Category: Breaking

Stefanos Tsitsipas had struggled during the early stages of his 2025 season and was in need of a strong week in Dubai.

The Greek number one endured a tough loss in Melbourne, as Tsitsipas lost to Alex Michelsen in the first round, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6.

Looking to bounce back in the Netherlands, the world number 11 lost to Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in the quarter-finals of the Rotterdam Open.

His poor form continued in Doha, as Tsitsipas lost to Hamad Medjedovic in the first round of the Qatar Open, who was severely hampered by injury.

Traveling to the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 26-year-old battled past Lorenzo Sonego to secure a much-needed win.

Tsitsipas then beat Karen Khachanov to reach the quarter-finals, where he took on an in-form Matteo Berrettini.

After three grueling sets of action, the Greek star took down Berrettini before winning his semi-final match, as Tsitsipas now looks ahead to Saturday’s final.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says ‘everyone is aware’ of Felix Auger-Aliassime ahead of their final in Dubai

Tsitsipas beat Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to reach his third Dubai Tennis Championships final, having last done so in 2020.

He’ll face off against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final, who has won 16 matches this year, more than any other player in men’s tennis.

Ahead of their tenth career meeting, Tsitsipas revealed what the rest of the ATP Tour currently thinks about the Canadian number one.

“Obviously, Felix [Auger-Aliassime] has been playing very well lately, everyone is aware on the tour,” he said.

“I’m going to go out on the court, try my best, see what he comes up with, and I think let’s just leave it to the best player.”

Auger-Aliassime beat Quentin Halys in the first semi-final to qualify for his third final of the year, having previously won titles in Adelaide and Montpellier.

Tsitsipas is confident ahead of his match with Auger-Aliassime, after enjoying his best performance of the week against Griekspoor.

“I feel extremely happy that I was able to do it without the drama today and play good tennis from the start,” he said.

“It felt good, I was doing a great job from the baseline and I felt like my focus levels were at their highest from any match I’ve played this week.

“I feel like every match has new teachings, something new to offer me in terms of experience and knowledge in regards to my game.

“I’m just trying to soak it all in and use that wisdom that every match brings and use that effectively.

“We have a great crowd here, I’ve played good so far so let’s keep it up.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s head-to-head record

Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime’s clash in the final will be their tenth encounter on the ATP Tour, but who’s had the better of proceedings in their careers to date?

Match	Winner	Loser	Score
2023 Paris Masters – R32	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	6-3, 7-6
2022 Rotterdam – F	Felix Auger-Aliassime	Stefanos Tsitsipas	6-4, 6-2
2021 Cincinnati – QF	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	6-2, 5-7, 6-1
2021 Barcelona – QF	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	6-3, 6-3
2021 Acapulco – QF	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2020 Marseille – F	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	6-3, 6-4
2019 Shanghai – R32	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Felix Auger-Aliassime	7-6, 7-6
2019 Queen’s – QF	Felix Auger-Aliassime	Stefanos Tsitsipas	7-5, 6-2
2019 Indian Wells – R64	Felix Auger-Aliassime	Stefanos Tsitsipas	6-4, 6-2

Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head 6-3, winning their most recent encounter at the Paris Masters two years ago.

Auger-Aliassime did, however, come out on top in their only previous meeting at an ATP 500 final, as he won in straight sets at the 2022 Rotterdam Open.

Tsitsipas is no stranger to losing ATP 500 finals, having fallen to defeat in each of his 11 finals at the level, a trend he would no doubt love to change on Saturday.

• 2024 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Casper Ruud
• 2023 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Carlos Alcaraz
• 2022 Astana Open F – Lost to Novak Djokovic
• 2022 Rotterdam Open F – Lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime
• 2021 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Rafael Nadal
• 2021 Mexican Open F – Lost to Alexander Zverev
• 2020 Hamburg Open F – Lost to Andrey Rublev
• 2020 Dubai Tennis Championships F – Lost to Novak Djokovic
• 2019 China Open F – Lost to Dominic Thiem
• 2019 Dubai Tennis Championships F – Lost to Roger Federer
• 2018 Barcelona Open F – Lost to Rafael Nadal

