an easy and versatile way to change up your main protein source, like chicken or fish, as well as your vegetables and seasonings. You can also use Greek yogurt or cottage cheese to create a high-protein sauce.

Fitting in enough daily protein, especially if you're strength-training, can take some creativity.

• I'm not going to Coachella this year for the first time in a decade.
• Over the years, I've seen some big changes at the festival — for better and worse.
• In my opinion, getting a ticket nowadays feels like just another influencer rite of passage.

Every April since 2015, I've packed my bags and headed to the California desert for three days of music, heat, and unforgettable memories.

I'd dreamed about going to Coachella long before I ever stepped foot on the festival grounds, and can still remember watching the official livestream from my bedroom in high school.

When I finally made it there, I felt as though I was stepping into a dream — the energy, the setting, and the performances were unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

I've also been fortunate enough to attend Coachella with various types of passes — General Admission, VIP, Press, and Artist — giving me a unique perspective on the festival's many worlds.

Over the years, though, I've seen some big changes at Coachella, for better and worse. So, when tickets went on sale earlier this year, I didn't feel a pull to return to the desert like I always had.

Although the lineup was packed with great talent, I knew I wouldn't get the same organic feeling I used to when I first started attending the festival.

So, for the first time in a decade, I'm skipping Coachella.

The festival had always felt like an escape for me

Over the years, I got to experience "wow" moments, like seeing Beyoncé's legendary 2018 set (now known as "Beychella"), watching my favorite bands play at sunset with the iconic Ferris wheel in the background, and witnessing surprise performances from icons like Rihanna — who I once found myself dancing next to in the crowd.

I loved being surrounded by like-minded music fans who were excited to see their favorite artists perform and discover up-and-coming talent.

No matter where I was — in the pit, backstage, or on the grass — it felt like Coachella had a way of bringing everyone together. That spirit of serendipity is part of what made it feel so special in the first place.

However, the festival vibe seemed to change over time

When I started attending the festival in 2015, Instagram was still a relatively new app and TikTok hadn't launched yet.

Although there were definitely influencers and celebrities trying to get the picture-perfect shot back then, not everyone was a content creator. Nowadays, though, the TikTok algorithm makes it easy for "normal" people to go viral.

In my experience, the increasing popularity of social-media apps shifted the festival's energy from raw and unfiltered to curated and performative.

In the past few years of attending the festival, I witnessed more and more people using the festival to create content — many of them didn't seem to be at Coachella for the music at all. I still remember watching a group dance to a live set while filming a video and immediately stop once they were no longer recording.

Soon, I felt like I couldn't walk around the festival grounds without photobombing a brand shoot or watching someone try to curate the perfect Instagram moment.

I noticed more attendees choosing heels and complicated outfits that might land them on the Coachella best-dressed list but probably wouldn't fare well or be comfortable after a long day of standing in the sandy desert.

Over time, attending became less about presence and more about presentation. Coachella used to feel like a secret world shared among music lovers and free spirits. Now, getting a ticket feels like just another influencer rite of passage.

Content is packaged, filtered, and posted before the beat drops. Although I know I'll feel a little FOMO when the posts start rolling in this year, I'm OK with that.

• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway issued $628 million of so-called samurai bonds on Friday.
• Several Japanese companies postponed similar bond sales as Trump's tariffs rocked markets.
• Strategist Larry McDonald suggested Buffett was raising fresh funds to go on an epic buying spree.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sold yen-denominated debt worth $628 million on Friday, even as Japanese companies delayed bond issues amid roiling markets and a burgeoning trade war.

The famed investor's conglomerate issued six tranches of bonds ranging from three to 30 years, and offered higher premiums than its last yen note issue in October, per a term sheet viewed by Reuters.

Beverage makers Asahi and Suntory and Cup Noodle owner Nissin Foods postponed yen-bond issues they had planned for this week as President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and threats of retaliatory duties tanked stocks and rattled bond markets worldwide.

Buffett, famous for keeping his cool when others panic, forged ahead.

The Berkshire CEO nearly doubled his company's stash of cash and Treasurys to more than $320 billion last year, as he pared key holdings such as Apple and Bank of America and halted stock buybacks. This latest fundraising fueled fresh speculation on social media that the bargain hunter is preparing to pounce as stock prices reel.

"Just wow," Larry McDonald, the author of "The Bear Traps Report" and former head of US macro strategy at Société Générale, posted on X. "Buffett is loaded with cash and he's reaching into the margin account (borrowing) in yen. Next 12 months - he's going to buy this puke festival with both hands."

Betting on Japan

Berkshire has been issuing so-called samurai bonds since 2019 to finance its investments in five Japanese trading houses: Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo. Friday's yen deal was its smallest so far, which could reflect limited investor appetite given all the market turmoil.

Buffett's company raised its stakes in the five largest "sogo shosha" in March, after he disclosed in his annual shareholder letter in February that the quintet had agreed to let Berkshire increase its ownership of each of them to more than 10%.

The billionaire investor wrote that he and his team originally piled in because they were "amazed" at the companies' cheap valuations.

Buffett also praised their use of capital, quality of management, and shareholder-friendly policies. He pointed to their responsible stock buybacks and dividend increases, and their more modest executive compensation compared to US counterparts.

