Connecticut fans of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” have something special to look forward to starting today.

Verizon has announced experimental, limited-time pop-ups themed after the hit Netflix show at four locations across the state, according to a release.

The event is part of the service provider’s Red Hot Deal Days taking place at 300 stores nationwide, featuring augmented reality, artificial intelligence, exclusive phone cases and more, per a release.

Here is what you can expect, per a release:

“With activations scheduled to pop up at participating Verizon stores between today and next week, the interactive journey begins when fans scan a QR code on a ‘Bridgerton’-themed mirror. The QR code will launch an AR portal view of the mirror and a lavish, regency-era environment that virtually transports them to the famous Bridgerton estate. With an invitation to the Queen’s Ball, fans can take a selfie to see themselves adorned in elegant AI-generated regency-era outfits inspired by ‘Bridgerton’ characters. Fans can save the image to their phone and share it on social media.”

Connecticut residents can swing by one of the four locations below to experience the fun for themselves, per a release:

• Enfield store, 16 Hazard Ave., Enfield, CT 06082
• Newington store, 3140 Berlin Tpke., Newington, CT 06111
• Milford store, 1621 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460
• Wallingford store, 1086 N Colony Road, Wallingford, CT 06492

Fans of the show can also check online for an exclusive Bridgerton x Elizabeth James phone case, which are being sold at pop-ups, according to a release.

“Dr. Elimelech’s pioneering research has not only enriched the academic community’s understanding of a highly complex topic, but also led to innovative approaches to addressing critical environmental issues and spawned the growth of an industry,” he said. “ARKA’s unparalleled technology expertise is contributing to the success of our nation in a variety of sectors and creating high-skilled jobs that will attract investment to our state and enhance our economy,” Lamont added.

Elimelech’s research and development is in the application of membrane processes including forward osmosis or FO (for desalination and water reuse), high-pressure reverse osmosis or HPRO (for brine concentration and management), and low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis or LSRRO (for brine management and minimal- and zero-liquid discharge applications).

HPRO and LSRRO are expected to revolutionize low-energy, low-cost brine management. Gradiant, a US company specializing in brine management (minimum- and zero-liquid discharge, MLD/ZLD), is commercializing a variant of the LSRRO and FO technologies, which is called Counter Flow RO (CFRO). The current market of brine management is estimated at $11.5B.

Elimelech’s innovative work on forward osmosis (FO) profoundly impacted the desalination and water industry. He was a co-founder of Oasys Water, a company which commercialized the ammonia-carbon dioxide FO desalination technology. More than 13 new FO start-up companies have been formed following his pioneering FO research.

In a recent breakthrough, Elimelech showed that the solution-diffusion model, which has been used to describe water transport in reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for more than 50 years, is fundamentally flawed and he proposed an alternative mechanism and theory for water transport consistent with experimental observations. This finding has direct implications for the design of high-performance desalination membranes.

In 2021, Elimelech was appointed Sterling Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, the university’s highest academic rank; the first engineering professor at Yale to earn this distinction.

ARKA is a world leader in the design, development, manufacture, integration and test of precision optics, telescopes and electro-optical payload systems for defense, aerospace and scientific applications. ARKA’s mission has grown to include groundbreaking communications, software development, and data processing capabilities, expanding their reach to new areas of innovation.

Indiana at Connecticut delivers 2.1 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+

Game peaked at 2.3 million viewers

ESPN’s presentation of the 2024 WNBA Tip-Off Presented by CarMax reached new viewership heights for WNBA on ESPN.

The Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun season opener – featuring Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut – was the most-watched WNBA game on ESPN platforms ever (regular season or playoffs).  The game scored 2.1 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, surpassing the Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun (May 22, 2004).

The game peaked at 2.3 million viewers in the 7:45 p.m. – 7:59 p.m. window.

The second game of the night featuring the Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces averaged 464,000 viewers, up five percent year-over-year. The two games averaged 1.28 million viewers, up 192 percent versus last year’s regular season average on ESPN platforms.

WNBA Countdown presented by Google pre-game show leading into Indiana at Connecticut averaged 680,000 viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+, up 126 percent versus last year’s average across ABC and ESPN.

WNBA content across ESPN.com and the ESPN App delivered an increase of 409 percent unique visitors year-over-year. Total engagements for WNBA content across ESPN social accounts is also up 125 percent, year-over-year.

Note: Viewership is reported by Nielsen and includes streaming viewership from connected TVs only.

Coverage of the WNBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax continues Saturday, May 18, with an ABC doubleheader featuring Indiana Fever at New York Liberty (1 p.m. ET), Los Angeles Sparks at Las Vegas Aces (3 p.m.). Live presentation will be preceded by WNBA Countdown Presented by Google hosted by Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike, and Andraya Carter (12:30 p.m.).

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