Tsitsipas will take on Auger-Aliassime in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, March 1, as he looks to improve his record in ATP 500 level finals to 1-11.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the most streamlined game in Capcom’s long-running action-RPG series. Worried that juggling menus and harvesting laundry lists of arcane animal parts sounds too overwhelming and boring? Fear not! Monster Hunter Wilds lets you (mostly) make the experience as simple or as complicated as you want. Dive in deep and get your hands dirty with the game’s myriad interlocking crafting and skill systems, or just hop onto your Seikret steed, bee-line for the next boss, and have a fun time whacking it until it falls over. The choice is yours. But no matter how you decide to play, here are a bunch of helpful tips for getting started in Monster Hunter Wilds.

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Choose your first weapon and learn it like a fighting game character

Monster Hunter Wilds will start you off with the Great Sword, one of its most powerful but also clunkiest weapons. I have been using it ever since, and love how heavy it feels and seeing those big damage numbers it puts up with each hit. But you might hate it. There are 14 weapons and it’s worth playing around with a few of them to see which actually feels best for you and your playstyle.

Each weapon is its own character in Monster Hunter Wilds, and learning all of its advantages, weaknesses, and quirks is a massive part of the game, like the difference between picking Ryu or Blanka in Street Fighter. I recommend against the Sword and Shield because blocking is boring. The Dual Blades, on the other hand, are lightning-quick and make fights feel like you’re shredding cabbage. Plus, they have a really cool Focus Strike animation.

Make your secondary weapon a long-range one to start

You can equip a second weapon and pull it out of your saddlebag mid-fight whenever you want. While the sky’s the limit for what kind of synergies come from this in the end game, it never hurts to make your secondary weapon long-range in case you need to shift up tactics or play more conservatively late into a fight. I like the Heavy Bowgun. It’s like shooting a rifle and has a nice burst option.

Never hunt on an empty stomach

Meals in Monster Hunter Wilds don’t give you bonuses so much as necessary buffs that become the foundation for each hunt you go on. There’s a handy list that will show you what stats your current ingredients will give you, with the main ones being health and stamina recovery. The great thing about cooking in the latest entry is that you can do it wherever you want, including right next to other monsters. Buy ingredients from vendors in your camp or pick them up on your way to the next hunt.

Don’t worry too much about exploring until you’ve rolled credits

Monster Hunter Wilds is one of those games that doesn’t really get started until after it’s over. “Rolling credits” will happen at the end of the main campaign, but there are still more story quests that follow after that. This is the “late game,” which includes high-rank monsters and gear. This is when the game really opens up and exploration feels more natural and rewarding. Plus, all the rewards you get for your troubles are much more worthwhile. And personally, I think Monster Hunter Wilds’ base campaign is best played in as much of a straight shot as possible. The pacing is pretty breakneck with one big fight after another, culminating in some neat narrative reveals and a cool “final” boss fight.

Make the SOS flare automatic if you’re tired of fighting alone

SOS flares are what let other characters join your hunt. Shooting one up can either be manual or you can change the settings in the multiplayer menu to make it automatic at the start of each new hunt. While it can be fun and challenging to fight alone, it’s also good, and often much faster, to fight with a full squad of four. And if you don’t want to play with other humans, you can keep that party solely consisting of AI-controlled NPCs from the main story. They’ll heal you and do a decent job of taking aggro from monsters.

Your Seikret is you most powerful secret weapon

The new mounts in Monster Hunter Wilds are called Seikrets. They don’t fight, but they will rapidly autopilot you through dense and confusing environments by simply pressing up on the D-pad. Normally, the end destination is whatever monster you’re hunting, but you can also select icons from the map and set them as waypoints to give the Seikret new directions.

They’re also extremely useful in fights. You can whistle for them to pick you up after getting knocked down. They’re a great way to build distance between you and a monster, or get out of the way of a big attack. Their saddlebags are also full of items to restock your supplies (left on the D-pad), including your secondary weapon (right on the D-pad). Most importantly, you can spring and then lunge off their back and press your heavy attack to hit monsters with aerial attacks, which is super fun.