The famously long-term investor said he expected his planned successor Greg Abel and Abel's successors to keep Berkshire invested in the five companies for "many decades" to come. He also boasted that Berkshire had spent $13.8 billion on the positions, which were worth $23.5 billion, or 70%, more at the end of 2024.

Moreover, Buffett said the five bets were poised to yield $812 million in dividends this year, dwarfing the $135 million of interest on yen bonds that Berkshire expected to pay.

'Like having God just opening a chest'

Buffett's late business partner, Charlie Munger, sang the Japan bet's praises on a podcast in 2023.

"If you're as smart as Warren Buffett, maybe two, three times a century, you get an idea like that," he said. "It was like having God just opening a chest and just pouring money into it."

Munger explained that Berkshire was able to borrow money for 10 years at 0.5% a year and use it to purchase stocks yielding roughly 5% in dividends annually, a type of investment known as a carry trade.

Shares of all five Japanese trading houses have fallen this year with Mitsubishi down about 5%, Marubeni and Sumitomo down about 7%, Itochu down 16%, and Mitsui down 20%. They now trade close to where they did early last year, which could make them appealing targets to an investor with deep pockets and a love for deals.

• The 2025 Masters Tournament is underway in Georgia.
• The tournament is held at Augusta National, one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world.
• These clubs are known for years-long waitlists, expensive fees, and high-profile clientele.

Take a look at almost any billionaire's social calendar this weekend, and you'll likely see one thing: The Masters.

The prestigious golf tournament, which teed off Thursday and concludes Sunday, is held each year in Augusta, Georgia, at the Augusta National Golf Club.

"There's a huge amount of very exclusive clubs all over the world — I would say that Augusta National is the most famous one," Barnabas Carrega, CEO of luxury travel and planning firm GR8 Experience, told Business Insider last year.

At Augusta, the best golfers in the world compete to win the coveted green jacket bestowed only to tournament winners and club members and to etch their name into a rich sports history.

In 2024, the honor went to American Scottie Scheffler, who is eyeing a back-to-back win this year.

With past Masters attendees ranging from Nike cofounder Phil Knight to Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, the event is an annual reminder of the wealth ingrained in golf's history and the culture of exclusivity it breeds in the most elite clubs.

"I think that there's two different ways to look at why a club is exclusive and one of them is the quality of the golf course. Sometimes, the golf course has so much history behind it that the club becomes extremely exclusive by default because of the importance of the golf course," said Carrega.

"And then other times it's just the place, the service, the level of facilities, and what they've built around the golf experience," he added.

Regardless of how they achieved their exclusivity, such clubs are almost impossible to join. They require special connections, patience, and plenty of money for a chance at acceptance.

Here's a peek at 10 of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world.

Augusta National Golf Club is the home of the Masters.

The esteemed club, founded and co-designed by legendary golfer and Grand Slam winner Bobby Jones, opened for play in 1932, though women were not allowed to join until August 2012.

One of the highlights of the course is its extensive flora. Per Golf Monthly, Augusta has an estimated 80,000 plants from over 350 varieties, and each hole is named for a corresponding plant. This weekend, pros like Dustin Johnson and Fred Couples will test their skills on holes like Magnolia, Juniper, Azalea, and Holly in pursuit of tournament victory.

And if you're interested in playing this famed course someday, you'll have to get in line. Most memberships are inherited from one of the club's existing 300 or so members, but you could attend as one of their guests. You could also play as a guest of a Masters champion.

If these options sound a little too unrealistic, there is one other way to gain access: volunteering at the Masters. As to be expected, there's a waitlist, but if you volunteer for the full week, you'll be invited to an "Appreciation Day" in May to play a round of golf, per Golf.com. Keep that in mind for next year.

In 2028, Winged Foot Golf Club will host the US Open for the seventh time.

The Mamaroneck, New York, club's East and West courses were ranked on Golf.com's Top 100 Courses in the World of 2023-2024, with the West ranking 29th and the East ranking 80th, so it's no surprise that Winged Foot would be a top choice for the US Open.

"Winged Foot has provided the backdrop for some of the most dramatic moments in the history of our sport, with many of golf's legendary champions being crowned on the club's iconic West Course," said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, in a press release in 2023, per Golf Digest.

In 2020, Golf.com reported that the Winged Foot Golf Club's waitlist was "supposedly a decade long," and initiation fees are believed to be well above $100,000, so instead of joining, you may just want to think ahead and purchase those 2028 tickets.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is known as the "Home of Golf."

Founded in 1754, The Old Course at St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, is one of the oldest golf courses in the world and home to The Open Championship, the oldest and one of the most prestigious tournaments of the season.

While you can take a walking tour of the course between March and November, the clubhouse is usually only accessible to its 2,500 members. However, once a year on November 30, which is also known as St. Andrews Day, part of it is opened to the public for tours, Golf Digest reported.

St. Andrews is notoriously exclusive, allowing its first female members in 2015. Golf.com reported that the multi-step membership process includes an invitation from a current member, an application, and letters of recommendation — and this doesn't even guarantee admission, as it can take years to get through the waitlist, and applications can be outright denied.

The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle in Scotland offers lessons with PGA professionals.

Barnabas Carrega, CEO of the Gr8 Experience, a luxury travel firm specializing in exclusive experiences, told BI that visiting Skibo is "one of the most incredible experiences" he's ever seen from a country club in terms of level of service, privacy, and exclusivity, describing it as "an immense club."

