Richmond, with its median home sale price of $620,000, is below the state median of $739,333, per Zillow data, and has a strong senior community, according to the report by Retirement Living, where seniors aged 65 and over make up 18% of the population, one of the highest rates of the state.

“More seniors mean better access to age-friendly services, social programs, and healthcare tailored to older adults,” reads the report.

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Study authors concede that Richmond does have a 10.8% senior poverty rate and a 9.75% sales tax, one of the steepest in California, but many retirees remain in the city nevertheless.

City steeped in the history of WWII

The city of Richmond in the San Francisco Bay Area experienced a population boom during WWII, when it grew from less than 24,000 people in 1940 to nearly 100,000 people by 1943, according to the National Park Service, when it was home to over 56 different war industries, more than any other city of its size in the country.

Richmond’s shipbuilding industry, led by Kaiser Shipyards, was pivotal to the war effort—the city’s four shipyards produced 747 ships, more than any other complex in the United States.

The shipyards hired a diverse workforce and offered competitive wages, benefits, and a comprehensive healthcare system that would come to be known as Kaiser Permanente.

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In honor of this legacy, the city is home to multiple World War II attractions.

The Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park commemorates the work of American civilians at home during the war and includes preserved historic sites like the Ford Assembly Plant and Shipyard No. 3. There is also the SS Red Oak Victory, a restored WWII ship that now functions as a museum in the Port of Richmond.

Once the site of the Richmond Shipyards, Marina Bay is a waterfront destination with parks and walking trails, a popular site for boating and fishing. Point Richmond is a historic district with shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Post-war years tough transition

During the post-war years, the city struggled to recoup the job losses suffered by the end of the shipbuilding industry and was subsequently plagued by drug use, rising crime rates, and pollution from the local oil refining industry.

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The Chevron refinery, which employs about 3,000 workers, recently agreed to pay $20 million to settle fines with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for 678 outstanding violations, according to reporting by Richmond Confidential.

These are Retirement Living’s top ten cities for retirees in California

Roseville Oceanside Torrance Vacaville Richmond Modesto Santa Rosa Thousand Oaks Simi Valley Vallejo

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Richmond named one of the best cities to retire to in California

We’ve already felt swampy in the pits and have fended off mosquitoes and dealt with harrowing commutes during afternoon thunderstorms.

All the same, you can celebrate summer this weekend with family-fun activities, celebrating Juneteenth and two very oddly contrasting costumed events: The Florida Man Pub Crawl on Saturday night and the Modiste Market on Sunday.

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Whew! Talk about cultural whiplash!

‘Juneteenth: A Summer Celebration of Culture’ in Mount Dora

The city of Mount Dora’s annual Juneteenth event returns this year, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. The summer celebration of culture will feature live music by Carolyn Harding and DJ Samp. Enjoy a streetball event by Court Kingz along with food and beverages, kids’ activities, and fellowship. Admission is free at Cauley Lott Park, 1717 N. Highland St., Mount Dora.

Let’s all take time to commemorate June 19, 1865, when people enslaved in Galveston Bay, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The next year marked the first Juneteenth celebration. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday proclaimed as a day for all Americans to commemorate the end of slavery.

There was a large table full of books for the Little Black Book Drive at the 2025 Juneteenth Arts & Cultural Celebration at Riverfront Park, where each child could choose two books to keep.

Tavares church hosts family-fun ‘meet-and-greet’

Enjoy free food, fellowship and fun, including inflatables, games and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at 31150 Industry Drive, Tavares. Details: newwavechristian.com

Summer kickoff boat party on Lake Dora

Let’s Anchor Down invites boaters and sun-and-fun enthusiasts to the Lake Dora Sand Bar for their summer kickoff party on the lake. Instructions: “Look for the blue-colored ‘Let’s Anchor Down’ flag and say hello.” For further directions and details, email letsanchordown@gmail.com.

Participants in Leesburg’s Florida Man Summer Shenanigans pub crawl can take their dress-up cues from the the 2025 Florida Man Games held at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in St. Augustine on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Florida Man Pub Crawl in downtown Leesburg

If you’re up for offbeat nightlife fun, join in on a wild and wacky evening on Saturday, June 21, during the Florida Man Pub Crawl in downtown Leesburg. Promoters say the Summer Saturday Shenanigans series installment is one Florida man headline you’ll want to be part of.

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Participants are asked to throw on their most outrageous “Florida Man” outfit — mullet wig or haircut, bathrobes, flip-flops or anything straight out of a “Florida man” headline — and ramble through some of Leesburg’s best local bars, but don’t do anything to get Leesburg in a Florida man story, of course.

Check-in at Turner’s Bar + Kitchen begins at 3:30 p.m. The Ticket includes a self-guided or guided group option. Guided groups will leave Turner’s at 4 p.m. Admission is $25 (plus a $3.52 fee).