Make inventory shortcuts for potions and traps

One of the biggest pitfalls of Monster Hunter remains its cumbersome item menus. There’s nothing like getting stomped while trying to tab over from your first aid kids to your antidotes. Luckily, you can pick a handful of the most useful items, like your whetstone (gotta keep those weapons sharp!), electric traps, and potions, to equip as shortcuts in a radial menu. It’s still not the best, but a heck of a lot faster and easier than the regular inventory menu.

Focus your attacks and pop wounds for maximum damage

Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a system called Focus that lets you hold down the left trigger to aim attacks or stab wounds to initiate Focus Strikes. These do lots of damage and are really satisfying to watch. They all break off extra monster parts for crafting that immediate get added to your inventory. To open up wounds you need to hit the same spots on a monster repeatedly. Once open, don’t waste time closing ’em up. The resulting Focus Strikes also knock the monster off balance, turning the best offense into a great defense as well.

Always be climbing on those monsters’ backs

Jumping off a higher platform or lunging from your Seikret and doing an aerial attack will occasionally pop you onto a monster’s back. Once there, you can stab to open a wound and move up and down its back to avoid being shaken off as your stamina depletes. When the screen starts to go dark you should hold the right trigger to hold on. Once you’ve got a few wounds opened up you can do a Focus Strike before getting thrown off. You’ll have to keep doing more aerial attacks to build up an invisible gauge before you can hop back on again.

Don’t bother with crafting low ranking armor and weapons

The natural loop of Monster Hunter is kill stuff to make stuff, and the pull of crafting new gear is strong. However, the actual stuff you can craft early on in Wilds is not. You can get through much of the first 15 hours of the game with just a couple sets of new armor and one or two upgrades to your main weapon. I’d recommend saving the rest of your resources for crafting high-rank gear once you’re in the late game. But definitely treat yourself once or twice over the main campaign to some cool looking armor which will then make you look extra ridiculous in all of the bespoke cutscenes.

Capturing monsters instead of killing them can save time

You don’t actually have to kill everything in Monster Hunter Wilds. You can capture your quarry instead. You’ll get basically the same items for doing so and while more complex, it can actually save time. That’s because you can capture a monster and subdue long before it’s actually dead. To do that, you just have to wait until it’s damaged enough that a skull icon appears next to it, at which point you can temporarily disable it with a shock or pitfall trap and then put it to sleep with a couple of tranquilizer bombs. This can be especially useful if you’ve already died a few times and are at risk of losing the entire hunt.

Learn how to pause the game

Hitting the options button doesn’t pause Monster Hunter Wilds, but that doesn’t mean the game can’t be paused. Instead, the pause button is hidden on a separate set of menus. Fortunately, you can select it and equip it to your quick action radial menu making it easy to pause without your character being left vulnerable. And don’t worry if you have to leave the game for a while. Instead of kicking you back to the main menu, you’ll simply be taken offline but your game will remain uninterrupted (which is great for suspended games and quick resume). What a novel idea!

That glowing red line means the monster is about to kill you

You might notice that when you’re health gets low a bright red glowing line appears between you and the monster that you’re hunting. That’s the game’s way of telling you that it’s next attack, if it hits, will “cart you,” i.e. sent you back to camp. When this happens you should a) get the hell out of the way, and b) heal up as fast as possible.

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After a long, gray winter, few things can lift my mood like seeing the first pink cherry blossoms of spring fill the sky.

I’m especially lucky — some of the best buds on the East Coast bloom near me at Branch Brook Park in Newark (yes, that Newark). The 5,000 trees create a cotton candy skyline for a week in early April that banishes all thoughts of bleak winter days.

I’m not the only one who feels the cherry blossoms’ pull. The Japanese equate sakura, or cherry blossoms, with new beginnings. In early spring, the act of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is met with both reverence and celebration in Japan. Multiple generations spend days and evenings at parties, picnics and festivals lauding this fresh new start.

Although Japan, especially Tokyo, is equated with hanami celebrations, you can find sakura in destinations around the globe. It’s the perfect excuse to plan spring travel — a cherry blossom pilgrimage offers not just the visual spectacle of the blooms and their aftermath of soft silky petals covering the ground like fragrant snow, but a chance to immerse yourself in the culture of each destination, too.