Per the Carnegie Club's website, the golf course Carnegie Links, "is ideal for both beginners finding their feet on the greens and more accomplished players looking to perfect their swing. Lessons can be booked with our resident PGA professionals."

In 2019, Michael Jordan opened his exclusive golf club, The Grove XXIII.

Business Insider reported in 2021 that Michael Jordan's exclusive golf course in Hobe Sound, Florida, has fewer than 80 members. Some famous names allowed in include former president Barack Obama, former tennis player John McEnroe, and current pros Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson.

As you can probably guess, you'd either need to know Jordan — or he'd want to get to know you — for you to get an invite to this ultra-exclusive club.

"Michael Jordan is a huge fan of golf, and even when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls, apparently, in between games, he would go and play golf," said Carrega. "So he's always been very into the sport."

Jordan even hosts an exclusive tournament, gifting winner Keegan Bradley a $4,000 bottle of his tequila, Cincoro Extra Añejo, in 2023.

Shinnecock Hills was founded in 1891, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in the US.

Another club with high levels of exclusivity is Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. The club will host both the US Open and the US Women's Open in 2036, per Golf.com.

As one of the five founding clubs of the US Golf Association, its history dates back to 1891, which might help explain some of its strict rules.

For example, Shinnecock doesn't allow any cell phones or communication devices to be used or displayed in the clubhouse or on club grounds (except in the telephone room or cars in the parking lot), everyone's shirts must be worn tucked in, and no gratuity may be paid to employees, per the club's Guest Information page.

To play here, you'll need a signature from an accompanying member — no exceptions, sorry.

Cypress Point Golf Club in Pebble Beach, California, reportedly has a seven-year-long waitlist.

In 2019, Cypress Point was named one of Golf.com's most exclusive golf clubs in the world. To quote entertainer and comedian Bob Hope, "One year, they had a big membership drive at Cypress. They drove out 40 members."

Business Insider reported that Cypress has only about 250 members, with Golf Addict noting that the clientele is primarily "prominent politicians, businessmen, and movie stars," who split the course's fees equally, no matter how much they actually golf.

You'll need over $1 million to join Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Where does one begin with Shell Bay? Perhaps you'll start your day at the yacht club, practice your forehand on the Grand Slam-quality tennis courts, and then play a few holes on the Greg Norman-designed golf course. Or maybe you'll just spend the day at the spa.

The possibilities are grand at the Shell Bay Club — if you've got $1.35 million lying around for fun.

"Basically, all the members are millionaires or billionaires," Carrega said, adding that members include "the captains of industry and the most important of the people in Florida."

In addition to the private club, Shell Bay also has residences with amenities that include a sunset cocktail terrace, an orchid garden, and a private wine-tasting room with secure wine drawers.

Japan's Hirono Golf Club requires attendees to adhere to a strict dress code.

Also featured on Golf.com's most exclusive golf clubs in the world in 2019, Hirono Golf Club in Kobe, Japan, has a reputation for being especially private; the last professional tournament played there was the 70th Japan Open Golf Championship in 2005.

While most golf courses are known for having dress codes, some of Hirono's rules are incredibly specific.

Per the club's website, guidelines for playing attire include no clothing with "showy colors or patterns" like red or camouflage, no mock-neck shirts, no shirts without collars and sleeves, no ankle socks, and no clothing or hats "designed with conspicuous advertising intentions."

Only members and their guests are allowed access to Hirono, and both parties are held to the same high standards, with the club noting that members are "fully responsible for the conduct of the visitor," who should be fully informed on the rules and course etiquette before arrival.

Pine Valley Golf Club has been ranked the No. 1 golf course in the US every year since 2017.

Founded in 1913, Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey has been ranked the No. 1 golf course in the state every year since 1985 and the No. 1 golf course in the country every year since 2017, per Golf Digest.

The club is famously invite-only and, until 2021, only allowed women to play as guests on Sunday afternoons.

"The future of golf must move toward inclusion, and I am pleased to report that the Trustees and members of the Pine Valley Golf Club have voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to remove all gender-specific language from our bylaws," club president Jim Davis wrote in an email to members obtained by Golf Digest in 2021.

Pine Valley has only held one elite professional event in its history, further emphasizing its interest in privacy. However, the club will break tradition in 2034 to host the Curtis Cup, a biennial match where the top female American amateurs compete against the best from Great Britain and Ireland.

• Gold prices hit $3,200 for the first time on Friday.
• Trump's tariffs and China's retaliatory action have roiled global markets.
• A BlackRock strategist said gold was a better hedge than Treasury bills amid the market turmoil.

Gold hit another record high above $3,200 on Friday — and is a better way to protect against the ongoing market turmoil than Treasury bills, a BlackRock executive said.

Wei Li, global chief investment strategist at the asset manager, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Thursday that higher exchange rates and "currency down" were abnormal.

"Also not normal — risk off, #dollar and Treasuries down. I will keep saying it: #gold is a better diversifier than Treasuries in this environment of high debt."

Fears over the longer-term effects of President Donald Trump's trade tariffs have triggered an aggressive sell-off of US bonds. Yields have continued to rise this week, with the 10-year Treasury yield up almost 4.4% on Friday.

Treasurys have traditionally been considered one of the safest investments available, but that perception may be starting to change.