Venues also include McCracken’s Irish Pub, Marmaduke’s Lodge, Burns Drugstore Speakeasy Lounge, Sipping Garden & Bistro, Brick & Barrel Public House, Great Chicago Fire Brewery, Wolf Branch Brewing, Mystic Ice Cream, Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe, Hamrick Family Vineyards, The Warehouse, Prime 3 Steakhouse and Vanderbrew Coffee Shop. Details: dtleesburgevents@gmail.com.

Leesburg Lightning home game

The Lightning host the Winter Garden Squeeze on Saturday, June 21, and the Phillies Phans Club of the Villages will be presenting a check to the team before their game at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 23, at Pat Thomas Stadium, 240 Ball Park Road, Leesburg.

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Join the Lightning on Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m., for First Responder Night as they take on the DeLand Suns. Gates open at 6. Arrive early to see the Honor Guard, SWAT truck, police vehicles and fire trucks on display. Details: leesburglightning.com

With the start of new episodes of Downton Abbey on television, it is time for tea, custard tarts, scones and tea sandwiches, photographed Monday, December 29, 2014. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Fred Squillante)

Modiste Market in Mount Dora

Don your frilly frocks and spend your Sunday funday Downton Abbey-style. The Lakeside Inn brings back the elegance of yesteryear with “a day of refined splendor.” The Modiste Market, they say, will feature fashion, culture and other delights.

Browse local vendors, enjoy live music and dine with a view of the picturesque grounds “in the company of the season’s most eligible bachelors and debutantes.” We hear this event “will surely be the crown jewel of the social calendar.”

A historical workshop unveils the elegance and etiquette of Regency-era dance, followed by dance lessons for aspiring debutantes and gentlemen.

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The Modiste Market at Lakeside Inn takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, at 100 Alexander St. Gifts will be given to the first 50 guests. Details: 352-383-4101.

A look ahead …

New Ferran Fresh Market in Eustis

Mornings are hot in Florida during the summer. So many markets shut down, but one has the brilliant idea to open during the golden hours of 5-8 p.m., when it’s less oppressive outdoors.On the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, you can browse vendors and socialize at the new Ferran Fresh Market in Eustis — “a vibrant, community-driven space filled with heart, hustle and hometown pride” — where 40 independently owned businesses and local farmers, live music and food trucks will set up twice a month.The twice-a-month market takes place at Ferran Park, just outside downtown Eustis, where plenty of majestic oak trees offer shade, a playground amuses kids and you can take a scenic stroll along Lake Eustis. Details: facebook.com/whimsymarketfl

Splashy fun in Groveland

Head to Groveland on Wednesdays through July 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for a rotating series of water-filled fun at city parks. Kids and families can enjoy inflatable waterslides, live zoo animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and other activities.

Sweet treats from Iceelicious will be available for purchase. On June 11, the event takes place at John Wesley Griffin Park (421 Beverly Drive); June 18 at David Blanks Playground (South St. & Gadson St.); June 25 at Lake David Park Splash Pad (450 S. Lake Ave.); July 9 at Jimmy Thomas Memorial Park (150 W Pomelo St.); July 16 at Ronald Sefton Gaffney Memorial Park (121 Maravilla Way) and July 23 at Cherry Lake Park (131 Wilson Lake Parkway)Note: There will be no Wacky Wednesday on the week of July 4. “Bring your towels, sunscreen, and smiles — it’s going to be a splash-tastic summer in Groveland!” says Groveland’s media. Details: groveland-fl.gov/events

Lake County Farmers Market

Head to Lake County Fairgrounds every Thursday in June for a farmers market, from 8 a.m. to noon at 2101 County Road 452, Eustis, facebook.com/LakeCountyFLBCC.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: 6 fun things to do this weekend in Lake County

Key Takeaway

Thailand, Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year, legalized gay marriage in January 2025, making it the first South Asian country to do so. Now, tourists from all over the world are heading to Thailand for the country’s month-long Pride celebrations.

Bangkok was hot for its pride festival. The humid wind meant that makeup ran, clothing clung to dampened skin, and the large crowds didn’t find much relief in the shade. But it didn’t slow down the exuberance. From marching bands and floats, flags, and signs, the Bangkok Pride Festival was a party from beginning to end.

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In the crowd, amongst hundreds of thousands of Thai citizens, there were also attendees from all over the world. One young man, Bo Han, attended the festival for the first time after living in Thailand for three years. “I’m originally from Myanmar,” he told Travel + Leisure. “My country is very traditional, conservative. Here it is very open, and I feel like myself here.”

This year’s Bangkok Pride Festival had about 300,000 guests, an increase from 250,000 attendees in 2024. By comparison, the world’s largest pride festivals, including in São Paulo, New York, Toronto, and Madrid, all have over one million attendees. So Bangkok isn’t home to the largest celebration in the world, but it might be the biggest in Asia, outpacing Taiwan’s record of 180,000 attendees in 2024.