Related: The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring

Of course, trees can be temperamental depending on the weather, so build a bit of a time buffer into your travels if you’re planning a trip specifically around seeing the delicate pink and cream blooms and their flower fireworks.

From Amsterdam to Japan, here’s where to immerse yourself in spring’s sakura.

Tokyo

If you’re considering traveling to see spring’s cherry blossom bloom, chances are you have Tokyo in your sights already, since sakura are synonymous with this city, where the tradition of hanami dates back 1,200 years. The entire city celebrates the blooms with picnics and events, special sakura-themed menus, and hanami bento and snack spots near viewing areas.

There are multiple locations around Tokyo to view the pink sakura wave. Among the most prominent is Ueno Park, which transforms into a pink wonderland with 1,000 flowering trees that bring millions of visitors to bask in their rosy glow. In the evenings, the park is illuminated for a glowing nighttime visit. Another top stop is Chidorigafuchi Park, where the Imperial Palace is located, which is especially memorable for its nearly half-mile tunnel of blooms plus a sakura-lined canal that you can boat through.

According to Japan’s cherry blossom forecast, Tokyo’s blooms are predicted to start March 21 and be at full flower March 28, which is very similar to last year’s bloom schedule. (Once again, these dates can wiggle a bit depending on Mother Nature.)

Where to stay: Staying near major transportation hubs will make it easy to see sakura around the city (and not be stuck in the crowds at the most popular spots). The Conrad Tokyo occupies the top floors of the Shiodome skyscraper, with stellar views of Tokyo Bay, and is near several train stations. (Its contemporary Japanese restaurant, Kazahana, has spectacular vistas, too, along with one of my favorite kaiseki menus in the city.) It’s also next to Hama-rikyu Gardens, a hidden gem for peaceful sakura viewing. During peak hanami, the last week in March, rooms start at $430 or 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Related: The best hotels in Tokyo for your next Japan getaway

Kyoto, Japan

It’s not just Tokyo where the sakura are revered in Japan. Kyoto is also world-renowned for its surge of cherry blossoms that bloom just in time for spring and romantically outline the tranquil pathways of its many parks. Known as the cultural heart of Japan, and serving as the central preservation hub for Japan’s vibrant culture and history, seeing the sakura among its 2,000 temples and shrines — including Nijo Castle and Toji Temple — truly imbues the ancient practice with a sense of history.

One particularly special spot is Philosopher’s Path, which weaves through cherry tree-lined canals between the Ginkakuji and Nanzenji temples. It’s a particularly serene setting for hanami. For evening viewing, Maruyama-Koen Park is especially popular for its illuminated branches and picnic areas under the bowers.

According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, sakura viewing in Kyoto will start with the first blooms March 29 and peak April 7. The city sponsors multiple events, including night viewings.

Where to stay: The Park Hyatt Kyoto has a prime location in the Higashiyama ward and combines modern luxury with ancient pagoda guesthouse-style accommodations. (TPG staffers also love its French-inspired teppanyaki dining at Yasaka and its convivial bar, Kohaku, where craft cocktails are served with classic Kyoto views.) The property is a Category 8 World of Hyatt property; rates during hanami start at $3,146 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night, making it a great option for World of Hyatt loyalists.

Related: What’s faster? Race from Tokyo to Kyoto by Japan Airlines plane and bullet train

Stockholm

Get ready for “friluftsliv,” or “fresh air living,” when cherry blossom season arrives in Sweden. After the dark and cold winters in Scandinavia, when the pink wave arrives, usually in mid-April, the city is ready to celebrate. It’s the perfect time to head to Kungstradgarden, or the “King’s Garden,” next to the Royal Palace, for a “fika,” an alfresco picnic, under the blossoms, or to Rosendal’s Garden on peaceful Djurgarden Island.

If you can, plan to visit Kungstradgarden for Cherry Blossom Day, April 27, which is celebrated with Japanese culture workshops, hands-on activities, martial arts demonstrations, taiko drums and a performance by a Japanese orchestra.