The dollar has also suffered amid the turmoil, hitting a three-year low against the euro and a 10-year low against the Swiss franc.

"In this new regime characterized by 1/ #inflationary pressure and 2/ high #debt, gold has been and could continue to be a better diversifier than long-duration Treasuries," Li wrote in an earlier LinkedIn post.

Last month gold broke through the $3,000 level for the first time. In the days following Trump's tariff announcement on April 2, the metal went as high as about $3,150 before retreating.

Gold has since regained momentum as investors seek out safe-haven assets, which typically maintain or increase their value during market turbulence.

In a Friday note, UBS analysts raised their 2025 gold price target to $3,500, citing "escalating tariff uncertainty, weaker growth, higher inflation and lingering geopolitical risks."

"Gold seems to be unfazed by higher US yields," they wrote, adding that the metal has stood out this year compared with other safe havens including Treasurys, the franc, and the yen.

Analysts at Bank of America also have a price target of $3,500 for gold.

• BlackRock, now managing $11.6 trillion, has more employees outside the US than in its home country.
• On the firm's first-quarter earnings call, CEO Larry Fink stressed its global reach.
• "We are Mexican in Mexico, Canadian in Canada," Fink told analysts.

BlackRock's first client 37 years ago was Japanese. A majority of the $11. 6 trillion New York-based firm's employees are based internationally. The manager's risk platform Aladdin just signed its first Korean client.

There are even plans to open a few more offices outside the US where the world's largest asset manager has a client base, CEO Larry Fink said Friday morning.

"BlackRock is a global firm, but one that operates hyper-locally," he said.

In practice, this means "we are Mexican in Mexico, Canadian in Canada," among other countries and nationalities, Fink said.

It was a notable remark from the world's largest asset manager, which held its first-quarter earnings call Friday morning as the financial world struggles to digest the ramifications of President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Though the tariffs have been put on pause for most countries, though notably not China, Fink said that "in the short run, we have an economy at risk."

This follows his talk Monday at the Economic Club of New York when Fink said that most of the CEOs he is talking to "would say we are probably in a recession right now." In the firm's earnings release, the current market environment is compared to "large, structural shifts" that occurred during the financial crisis and COVID-19.

Despite the dire immediate backdrop, Fink said his firm leads with "optimism." The large macro trends — such as artificial intelligence and infrastructure spending that BlackRock has focused on for the next wave of its growth — "are still around," he said, and that the manager has a "growth mindset."

Over recent weeks, BlackRock has had thousands of client conversations, Fink said, and there's still a significant appetite for infrastructure investing. He said BlackRock preaches long-term solutions, not moves to address "the next tweet."

He said the public market chaos is expected to attract more assets to private markets, a shift the firm is embracing.

Still, the tariffs — which Fink said "went beyond anything I could have imagined" — cannot be ignored as simply short-term noise. BlackRock's European ETF line surpassed $1 trillion in assets for the first time last quarter, thanks to investors leaving the US. Retirement and college savings are hit by such severe dips in stock markets.

"This isn't Wall Street versus Main Street," Fink said in his prepared remarks to start the call.

His closing advice (or wish): "Have a calm second quarter."

• The head of the US Space Force's Greenland base has been fired, Space Operations Command said Thursday.
• Colonel Susannah Meyers was removed from her position after a "loss of confidence," a statement said.
• It comes after Meyers reportedly distanced herself from Vice President JD Vance's criticism of Denmark.

The commander of a US Space Force base in Greenland has been fired following a recent visit by Vice President JD Vance.

In a statement Thursday, the military's Space Operations Command said Meyers had been removed from her position at the Danish territory's Pituffik Space Base due to a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead."

"Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties," it said, adding that Colonel Shawn Lee had now taken command.

In a post on X, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell shared an image of the SOC's statement along with a link to a Military.com article that reported Meyers had distanced herself from Vance's recent criticism of how Denmark manages the territory in an email to base personnel.

On March 31, days after Vance's trip to the island, Meyers is reported to have emailed staff saying, "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."

"Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense," Parnell wrote on X, appearing to confirm the reason for Meyers' dismissal.

Vance visited the Pituffik Space Base during a trip to Greenland in March, where he made a series of controversial comments accusing Denmark of underinvesting in Greenland's security and echoing President Donald Trump's suggestion that the territory would be better off under US control.

Trump told Congress last month that the US would acquire Greenland "one way or the other" and has not ruled out using military force, despite Denmark being a longtime ally and a member of NATO.

An opinion poll earlier this year found that the majority of Greenlanders oppose the idea of becoming part of the US.

Business Insider has contacted the Pentagon for comment.

• Gen Z collage app Landing has rebranded to Zeen.
• Zeen is targeting fashion and lifestyle creators with tools for making shoppable content.
• Here's why the startup is pivoting from being a social media platform to being a creator tool.

Landing, a social collaging app that became a favorite among Gen Z users, is making a pivot.

The startup is rebranding to Zeen and targeting content creators as its core user base. Zeen is offering these creators the ability to make shoppable collages.

"We kept seeing this behavior of people wanting to shop from each other's collages, and fashion was always the biggest vertical on Landing," Zeen cofounder Miri Buckland told Business Insider.

