Effectively, the Wild completed their offseason check list on Tuesday afternoon, doling out a 1-year, $1 million contract to defenseman Declan Chisholm.

After getting through free agency last week, Chisholm, 24, became the priority for general manager Bill Guerin. He flashed his potential last season after the Wild claimed him off waivers, showcasing some offensive upside on the blue line, while averaging 16 minutes, 52 seconds of ice time. He will likely start this season on the bottom pairing with the ability to move up in a pinch.

In other news, the Wild also re-signed winger Adam Raska to a 1-year, 2-way contract that pays him $775,000 in the NHL and $97,500 in the AHL. He provides some bite that can be used wherever he ends up playing for the Wild. He was acquired in the early stages of last season via a trade with the San Jose Sharks.

Though the Wild could still make a trade at some point over the next couple of months, they are more or less out of cap space, meaning they can’t sign any impact players without cutting costs elsewhere.

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Rich Thomaselli | (TNS) TravelPulse

‘I’m almost done.’ Apparently, there is no longer a need for an awkward bathroom conversation at a site in China.

China’s Yungang Buddhist Grottoes are a major tourist attraction, but they are gaining more notoriety lately for a bathroom policy. Officials have installed timers on the toilets at this UNESCO World Heritage site to move things along.

Pardon the unintentional pun.

A video about the restrooms even made some Chinese newscasts, with the reports showing the timers above individual cubicles in the female restrooms. A digital display shows whether the cubicle is empty or how much time the person inside is supposed to have left.

Officials did say that they would not interrupt anybody or kick anyone out.

“I found it quite advanced technologically so you don’t have to queue outside or knock on a bathroom door,” one visitor said. “But I also found it a little bit embarrassing. It felt like I was being monitored.”

The timers were installed on May 1, which has obviously caused a great deal of debate on Chinese social media.

“A tourist site isn’t an office – who would spend their time in the toilets? Is it really necessary?” said one post.

“Why don’t they just spend the money on building more washrooms?” said another.

Of course, you could always try holding it.

_________

©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Katie Walsh | Tribune News Service

The talented actor Colman Domingo has been delivering terrific performances for years, building a body of work that showcases both his singular screen presence and versatility as an actor. In one of this summer’s most uniquely moving films, “Sing Sing,” he plays a prison playwright who finds salvation on the stage while incarcerated in a maximum security prison.

It’s one of his most stirring performances yet, but for anyone who has followed his career, it comes as no surprise, as Domingo has been demonstrating his abilities in a variety of roles.

The actor had a breakout year in 2023, with an Academy Award nomination for best actor for his turn in the Netflix biopic “Rustin,” playing the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who helped to organize the March on Washington. He also co-starred in the splashy musical adaptation of the Broadway stage play (itself adapted from the Steven Spielberg film) “The Color Purple,” playing the evil Mister, the abusive husband to Fantasia’s Celie. Domingo has a special talent for playing both heroes and villains, as demonstrated by this breakout year, and his awards season fashions proved his star quality as well. Stream “Rustin” on Netflix and “The Color Purple” on Max.

Colman Domingo, standing, stars in “Rustin.” (David Lee/Netflix/TNS)

He also has a small, but memorable role in the ‘90s-style crime caper (with a lesbian twist) “Drive-Away Dolls” directed by Ethan Coen and written by Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke. Starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan, Domingo plays a crime boss who sets off on their tails when the pair take off with a rental car that has a high-value stash in the trunk. Stream “Drive-Away Dolls” on Peacock or rent elsewhere.

Domingo also showcased his talent for villainy in the wild road movie “Zola” in 2021. Based on the viral Twitter thread by A’Ziah King, and adapted by Jeremy O. Harris and Janicza Bravo, “Zola” is directed by Bravo, and stars Taylour Paige and Riley Keough as two enterprising exotic dancers who take a trip to Florida and get into hot water with a menacing trafficker played by Domingo. Stream “Zola” on Max or rent it elsewhere.