Where to stay: One of the newest hotels in Stockholm, the Voco Stockholm — Kista opened at the end of 2024 in the city’s tech center. It has a contemporary vibe, sparkling new rooms, and a wellness center with a pool for a post-blossom dip. Rooms start at $72 or 15,000 IHG One Rewards points a night in mid-April.

Seoul, South Korea

The cherry blossom spectacle at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul is a must-see, and it doesn’t have the same influx of foreign travelers that you’ll find in Tokyo, so you can avoid some of the flower-viewing crush that’s become part of the experience there. Some of the top viewing spots are Yeouido Park and Gyeongbokgung Palace, both of which have stunning views of clouds of blooms.

The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the biggest viewing events in South Korea. It takes place from late March to early April and features parades and performances, including a magical night lantern parade. Although it’s not in Seoul, it’s possible to do a one-day excursion with Klook, where a bus will pick you up in the morning, take you to the festival and then bring you back in the evening.

Where to stay: The stylish Andaz Seoul Gangnam is centrally located, making it easy to walk to most of Seoul’s main attractions; plus, there’s direct access to Apgujeong station to reach the cherry blossom sites. Expect design details like bojagi, a traditional Korean cloth used to create textile art. The hotel has an array of hot tubs, a sauna and a lap pool. The property is a Category 5 World of Hyatt property; rooms start at $451 or 20,000 Hyatt points per night during the first week of April.

Related: A highly curated guide to the best things to do in Seoul, South Korea

Paris

I am solidly in the camp that thinks Paris is always a good idea, especially in late March and the beginning of April when cerisiers (cherry trees) paint the town pink.

You’ll find pockets of the pink flowers all around the city. Some top spots include near the Louvre at the Jardin du Palais-Royal, where you’ll also spot spring daffodils filling the flower beds. You can also catch the pink wave along the Champ de Mars leading to the Eiffel Tower and in the Trocadero Gardens (the ultimate Instagram selfie with the tower and the pink petals). And now that Notre Dame has reopened, you should be able to spot cherry blossoms at one of my favorite spots in Paris, too: Square Jean XXIII, next to the cathedral.

Unlike other destinations where you’ll find cherry blossom events, there are no organized festivals in the City of Light. Do like the Parisians do, and plan a picnic under the flowering bowers.

Where to stay: The Hotel du Louvre, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is tucked in between the Louvre and the Jardin du Palais-Royal, so you’ll have cherry blossom views no matter which way you turn when you walk out the door. For a double room in mid-April, the member rate with breakfast starts at $701 per night. This is a Hyatt Category 7 property, with point redemptions available for mid-April starting at 30,000-35,000 points per night.

Related: The best hotels in Paris

Amsterdam

Although this might not be the biggest display in Europe, the cherry blossom season in Amsterdam has something that no other city can claim: a distinctly feminist feel. At Kersenbloesempark (Cherry Blossom Park) in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam located 5 miles south of downtown, the park’s 400 trees, a gift from the Japanese Women’s Club, are all named after women, with half in Dutch and half in Japanese.

There are no exact dates for the blooms, but expect about a two-week bloom sometime in late March or early April, which lines up with the beginning of Amsterdam’s famous Tulip Festival. Note that picnicking is only allowed during weekdays, and there are no restrooms in the gardens (check out the Amstelveen website for nearby restaurants).

Where to stay: From the centrally located Kimpton DeWitt Amsterdam, it’s easy to both explore Amsterdam and to hop on tram line 5 to reach Amstelveen (about a 25-minute ride). IHG member rates for the hotel start at $325 a night in early April, with reward nights starting at 59,000 IHG One Rewards points. And as part of Kimpton’s Plant Pals program, the hotel will deliver a plant, which has a name and name tag, to your room, and also plant a tree in your honor (talk about a win-win).

Related: How to spend 1 day in Amsterdam

Jerte Valley, Spain

Sure, it’s impressive to see hundreds of cherry blossom trees together. And when you view thousands in one place, it’s quite a sight. But how about millions of trees? That’s what awaits in the Jerte Valley in the Extremadura region of Spain (about three hours west of Madrid), where more than 2 million cherry trees create a sea of petals in late March and early April.