Like any social media platform these days — just take a glance at any TikTok or Instagram post that includes an outfit — Buckland said the comment sections on Landing posts were flooded with questions like "Where did you get that dress?"

While some people (myself included) used Landing to create digital collages without clothing or products, Buckland said the overwhelming use case was outfit planning and fashion mood boarding.

Zeen, the startup's new product, is doubling down on this.

The web-only tool lets users design collages by dropping in online shopping links or uploading images. Creators can also include affiliate marketing links, like from ShopMy or LTK. Then, creators can save an image or a video of the collage to share on platforms like Substack, Instagram, and TikTok.

"What we're building with Zeen is very strictly a tool and a utility," Zeen cofounder Ellie Buckingham said. "We're not building a full social platform."

Pivoting is par for the course for startups — and it's not Zeen's first time doing so. The startup originally focused on interior design with Landing before expanding into broader categories like vision boards or fandom art. Zeen shut down Landing in September.

The startup has money in the bank to back its pivot, too.

Last year, Zeen secured another $2.3 million in funding led by venture capital firm Stellation Capital, bringing the startup's total funding to date to $9 million, Buckland told BI.

Building for the creator economy

Creators often have a robust stack of creative tools they use to make content. If they're video creators, maybe that's editing tools like CapCut. For others, it could be Canva, Adobe, or photo-editing tools like VSCO.

Zeen wants to be part of creators' tech stacks for making visual, shoppable content.

Several of Zeen's early users are Substack newsletter creators, particularly in the fashion and lifestyle category. For instance, Erika Veurink, who writes a fashion Substack called "Long Live" with 28,000 subscribers, has used Zeen for in-newsletter collages of furniture and clothing. Veurink is an advisor to Zeen.

Aditi Shah, a Peleton instructor and creator, has also been using Zeen on her Substack "Work in Progress" to showcase her favorite beauty products of the month.

With Zeen, newsletter creators can earn money if they use affiliate links. When uploading affiliate links into a Zeen collage, the platform will generate a list of the products and links for creators to copy and paste into their newsletters.

Zeen's premium tier ($6 per month) lets creators bulk-upload products from their ShopMy Collections, and unlocks unlimited use of tools like one that removes the background of product images and watermarks.

While many of Zeen's early adopters are Substackers, the startup is "platform agnostic" and aimed at creators using any newsletter tool (such as Beehiiv) or social platform (like Instagram and TikTok). Creators can export collages to fit Instagram stories and export video versions of the collage for vertical video feeds.

"The idea is, can we take what our creators are really good at, which is this curation and merchandising of products, and then automatically give them something that allows them to have a content type that competes on a video-first platform," Buckingham said.

• Alphabet's missed expectations in Q4 of 2024.
• Revenue rose 12% year-on-year and EPS increased to $2.15.
• The firm surprised investors with a larger-than-expected capex forecast.

Alphabet, Google's parent company, releases its earnings data every quarter.

Sundar Pichai, who is the CEO of Google and Alphabet, joins the earnings calls to deliver updates and answer questions.

Here's a breakdown of Alphabet's most recent earnings and financial history.

Alphabet Q4 earnings 2024

Alphabet's fourth-quarter earnings slightly missed expectations, dragging shares down.

The tech giant raked in $96.5 billion in revenue, amounting to a 12% gain from a year ago. Earnings-per-share came in at $2.15, above consensus.

While Pichai praised momentum in the firm's artificial intelligence initiatives, a slowing cloud business and a larger-than-expected 2025 capex forecast discouraged investors.

Alphabet plans to spend $75 billion in capital expenditures this year, well above the expected $57.9 billion figure.

Alphabet Q3 earnings 2024

Third-quarter earnings beat estimates, sending shares surging after the closing bell.

Alphabet outpaced expectations on nearly every front, with revenue rising 15% year-over-year to $88.3 billion. Earnings per share jumped to $2.12.

Google Cloud was a particular bright spot for the company, as "accelerated growth" in AI cloud products boosting revenue 35%.

"Today, more than a quarter of all new code at Google is generated by AI then reviewed and accepted by engineers," Pichai added, speaking about AI initiatives in the firm.

Alphabet Q2 earnings 2024

While Alphabet surpassed earnings forecasts, the second-quarter report still disappointed in key areas.

Revenue rose 14% on an annual basis, reaching $84 billion for the quarter. Earnings-per-share came in at $1.89.

However, $8.66 billion in YouTube ad revenue underwhelmed Wall Street, which forecast $8.95 billion.

Quarterly capex, reaching $13.2 billion, was higher than expected.

Alphabet Q1 earnings 2024

Alphabet's earnings report in April of 2024 far outstripped analysts' projections, sending stocks skyrocketing.

The company reported a 15% revenue bump year over year, revenues of $80.5 billion, and also issued its first-ever $0.20 per share dividend.

On the earnings call, Pichai touted "strong" performances from Google Search, YouTube, and Google Cloud. He also spoke glowingly of the company's inroads in artificial intelligence, and declared Alphabet to be in its "Gemini era," a reference to Google's Gemini AI chatbot.

Google has been gradually incorporating AI into its core products, such as YouTube and Workspace, the suite of productivity programs like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive.

"Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation," Pichai said.

Alphabet Q4 earnings 2023

Alphabet beat expectations in its fourth quarter of 2023, though Google's advertising sales fell slightly below analyst projections, causing shares to dip. 