“This surge in attendance highlights Bangkok’s rising status as a leading LGBTQIA+ destination in Asia,” Chompu Marusachot, the director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New York office. “Government support has played a key role, with the Thai administration integrating Pride Month into its national tourism strategy. These efforts are part of Thailand’s broader goal of positioning itself as a global hub for LGBTQIA+ travel and a future host of World Pride in 2030.”

This commitment is helping draw attendees from across the continent. But it is not just people from other Asian countries who are coming to Thailand for the big celebration and welcoming environment. Syd and Jamie, an American couple in their 20s, moved to Bangkok in May. After a wave of anti-LGTBTQIA policies were introduced and passed, both women were feeling less welcome in the country. “America is dangerous,” Syd said, standing on one of the giant Pride flags rolled out in the plaza where the parade ended. “At least, that’s one of the reasons for me.”

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They were eager to join the lesbian scene in the city, which is how they found out about the Pride Festival—it had been posted on the Les Hi Bar Instagram account, one of the most popular lesbian bars in Bangkok. The internet is generally helping to push Pride events to broader audiences in the country. Overall, the U.S. market is most engaged with GoThaiBeFree.com, a LGBTQIA+ travel planning site, accounting for 26 percent of the site traffic, while visitors from China, Germany, and the United Kingdom each account for about 10 percent of the traffic.

For locals, the growth in international popularity of Bangkok Pride has been a net-positive. Zymone, a trans woman born and raised in Bangkok, is a singer, performer, and contestant of season five of The Voice Thailand. She has seen an increasing amount of cultural acceptance and celebration over time, both within Thailand and from tourists.

Zymone hosts a drag show at Lost & Found, a speakeasy with a diverse clientele ranging from a mix of tourists wandering in from the hotel and locals looking to enjoy the steampunk design and craft cocktails. In the past, celebrations might have been exclusively attended by people in the LGBTQIA+ community, the festivities now draw in more straight allies as well. That can be seen during the shows at Lost & Found: according to Zymone, a recent crowd included a mother and son, a straight couple from the UK, and a straight couple from France.

“Some of them are not gay, but they show up to support and have fun,” Zymone said. “We are art. Every year it’s bigger and bigger, it’s not just a place to come out and say ‘we are a couple,’ we come out as art … when people come for Pride Month, it actually makes it more special. The world is better when we are actually showing people who we are.”

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Thailand’s LGBTQIA+ centered offerings aren’t just contained to one city: Pride events are held in every region of the country throughout June. From a film festival in Krabi to parades in Phuket and Pattaya, you’re bound to a few celebrations no matter where you go in the country.

Even before the law was officially changed on Jan. 23, 2025 to finally allow LGBTQIA+ couples to legally marry, Thailand has been a popular destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers. This year, Phuket is one of the top locations according to an Expedia survey.

The international reputation for Thailand being ultra-welcoming and accepting hasn’t happened by accident. There’s been a concerted push from the government and tourism board to message these developments to the global public. LGBTQIA+ travel is projected to bring the country an anticipated four million additional tourists each year, $2 billion in generated revenue, 152,000 full-time jobs, and a 0.3 percent increase in Thailand’s GDP, according to the tourism authority.

“Anecdotal insights from hotel and private sector partners suggest a significant increase in LGBTQIA+ travelers attending events throughout the year, underscoring that Pride celebrations nationwide are a strong driver of tourism,” Marusachot said. “The legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand, effective January 2025, is expected to strengthen further the country’s appeal as an LGBTQIA+ travel destination.”

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Going forward, there will only be a bigger push to bring more LGBTQIA+ travelers to the country with more programming that will “reinforce the country’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive destination,” said Marusachot. “Thailand has long positioned itself as a place that celebrates people for who they are, how they identify, and who they love.”

Zymone, who performs at festivals and MCs events across Bangkok, is hoping the increased popularity—and investment from the government and the public sector—will result in year-round celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“After this, it’s not going to be just Pride Month,” she says. “It’s going to be every month, and everybody can hang out.”

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

Malaysia has not completely barred commercial use of subsidised cooking gas, contrary to misleading claims amplified by opposition politicians who accused the government of “robbing” citizens. The posts surfaced after authorities launched an operation to curb misappropriation of the subsidies in the commercial and industrial sectors, not households or small businesses. The government said no new policies or regulations for subsidised gas have been implemented.

“The government has lost its mind. Gas subsidies for businesses have been removed. Small business owners feel like they cannot raise prices again after multiple cost increases,” reads a Malay-language Facebook post on June 2, 2025.