He also co-starred in the 2020 ensemble piece “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” the last film of the late, great Chadwick Boseman, and starring Viola Davis in the title role. Based on the August Wilson play, and directed by George C. Wolfe, the film follows a contentious recording session with a famed blues singer. Domingo plays one of her loyal band members alongside Glynn Turman and Michael Potts. Stream it on Netflix.

Domingo has also appeared in films directed by Barry Jenkins and Ava DuVernay, including Jenkins’ 2018 romantic drama “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and DuVernay’s searing portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Selma” (he plays civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy).

That’s only a few standouts from Domingo’s long and eclectic career, but they truly demonstrate his range and ability as a screen performer, and provide an excellent primer for his excellent turn in “Sing Sing.”

———

(Katie Walsh is the Tribune News Service film critic and co-host of the “Miami Nice” podcast.)

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I could eat tacos every day of the week, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one.

Whether you go crispy or soft, the stuffed and folded tortillas are generally easy to compose, and boy is it tough to beat a taco’s amazing versatility. Many of my leftover meat and veggie dishes end up inside a hard or soft corn tortilla under a blanket of salsa and cheese.

Other than the occasional burger during grilling season and a bite of my husband’s steak on a night out, I don’t eat a lot of beef. This recipe from the Pennsylvania Beef Council still managed to catch my eye when it landed in my inbox, probably because it included “ancho chile” in its title. The grilled pineapple salsa and green sauce suggested for the topping only helped seal the deal.

Unlike most chili powders, which add garlic and onion powders and paprika to a mix of dried chiles, ancho chili powder boasts just one incredibly flavorful ingredient: dried Poblano chiles. The result is a slightly spicier powder with smoky notes that adds a rich, earthy undertone and deep red color.

The filling is chunks of top sirloin, a popular and relatively economical cut that’s great for grilling and quick skillet cooking.

I cooked both the marinated steak and the pineapple for the salsa in a cast-iron skillet, but you could just as easily throw either or both on the grill.

If you don’t feel like making salsa verde from scratch (it’s easy — you should!), substitute jarred or opt for cubed avocado mixed with a little sour cream and lime juice. I added the pineapple juice from the can to some bourbon on ice for a sweet and summery cocktail.

If you freeze your sirloin steak for a half hour or so beforehand, it will be easier to slice. To soften the corn tortillas so they don’t break, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave until warm and flexible (about 20-30 seconds) or heat them in a non-stick or cast-iron pan on both sides until they start to get some color.

Ancho Chile-spiced Steak Street Tacos

PG tested

For tacos

1 pound beef top sirloin steak

2 teaspoons ancho chili powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 4-inch corn tortillas

For salsa verde

1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 10 medium-large)

2 or 3 jalapeños, stemmed and seeded

1/2 medium white onion

Large handful fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic

Juice 1/2 lime

Kosher salt

For pineapple salsa

6 canned pineapple rings, browned in a skillet or grilled and chopped

3 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

3 teaspoons fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For garnish

Crumbled Cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, diced red onion

Cut beef steak lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/4 -inch cubes.

In a medium-size bowl, combine beef, ancho chile powder, salt, garlic and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

While meat is chilling, make sauce: Place tomatillos, jalapeños and onion in a large saucepan or Dutch oven and add enough water to completely cover.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are cooked through and soft, around 8-10 minutes. (Tomatillos will change color from bright to pale green.)

Transfer tomatillos, jalapeños and onion to a blender using a slotted spoon. Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice and a generous pinch of salt and blend until smooth. Taste and add more salt or lime juice if desired. Set aside while you cook beef.

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat (I used a cast-iron skillet.) In batches, add half the beef mixture and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Repeat until all the beef is cooked, remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare salsa: In a medium bowl combine pineapple, lime juice, red onion, tomato, cilantro and salt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

To build tacos, grill tortillas for 1-2 minutes on each side in a hot pan. Fill each tortilla with beef, then pineapple salsa, and top with salsa verde and additional garnishes as desired.

Serves 4.

©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.