Alphabet's revenue swelled to $86.3 billion, up 13%, and the company reported a net income of $20.28 billion with $1.64 per diluted share.

In the earnings call, Pichai noted that Google had just launched its new AI model Gemini, and remarked that "the best is yet to come."

Alphabet Q3 earnings 2023

Alphabet's third-quarter earnings surpassed analysts' estimates, beating revenue and profit projections. But Google's stock fell 10% after its Cloud business fell short of Wall Street's expectations.

Google Cloud's revenue was up 22% at $8.4 billion, but down from 28% growth in the previous quarter.

On the earnings call, Pichai noted that the company was expanding and deploying new AI services, and said the company was "excited and confident" for its future prospects.

Alphabet earnings history

Alphabet — made up of Google and a collection of other companies known as Other Bets — had a tumultuous 2023, unveiling its most ambitious artificial intelligence technology and boasting an annual revenue of $307.39 billion, but also axing approximately 6% of the company.

Like many tech companies in the post-pandemic era, Alphabet has sought to cut costs and implement layoffs. Alphabet laid off some 12,000 employees in 2023, and by the end of the fourth quarter, the company reported having about 182,500 employees in total. 

Executives have also warned that layoffs aren't over — Pichai has anticipated more job cuts throughout 2024. Pichai explained that Google's layoffs have been intentionally slow because the company is "taking the time to do it correctly and well."

Still, Alphabet's market cap hit $2 trillion in spring 2024, a new milestone that made Google the world's fourth-most valuable public company.

The majority of Alphabet's revenue has come from Google, ever since the parent company was first formed in 2015. Other Bets — which includes businesses like Waymo, Verily, equity investment fund Capital G, and research and development unit Google X — generates most of its revenue from healthcare-related services but also reports large operating losses. 

In Q1 of 2024, Other Bets posted revenues of $495 million but reported an operating loss of $1 billion.

• I wanted to live in my hometown Santa Barbara but didn't want to spend most of my income on rent.
• So, my parents offered to convert a shed on their 5-acre property into a 500-square-foot tiny home.
• I'm so grateful they let me and my boyfriend live there rent-free while we save for a house.

Last year, my boyfriend and I were trying to figure out our next move — and we found it in my parents' backyard.

Our apartment lease in Los Angeles was up in June, and after two years in the city, we missed our home in Santa Barbara.

We agreed to move back to our hometown but didn't know where we'd live. After all, housing can be even more expensive in the Central California city than in LA.

The average rent for an apartment in Santa Barbara is about $2,901 (and $2,733 in LA), according to rental-listing platform RentCafe. That number only climbs when you factor in details like ideal location and sought-after amenities.

Although we could technically afford to live in our hometown if we compromised on our desired neighborhood and perks, spending most of our income renting an apartment we didn't truly want didn't sound great.

We also plan to buy a home one day, and saving money is our top priority.

So, when my parents offered to turn a shed on their 5-acre property in Santa Barbara into 500-square-foot tiny home for us to use, we were all in.

Turning the shed into a home wasn't as easy as I expected

Last April, my mom began meeting with contractors to plan out the shed-turned-home's layout.

It would be tough to fit everything we wanted in the small space, but we settled on a one-bedroom, one-bathroom design. The living room and kitchen would be one space divided by a couch, and the bathroom would contain a stacked washer/dryer.

I had foolishly thought designing a house would be as simple as paying Sims — pick your paint, choose your floor, and, boom, all done. As it turns out, it's a lot more complicated.

Throughout the process, we experienced numerous setbacks, like getting plumbers, electricians, and contractors to even show up.

Many of them had prior commitments and were working on our tiny home as a side project.

It took us about a month to find a plumber, then we ended up having to dig a tunnel below the shed to connect our lines directly to the plumbing in the main house.

We also struggled to connect an Ethernet to the tiny home. My dad had to run conduit from the main house underground and funnel Ethernet through it.

All in all, the project took about five months to complete.

We're grateful to live somewhere we can have our own space and also save money

In November, we finally moved into the converted storage shed on the northwestern corner of my parents' property.

I'm grateful my parents funded this project and don't charge us rent. We have regular monthly expenses, like groceries and gas, but we're able to save most of our income.

Plus, not having to pay rent has helped me sustain my career as a freelance writer.

I recognize how fortunate we are to be in this position. Still, my partner and I don't plan to live here forever. My parents built this space with the idea that when we move out, they can use it accommodate guests or other family members.

For now, it's our home, allowing us to live where we want without spending most of our income on rent.

We're incredibly lucky to get to spend our days surrounded by nature in the town where we grew up, cozily nestled between the mountains and the sea.

• Ned's Club is a private members-only space geared towards high-achieving professionals.
• The club's new location in Washington, DC, has three floors for socializing, dining, and events.
• Members' names are kept private, and it costs up to $125,000 to join at the highest membership tier.

Washington, DC's hottest club has everything.

A historic location steps from the White House. An elite, secret membership roster. Four fine-dining restaurants, each offering a different cuisine. A six-figure top-tier membership fee.

Welcome to Ned's Club, a private members-only space designed for high-achieving professionals across industries to lounge, dine, and mingle away from prying eyes.

A spinoff of Soho House members' clubs, Ned's Club began in London in 2017 and has since opened locations in New York, Doha, and now Washington, DC.