During the annual Cherry Blossom Festival (March 21-April 13), you’ll find everything from special marketplaces to medieval fairs, plus music, culture and cuisine events centered around the blooms. Unlike the ornamental varieties of Japanese cherry trees, the ones here produce prized fruit. If you return in May or June, you can even join the cherry harvest.

Where to stay: The Jerte Valley enjoys a rural setting, and there are no opportunities for points redemptions here. However, there are some authentic and welcoming places to spend the night, including Hospederia Valle del Jerte, which has a historic exterior but modern rooms. There’s an outdoor pool, a full breakfast and fantastic views of the valley, all for around $134 per night.

Washington, DC

As a former resident of the nation’s capital, I can attest that Washington’s nearly 4,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees transform the serious, buttoned-up city into a veritable pink carnival during the short lifespan of the blooms.

In addition to the festival held March 20 to April 13, with everything from a parade to a kite festival to a “Petalpalooza,” the Tidal Basin, where the majority of cherry blossoms are located, turns into a round-the-clock picnic scene, with thousands of people lying in the soft fallen petals, enjoying the spring weather.

Note that if ​​you can’t visit during the main peak bloom period — predicted to fall between March 28 and 31 this year — another variety of cherry blossom, the Kwanzan, usually blooms two weeks later in other parts of the city. And if you want to avoid the crowds, head to the National Arboretum for a much more relaxed viewing experience.

Where to stay: Hilton fans will want to head to the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, which occupies the Old Post Office building. It’s grand and very ornate, with a multifloor atrium and even a 19-foot cherry blossom tree in the lobby, where a Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea is served. Expect rates starting at $856 or 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night during the peak of bloom season.

Macon, Georgia

Here’s a U.S. spot for hanami that may come as a surprise: Macon, Georgia. The Yoshino trees here were mistaken for the more popular dogwood when they were originally planted in 1949, according to city officials. Today, though, the annual bloom is celebrated in big style. For 10 days — this year, the bloom is predicted from March 21 to 30 — the entire city turns pink as more than 350,000 cherry trees are in full bloom (by comparison, Washington has 3,800).

The Pink Provisions Party (March 21) will feature local restaurants and bars presenting all of their signature creations for the celebration. Think cherry ice cream, pink doughnuts, foamy fuchsia cocktails, a cherry blossom pilsner from Ocmulgee Brewpub and even a cherry blossom coffee blend from Z Beans.

A live “BloomCam” feed allows those who can’t make it to watch the cherry trees as they announce the arrival of spring.

Where to stay: Use your Marriott points to stay at Hotel Forty Five, Macon, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. The 95-room hotel is right in the middle of all the pink party happenings, and you can check it out from the Hightales Rooftop Bar. Rates start at $199 or 24,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a night during cherry blossom season.

Vancouver, British Columbia

With more than 40,000 cherry trees, many of which came directly from Japan, Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park becomes a veritable puff of pink in the spring.

With so many trees comprising multiple varieties, the blooming period spreads over nearly two months, so if you’re visiting in March or April, you will likely be able to spot some petals on the trees.

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival will be held from March 26 to April 28 (almost a full month), with a mix of arts and culture events, including a Japanese Sakura Days Fair, a Blossom Block Party and a Blossoms After Dark event for illuminated evening viewing.

Where to stay: Keep your stay green with a visit to the Fairmont Waterfront, whose organic rooftop garden grows everything from vegetables to fruit trees; you can try the honey from its beehives at the ARC restaurant in signature cocktails and desserts. Room rates start at $245 a night in early April (Accor Live Limitless members receive 5% off the lowest rate).

Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria boasts the mildest year-round climate in Canada, and as a result it’s a haven for spring florals. Starting at the end of February and going until May, the city offers an incredibly extended, and impressive, cherry blossom bloom.

One of the most popular places to see the tapestry of pink hues is along the aptly named View Street in the heart of downtown Victoria. It’s usually the first area to explode in a sea of pink flowers, so this is a stop for early birds.

Although there’s no formal festival, Victoria does have an interactive cherry blossom map, so you can find the blooms around the city whenever you visit in the spring.