Screen shot of the false post taken on June 3, 2025

The claims surfaced after the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) announced a five-month operation beginning May 1 to curb the use of subsidised liquified petroleum gas (LPG) by the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as to crack down on illegal decanting activities (archived link).

It also said businesses will no longer be allowed to use subsidised cooking gas and will need to switch to commercial gas cylinders, which cost three times the price of household cylinders (archived link).

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The launch of the operation prompted lawmakers to claim it would cause small businesses to increase prices for consumers, with one opposition lawmaker calling it “robbery” by the government.

Similar claims were shared elsewhere on Facebook, and in a group with more than 35,000 members.

Users left comments indicating they were misled, with one saying: “The current government is not helping people but adding to the burden.”

Another said: “The government has gone too far.”

However, the operation does not target small businesses.

No abolishment of subsidies

KDPN minister Armizan Mohd Ali refuted the misleading claim in a statement released via state news agency Bernama on June 3, saying the main purpose of the operation was to combat illegal decanting activities, smuggling of LPG and the use of subsidised gas by large and medium-scale industries (archived link).

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“Through this operation, there are no new policies and regulations, let alone cuts and abolishment of LPG subsidies as claimed by certain parties,” the statement said.

Instead, small businesses using less than three cylinders of the subsidised gas a day are allowed to keep using the cheaper product, while larger commercial operations using more than three at any one time would require a permit and cannot purchase subsidised gas, the minister said.

The Communications Ministry’s Department of Information issued a similar clarification on Facebook on May 31 (archived link).

Penang Hawkers Association chairman Ooi Thean Huat told AFP that small businesses in the northern state typically only need up to three gas cylinders a day, allowing them to use the subsidised 12kg cylinders, which are sold for 26 ringgit ($6 USD).

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However, Ooi noted that even switching to the unsubsidised cylinders would not lead to price hikes for customers.

“If we use the non-subsidised cylinders, two a day should be enough. There will be no changes to the prices of food because you do get more gas with the commercial cylinders,” he said.

Growing up steeped in the aggressive gender stereotypes of the 1990s was a real trip for most queer millennials, but I think gamers had it especially hard. Almost all video game characters were hypermasculine military men, unrealistically curvaceous fantasy women wearing barely enough armour to cover their nipples, or cartoon animals. Most of these characters catered exclusively to straight teenage boys (or, I guess, furries); overt queer representation in games was pretty much nonexistent until the mid 2010s. Before that, we had to take what we could get. And what I had was Link, from The Legend of Zelda.

Link is a boy, but he didn’t really look like one. He wore a green tunic and a serious expression under a mop of blond hair. He is the adventurous, mostly silent hero of the Zelda games, unassuming and often vulnerable, but also resourceful, daring and handy with a sword. In most of the early Zelda games, he is a kid of about 10, but even when he grew into a teenager in 1998’s Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, he didn’t become a furious lump of muscle. He stayed androgynous, in his tunic and tights. As a kid, I would dress up like him for Halloween, carefully centre-parting my blond fringe. Link may officially be a boy, but for me he has always been a non-binary icon.

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As time has gone on and game graphics have evolved, Link has stayed somewhat gender-ambiguous. Gay guys and gender-fluid types alike appreciate his ageless twink energy. And given the total lack of thought that most game developers gave to players who weren’t straight and male, I felt vindicated when I found out that this was intentional. In 2016, the Zelda series’ producer Eiji Aonuma told Time magazine that the development team had experimented a little with Link’s gender presentation over the years, but that he felt that the character’s androgyny was part of who he was.

“[Even] back during the Ocarina of Time days, I wanted Link to be gender neutral,” he said. “I wanted the player to think: ‘Maybe Link is a boy or a girl.’ If you saw Link as a guy, he’d have more of a feminine touch. Or vice versa … I’ve always thought that for either female or male players, I wanted them to be able to relate to Link.”

Related: Meet the gaymers: why queer representation is exploding in video games

As it turns out, Link appeals perhaps most of all to those of us somewhere in between. In 2023, the tech blog io9 spoke to many transgender and non-binary people who saw something of themselves in Link: he has acquired a reputation as an egg-cracker, a fictional character who prompts a realisation about your own gender identity.

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Despite their outdated reputation as a pursuit for adolescent boys, video games have always been playgrounds for gender experimentation and expression. There are legions of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who first started exploring their identity with customisable game characters in World of Warcraft, or gender-swapping themselves in The Sims – the digital equivalent of dressing up. Video games are the closest you can come to stepping into a new body for a bit and seeing how it feels.

It is no surprise to me that a lot of queer people are drawn to video games. A 2024 survey by GLAAD found that 17% of gamers identify as LGBTQ+, a huge number compared with the general population. It may be because people who play games skew younger – 40 and below – but I also think it’s because gender is all about play. What fun it is to mess with the rules, subvert people’s expectations and create your own character. It is as empowering as any world-saving quest.