Managing director Gareth Banner estimates that about 90% of Ned's Club members are C-suite-level professionals, founders, and entrepreneurs. While the club doesn't disclose the names of its members, reported sightings have included Mark Cuban, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Clinton operative and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.

"If the truth be told, and we make no apology for it, we are focused on probably attracting the top 1%, 2% of people," Banner told Business Insider. "So it doesn't really matter what you do, but you should be at the absolute top of your game."

Admission to the nearly 60,000-square-foot club comes at a price. Regular membership costs $5,000 to join and $5,000 a year. The top-tier Founders' membership, which includes additional perks such as access to the Founders' Dining Room, costs $125,000 to join and $25,000 a year.

Ned's Club granted Business Insider rare access to the exclusive space. Take a look around Ned's Club in Washington, DC.

Ned's Club occupies the top three floors of the Milken Institute, a five-building complex in Washington, DC.

The Milken Institute, a think tank founded by former Wall Street financier and billionaire philanthropist Mike Milken, is located around the corner from the Treasury Department and a five-minute walk from the White House.

The Ned's Club brand is named for Sir Edwin "Ned" Landseer Lutyens, the architect who designed the former Midland Bank building that houses the original London location.

"We love working with an old building and repurposing it in a way that makes it relevant for a different intended purpose," Banner said. "A great old building gives you so much in terms of character."

Privacy is paramount at Ned's Club — no photography is permitted, and members aren't allowed to disclose the names of other members.

Members and visitors are required to cover their phone cameras with stickers provided by the club upon entry.

"We work very hard to make sure that everything that happens here is off the record," Joiwind Ronen, executive director of membership and programming at Ned's Club, told Business Insider.

While the club's membership remains private, Ronen could disclose that the membership committee includes Kellyanne Conway, Paramount executive DeDe Lea, MSNBC host Symone D. Sanders-Townsend, and Zach Leonsis, whose family owns the Washington Wizards and the Capitals.

Members enter Ned's Club through what was once the Walker Building and is now part of the Milken Institute.

Built in 1937, the former Walker Building's entrance has been restored with handpainted wallpaper featuring DC's iconic cherry blossoms.

In the lobby, Ronen pointed out a sign advertising upcoming members-only events including comedy and trivia nights, a supper club for expats, and an Earth Day gathering with the Nature Conservancy featuring Chesapeake oysters. The club's offerings also include occasional off-site events such as test-driving a new line of Ferraris in Bethesda or viewing Elizabeth Taylor's private jewel collection at Bulgari.

The elevators open into the ninth-floor hallway featuring pieces from a curated art collection called "The First 47."

"The First 47" highlights the work of 47 female artists, juxtaposing the all-male history of 47 US presidents.

All of the artwork in Ned's Club is curated by Soho House.

Ned's Club and Soho House remain separate entities with no crossover membership access, but they do overlap in other ways.

Ron Burkle, who owns Ned's Club's umbrella organization called The Ned, is the majority shareholder of Soho House & Co Inc. Soho House also collaborated with Stonehill Taylor to design the Ned's Club location in Washington, DC.

Banner described Ned's Club as an "offshoot" of Soho House geared toward a broader, more professional audience, not just creatives.

"We look for the high-performance people who are leading their sector — the movers and the shakers," he said.

The two-story Library is the only room at Ned's Club where members are allowed to use their laptops, but only until 5 p.m.

It's also the only room with a TV, which the club uses to host watch parties for events like the Oscars and the Super Bowl.

The striped blue wallpaper was modeled after the wallpaper in the Obama White House.

A tapestry by Malaika Temba hangs above the mantle depicting a woman reading a newspaper with the headline "War is not a shortcut to lasting change." The piece is part of "The First 47."

With its 1920s-inspired decor, I felt like I'd walked into a speakeasy.

Members can order cocktails and snacks at the Library Bar, which serves items including chicken Parmesan tenders, burgers and fries, and mini lobster rolls.

Since Ned's Club began as a British organization, there's also a tea service complete with individual teapots.

"I think in DC — and I've lived here for 30 years — we're known as a very type-A intense town," Ronen said. "To see people just relaxing, having tea, having an extended conversation for an extended period of time, feels so luxurious. There's something really beautiful about seeing people engage that way."

My tour continued in The Gallery, Ned's Club's Italian-American restaurant.

The restaurant, which serves dishes like Margherita pizza, branzino, and rigatoni bolognese, features plush velvet seating and a custom mural by Patricia Cronin.

The Gallery leads into the Conservatory, which was once an outdoor space.

The enclosed Conservatory still feels like an outdoor terrace with wicker furniture, numerous plants, and large windows that let the sun stream in.

The Drawing Room serves as a lounge where members can mingle.

The Drawing Room features an intricate wood ceiling and more plush seating.

The room also hosts live music performances every weeknight.

Ned's Club provides a piano and drum set for musicians.

The Founders' Dining Room is available to those who pay $25,000 a year on top of the $125,000 joining fee for the higher membership tier.

The decor, which includes wood accents, stained-glass windows, and other fine dining touches, was inspired by the Kennedy administration.

"It's meant to evoke that period of some of the Camelot days of DC," Ronen said, referring to the way Kennedy's presidency was romanticized after his assassination as akin to King Arthur's court.

