Empire State Building Partners with Sea Bags and Max to Transform Fabric from 270-Foot Dragon into Recycled Tote Bags

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 29, 2024--

Vhagar lives on. The Empire State Building (ESB) announced today that it partnered with Max to donate 18,000 square feet of fabric from Vhagar – the 270-foot dragon that perched on its mast as part of the HBO ® Original series “House of the Dragon” takeover last month – to create limited-edition recycled tote bags by Sea Bags. A portion of the proceeds will be donated by Sea Bags to the Ocean Conservancy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240729126579/en/

“The Empire State Building is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings, and we continue with our sustainable mission as we transform the fabric from our epic ‘House of the Dragon’ installation into an iconic keepsake,” said Tony Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “Fans can now own a piece of history through these exclusive recycled tote bags made from authentic dragon skin.”

Fabric from Vhagar – made up of 1,700 total patterns and 600,000 inches of sewn seams – was transported from New York City to Sea Bags’ headquarters in Portland, Maine. Each unique tote is made from a combination of the dynamic dragon material and recycled sail cloth with hand-spliced hemp rope handles and a brass clasp. The one-of-a-kind bags are individually numbered and include a certificate of authenticity.

“We’re honored to be selected to work alongside the iconic Empire State Building and Max to transform Vhagar into sustainable, recycled, beautiful totes,” said Don Oakes, CEO of Sea Bags. “This collaboration perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustainability and creative reuse, ensuring that Vhagar's legacy continues in a meaningful way.”

The “House of the Dragon” takeover at the “World’s Most Famous Building” included a photo opportunity with the iconic Iron Throne, a visit from the “House of the Dragon” cast, and an interactive photo booth on the Observatory’s 80 th Floor.

The Empire State Building underwent a groundbreaking deep energy retrofit that has reduced emissions at the building by 57% since 2007. Empire State Realty Trust has committed to achieve net zero emissions at the Empire State Building by 2030 and throughout its entire portfolio by 2035, in alignment with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Hi-res imagery of production and the Vhagar Sea Bags can be found here. More information about the Empire State Building can be found online.

About the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102 nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86 th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World – and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year – in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

About Sea Bags
Launched in 1999 and incorporated in 2006, Sea Bags started on the historic working waterfront in Portland, Maine with a line of hand-sewn, functional, and stylish totes made from recycled sail cloth. Today the company employs nearly 300 people and has preserved its Made-in-the-USA sourcing, manufacturing, and design origins on the coast of Maine.

The exclusive use of reclaimed sail cloth is unique to Sea Bags, and since its inception the company has kept more than 1.5 million pounds of sail material from landfills. In 2021 the company was recognized as Green Circle Certified. The Sea Bags flagship store is located on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine, while its factory store is located around the corner on Custom House Wharf - where the headquarters remain today. The company has 50+ retail stores across the U.S. and operates in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, and California. To learn more about Sea Bags and the stories their sails tell, visit www.seabags.com.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category: Observatory

Empire State Building Partners with Sea Bags and Max to Transform Fabric from 270-Foot Dragon into Recycled Tote Bags (Photo: Business Wire)

NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime host of “The Late Show with David Letterman” found himself answering questions rather than asking them when a federal judge in New York City put the entertainer through an audition of sorts on Monday for a possible role as a juror in a criminal trial.

It was the serious setting of a criminal trial over a cryptocurrency fraud when Judge P. Kevin Castel confronted the famous bearded comedian, identified in court only as “Juror 16,” with questions just as he did three dozen other potential jurors to determine who would be on a panel of 12 jurors and four alternates.

The prospective jurors had already survived a general round of questioning in which individuals are dismissed for hardship reasons, such as medical issues or jobs from which they cannot be spared. The trial is expected to last less than two weeks.

When Letterman, who stepped down from his show in 2015, made it to what could be the final round for admittance on the jury, the judge lobbed a softball: “Where do you live?”

“Hartford,” Letterman responded, proving that he couldn't make it through a single word without delivering a joke.

“No, it's a joke,” Letterman quickly let the judge know. Hartford is in Connecticut, which would have disqualified him from the jury because it is outside the area where jurors are drawn from.

“Nice try,” the judge responded, adding, “You figured you would forgo Queens,” another location outside the area covered by the Southern District of New York. Queens is located in the Eastern District of New York.

After Letterman revealed his true area of residence — Westchester County — the pair began a volley of questions and answers totaling nearly three dozen exchanges.

Along the way, the judge, lawyers and three dozen or so prospective jurors learned a lot that the world already knows about Letterman. He was born in Indianapolis, obtained a degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and has a 20-year-old son in college in Massachusetts.

Asked what he does for a living, Letterman said he was currently “working for a company called Netflix.”

“Spouse or significant other?” Castel asked.

“I've had both. Currently I just have the spouse,” Letterman responded.

Asked how he gets his news, Letterman gave a nod to the past, saying: “Every morning I used to pick up the paper off the front porch. Now, I turn on the computer and it's an aggregation of news sources from all over the United States and around the world.”

Asked what he likes to watch besides any Netflix programs he's involved with, Letterman said, “I like sports.”

“I'm happy football is here. I'm happy it's this time in the baseball season. I like motor sports. I like pretty much what most Americans watch on TV,” he said.

The judge asked him if he's an Indianapolis Colts football fan.

“Big Colts fan. 0 and 2, but still a fan,” he said, referring to the fact that the Colts have lost their first two games this season.

For hobbies, Letterman said he likes to fish, ski and be outdoors.

“Ever called as a juror?” the judge asked.

“Been called many times. Just couldn't make it happen,” Letterman answered.

“You know, this may be the charm,” Castel said, aware that Letterman had a 50-50 chance to make it onto the panel.

“It would be a pleasure,” Letterman said.

In the end, shortly before the jury was sworn in, Letterman was ejected when a prosecutor exercised what is known as a “strike,” which allows lawyers on either side to release a certain number of potential jurors from the panel for any reason at all. It was the third of four strikes exercised by prosecutors. No reason was given.

David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

David Letterman arrives at federal court in New York, Monday Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)