Where to stay: The Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour is a TPG favorite, with availability starting at $139 or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a night in March. There are cherry blossoms around the harbor area for easy viewing, and the hotel has a pool for post-hanami relaxation.

New York City

For way too long, I associated New York City with autumn scenery and changing leaves. But it turns out that the Big Apple also presents a big opportunity to see stunning seasonal blooms in the spring. In fact, cherry trees bloom across all five boroughs, with Okame cherry trees typically flowering first in mid-to-late March, followed by Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees in April.

There’s even a Sakura Park in Morningside Heights, where you’ll find more than 2,000 cherry trees that were gifts from Japan in 1912. And you can catch some colorful blooms in Central Park, including on Cherry Hill, on Roosevelt Island, at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and in the sprawling Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

But it’s the Brooklyn Botanic Garden near Prospect Park that truly wins the New York sakura crown, with a grove of flamingo-hued Kanzan trees and a Hanami Nights celebration, April 22 to 25, when the blooms are romantically lit for evening strolls.

Where to stay: It’s hard to beat the views of Central Park from the Mandarin Oriental (one of TPG’s favorite New York City hotels). From its perch 35 floors above Columbus Circle, the park, and its spring blooms, fill your sightline from the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The vistas are equally impressive from the hotel’s all-day dining spot MO Lounge (I’m particularly fond of the afternoon tea). Rates in early April start at $1,095 per night.

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Key senators, including the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, are renewing a push for an in-depth study of how brain injuries affect veterans’ mental health.

Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who also sits on the committee, reintroduced a bill this week that would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with the National Academies of Sciences to conduct a 10-year study on the effects of repetitive low-level blast injuries.

“The Precision Brain Health Research Act will help us better understand why and how blast injuries are impacting veterans’ mental health and make certain VA is able to quickly incorporate these findings into care for veterans and enable them to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan,” Moran said in a statement. “This legislation is a step toward providing veterans the evidence-based health care and benefits they have earned and deserve, and I look forward to its passage.”

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The pair previously introduced the bill in December, but lawmakers did not have enough time to act on it before the end of the congressional session, necessitating its reintroduction. Moran, who became chairman in January, has identified veterans’ mental health care as one of his priorities, and the blast injury bill is expected to be one of the pillars of his efforts in that area.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum have ramped up efforts to understand, prevent and treat traumatic brain injuries, or TBI, among service members and veterans amid a growing body of evidence that injuries and devastating symptoms are caused not just by enemy attacks but also from routine military activities such as repeatedly firing artillery.

Military.com has reported extensively on evidence that TBI is linked to an increased risk of suicide among veterans and that Pentagon officials squandered opportunities to get ahead of the issue.

Several high-profile tragedies also heightened lawmakers’ interest in the issue, including reports that the Green Beret who died by suicide in a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day may have suffered from TBI and evidence that an Army reservist who carried out a mass shooting in Maine in 2023 had TBI.

“The bottom line is we must expand our understanding of the impact all blasts have on mental health, so that we can take proactive measures and protect the long-term health and well-being of our military community,” King said in a statement about reintroducing his bill with Moran. “Here in Maine, we know all too well the horrible tragedies that can occur when brain injuries are left untreated.”

Last year, Congress and the Pentagon did extensive work tackling the issue from the military side.

In August, the Pentagon rolled out a new brain health strategy that included giving new recruits baseline cognitive testing and requiring training instructors to stand farther away when some weapons are being fired.

Then, in December, Congress built on that and added sweeping new brain health efforts to its annual defense policy bill. Among the requirements in the defense bill are mandates to modify existing weapons to reduce blast exposure both for those using the weapons and those standing close by, and to develop future weapons systems with brain safety in mind.

Moran and King’s bill would turn the focus to the VA side of the issue.

Under the bill, the VA would have to study data on treatments that are “illustrating positive outcomes for patients within the health system of the Veterans Health Administration with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries,” according to bill text. The data assessment would also have to include a categorization of military occupational specialties and units known to experience higher levels of low-level repetitive blast injuries.