The Founders' Dining Room is one of only two restaurants in North America that serves beef from the esteemed Four Sixes Ranch.

Four Sixes Ranch, one of the oldest cattle ranches in the US, became known for its role in the drama series "Yellowstone."

Prices at the Founders' Dining Room include a $70 filet mignon and a $195 bone-in ribeye.

Kaia, Ned's Club's Pan-Asian restaurant, is adjacent to the building's rooftop terrace.

Kaia serves sushi, sashimi, and assorted grilled meats.

The ceiling of the restaurant and lounge is painted with a mural by artist Rose Jaffe.

Kaia also features a custom mosaic floor.

The highlight of my tour was the wraparound rooftop terrace, where I sat to enjoy the sunshine and the view.

When I visited midday on a Friday, the balcony was mostly empty aside from a few members. Despite the small crowd, I watched as staff members straightened chairs and fluffed seat cushions with meticulous attention to detail.

From the roof, I could see the Washington Monument, the White House, the Tidal Basin, and other DC landmarks.

The club brings in a DJ to play music on the roof on Sundays.

In addition to the members-only club, Ned's Club offers five private event spaces that anyone can book.

The rooms range from a boardroom for 60 people to the Riggs Room with a capacity of 150.

With 1,300 members and counting, Ned's Club already has a long waitlist of people eager to enjoy the lush space and rub shoulders with some of DC's most influential figures.

To Banner, the most luxurious aspect of Ned's Club isn't the fine dining or the furnishings — it's the sense of community often sought through "third places" that aren't home or work.

"I think there is a certain experience you get in a club — the stuff that you can't get in, say, a restaurant or a hotel," he said. "I think people want to belong to something."

• Patrick Collison said Stripe invites a customer to leadership meetings every two weeks.
• The fintech CEO says it sparks new ideas — even with other feedback systems in place.
• Elon Musk gave the move his seal of approval on X, calling it a "good idea."

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison has a direct way to get customer feedback: invite them to management meetings.

Collison shared a post on X this week that Stripe invites one customer to join the first 30 minutes of its leadership meetings every other week, which are attended by around 40 of the company's top managers.

The guest then shares "candid" feedback about their experience with the payments platform.

The move may be unusual, but it received some support, including from Elon Musk, who replied on X the next day, "Good idea."

Collison said the practice consistently generates "new thoughts and investigations" despite Stripe already having plenty of other feedback channels.

Stripe, founded in 2010 by brothers Patrick and John Collison, provides software tools for online and in-person payment processing to millions of businesses globally.

Originally built as a payments platform for startups, it's now used by half of the Fortune 100 and processed $1.4 trillion in payments in 2024, a 38% increase from the previous year, the company said in its most recent annual letter.

Following a secondary share sale in early 2025, the company was valued at $91.5 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable private fintech companies.

However, as Stripe has scaled, it has faced criticism from some users who think the company's focus has shifted toward large enterprise clients.

"Hi Patrick — you know I admire Stripe — but you should pay attention to the extent things have degraded for the indie community using Stripe," Pascal Levy-Garboua, an investor and cofounder, commented on the post. "I messaged support a week ago - no reply, things are super complicated. There's more stuff, but it's a mess."

Others praised the customer-in-the-room tactic as a way to maintain customer empathy. "Love this," one user replied. "Keeps the culture focused on what matters."

When Cloudflare's chief technology officer, Dane Knecht, asked when they'd get an invite, Collison replied, "Would love to have you guys… will reach out." Shopify's head of engineering, Farhan Thawar, also weighed in, calling it a "great idea" and adding, "Lmk when you'd like @Shopify to attend."

Stripe laid off 300 employees in January — about 3.5% of its workforce — Business Insider previously reported.

Despite the cuts, the company's chief people officer, Rob McIntosh said it still planned to grow headcount to around 10,000 by the end of the year.

• JPMorgan posted first-quarter earnings on Friday.
• The banking giant posted strong growth in revenue and profits but also grew its reserves.
• CEO Jamie Dimon said the US economy faces "considerable turbulence" from tariffs and other factors.

Jamie Dimon reiterated his warning about a turbulent US economy in JPMorgan's first-quarter earnings report on Friday, as the banking giant reported earnings that beat Wall Street's expectations.

JPMorgan's net revenue rose 8% year-on-year to $45.3 billion, driving net income up 9% to $14.6 billion.

The bank bolstered its provision for credit losses — money set aside in anticipation of bad debts — by $973 million to $3.3 billion in the first three months of this year, citing a worse macroeconomic outlook.

JPMorgan reported earnings per share of $5.07, trouncing AlphaSense's consensus forecast of $4.65.

Shares rose 2.6% in premarket trading. The stock has fallen 5.4% this year.

"The economy is facing considerable turbulence (including geopolitics), with the potential positives of tax reform and deregulation and the potential negatives of tariffs and "trade wars," ongoing sticky inflation, high fiscal deficits and still rather high asset prices and volatility," Dimon commented in the earnings report, pulling from his letter to JPMorgan shareholders on Monday.

In his letter, Dimon cautioned the Trump administration's latest tariffs were likely to accelerate inflation and slow the US economy's growth. He also said he supported the US demanding that "unfair" trade and tax policies be rectified.

The billionaire banker later told Fox Business that a recession had become a "likely outcome."