The VA would also have to research how to improve the diagnosis and care of veterans with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries, according to the bill. It would also need to study whether growth hormone replacement therapy, which some studies have found to be an effective TBI treatment, improves “cognitive function, quality of life, brain structure and other negative symptoms” for veterans with blast injuries.

The bill would also create a data-sharing partnership between the VA and the Pentagon, and allocate $5 million annually to fund the 10-year study.

The bill is endorsed by several veterans groups, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Wounded Warrior Project, according to Moran’s office.

“Part of keeping our promise to veterans is making sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is prepared to deliver the best possible care and support to those who suffered brain injuries in service,” Brian Dempsey, director of government affairs at Wounded Warrior Project, said in a statement provided by Moran’s office. “The Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 would set VA on a course to more effectively treat TBI and better understand the impact of repetitive low-level blast exposure on veterans’ mental and brain health.”

Related: Defense Bill Mandates Changes to Weapons, Other Steps to Protect Troops’ Brain Health

Story Continues

Inspired by the historical monument at Norton West Louisville Hospital, elementary students brought history to life.

Published: February 28, 2025

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

History was alive at Brandeis Elementary School in Louisville, where students participated in their annual “living wax museum” honoring historical African American heroes during Black History Month. This unique, interactive learning event allowed students to portray historical figures by dressing in character and presenting their research to classmates, teachers, family and community members.

“What’s super cool about this year’s [showcase] is that we’ve been able to incorporate some of our local doctors from the hospital right across the street,” said teacher Koneshia Ebbs, referencing the health care pioneers memorialized on Norton West Louisville Hospital’s historical monument.

The Care West of Ninth monument was unveiled last year before the hospital’s opening and stands directly across the street from Brandeis Elementary. Through sharing the stories of Louisville’s Black doctors and nurses who cared for the community during legalized segregation, it serves to honor the people and places that paved the way for Norton West Louisville Hospital to become the first hospital built west of Ninth Street in 150 years.

Bringing West Louisville’s history to life

Among the students who stepped into history was fourth-grader Jordy Lett-Hasberry, who proudly portrayed Sarah Fitzbutler, M.D., the first Black woman in Kentucky to receive a medical degree. Dressed in a white lab coat and wearing a stethoscope, Jordy recited a summary of Dr. Fitzbutler’s life and accomplishments for anyone who stopped at her station.

“Without me, African American women and girls wouldn’t have the option to be in the medical field,” Jordy said during her presentation as Dr. Fitzbutler.

Nearby, fourth-grader Kaycee Smith stood in front of a poster honoring Mary E. Merritt, who made history as the first registered nurse — of any race — to work in Kentucky.

“Hi, my name is Mary E. Merritt,” Kaycee said, in character. “I was born on April 27, 1881, and died in 1953. When I finished my nursing degree, I went to Louisville, Kentucky, to serve at the Red Cross, the only hospital for Black people.”

Several Norton West Louisville Hospital staff members made sure to visit the event. For them, it was exciting to see the students inspired by historical figures in the medical field, as it highlights the impact and opportunities of a community-driven hospital in their neighborhood.

“Education is important. Health care is important. And when you combine them together and do a ‘wax museum’ like this, this is awesome,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer of Norton West Louisville Hospital. “It’s already exciting that [the kids] have seen the monument. They recognized that we have a hospital across the street. They know Norton Healthcare.”

Inspiring future generations

Brandeis Elementary’s living wax museum didn’t just teach students about history — it inspired them to think about their own futures.

“They are definitely more interested in becoming doctors and nurses,” Koneshia said. “I can’t wait for our class, or even our school, to be able to go and take a tour and build all of the connections that we’ll be able to have, with the hospital being so close.”

For some students, the experience sparked dreams of potential careers in health care.

“It just seems like fun trying to help people in need,” Kaycee said.

Her classmate Luke Fields also sees a future in medicine. He wants to follow in the footsteps of his wax museum character — Louisville’s first Black doctor, Henry Fitzbutler, M.D.

“I think that I could help lots of people when I grow up,” Luke said. After visiting the monument, “I saw them having lots of big moments to be heroes, and I think I could be a hero too.”