Tag Archives: London

Zipper no more

Posted on March 21, 2013 | Leave a comment

I have never considered myself anything more than a spectator of Project Runway, but now –

Tim Gunn, I’m ready for my closeup.

spray fabricI’ve discovered the secret to a design with a perfect fit in less than day –

Spray-on fabric

Fabrican, Ltd. in London invented spray-on fabric way back in 2000.  It’s been used in the medical field for dressings, bandages, casts and wound healing products. But now the company is hoping to branch out into fashion, giving designers — like me — a way to be even more creative.

Seamless garments!  Custom clothing!  Recycled wear!  And no more sewing models into clothing before they hit the runway…

…just spray her in!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Design, Entertainment, Fashion, Humor, Life, Television, TV

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Get in line

Posted on March 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

Rumor time!

And it’s a good one.

queen elizabethDid you hear that Queen Elizabeth was hospitalized for gastroenteritis? As a “precautionary measure,” she was admitted today at King Edward VII Hospital in London.

Funny…where have I heard that news before?

Wasn’t Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cornwall, admitted to the same hospital in early December? For similar tummy troubles? As a “precautionary measure” right before they announced her pregnancy?

O.M.G. –

The Queen must be having a baby, too!!

Just remember — you heard it here first (unless the royal family is after me, and then I’m just repeating something I read on Page Six).

That woman just won’t give up the throne.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Comedy, Health, Humor, Life, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

On target

Posted on December 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have thoroughly enjoyed our guessing game.

Have you?

white and red dotsFor those of you just joining us, I posted this picture in yesterday’s Egg and asked for guesses as to the building’s identity.

The entries have shown range and creativity — everything from a pig to a museum, a ship to a stomach ulcer.

So close, and yet so far.

Actually, the photo depicts one of the shooting arenas at the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London.

Now, before you say, “No fair!  I would have never seen that,” the shooting events at the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held here.  So you might have spied it on NBC’s Olympics coverage.

And if you did, you would no doubt remember.  I mean, how cool is that?

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Design, Education, History, Humor, Olympics, Sports, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sporting chance

Posted on July 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

I grew up in a small town and attended an even smaller school.  The only organized team sports offered were baseball and basketball.

I played neither in an organized fashion.

Television helped me discover the universe of sports that lie outside my direct experience.  Inspired a too-tall girl to tumble when Nadia hit her perfect 10′s in gymnastics. Created a passion for ice skating in a Southern gal who didn’t often see snow.  Made an avid golf and tennis fan out of a someone with no obvious hand-eye coordination.

Took a non-athlete…and gave them a passion for sport.

Despite all its evils, its shortcomings, its failings — today I celebrate television for bringing me athletics in all its many forms….and showing me the world outside my small town at the same time.

The Olympics Opening Ceremonies are tonight, baby!

Can. Not. Wait.

Bring it, London.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Life, Olympics, Sports, Television, TV

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fit for a queen

Posted on June 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

People in England speak English. It makes foreign travel a bit easier for we language-challenged Americans.

But they still talk funny.

Not the accent — it’s lovely.  The words and phrases they use in street signs, menus, and casual conversation.

This photo reminded me of my favorite ‘Huh?’ moment during my first trip to London.

If you’ve been there, you recognize the instructions at the entrance of the subway trains in the Tube. “Mind the gap” (don’t fall in the crack between the train and the platform) — so wonderfully British in its phrasing. I liked it so much, I bought a postcard.

And now, on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I post this photo. Because I’ve taken a lot of subways during my trips to England…

But I’ve never met the Queen.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Humor, Life, News, transportation, Travel, Vacation

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who, moi?

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Finally — a reason to watch an awards show red carpet!

The BAFTA Awards — the Brits’ Oscars, if you will — announced that Miss Piggy will be their official red carpet host for this Sunday’s awards ceremony.

Oui!

Now there’s a red carpet interviewer who’s bound to ask something more interesting than ‘Who are you wearing?’  Heck, I bet Miss Piggy will proposition a celebrity or two (George Clooney) and throw a punch if said celebrity’s leggy girlfriend (Stacey Keibler) gets in the way.

Plus, it’s nice to see a television host who hasn’t starved herself to death to get the job…or filled her face with Botox or other fillers to maintain a youthful appearance.

(I’m pretty sure she’ll just put on a new head for the broadcast.)

Muppets rule.  Congrats, Piggy!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Academy Awards, Animals, Celebrities, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Oscars

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Like the Dickens

Posted on January 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

While I was on a business trip in London a few years ago, a surprise snow blanketed the city.  A colleague, looking out the window of our hotel room at the falling snow, quipped:

“It’s so Dickensian!”

And we had our catchphrase.

It did feel like we had stepped back in time, into one of the classic novels we had all read in school.  The snow didn’t last, but the memory of that brief interlude has to this day.

Stateside in 2012, ‘Dickensian’ has an entirely different vibe.

StrangeBeautiful just launched their Dickensian Edition of nail colors, which is roughly 10 different shades…of black.

(Only true New Yorkers can discern the difference.)

Creator Jane Schub said her interpretation of Dickens for the collection was inspired by photography, literature, art, coal and broken shale.

Geez, Jane — did you even read the novels?

They have happy endings.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Beauty, Books, Commentary, Humor, Life, Shopping, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One day more

Posted on June 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, Jean Valjean.

Not the character in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables — the Jean Valjean that I have most often seen on stage, actor Colm Wilkinson.

He turns 67 today.

Colm originated the role of Jean Valjean in London’s West End and again on Broadway.

When the show transferred to New York City in 1987, Actors’ Equity wouldn’t allow Wilkinson to play the role because he wasn’t American.  So producer Cameron Mackintosh refused to open the show.

Luckily for all of us, Actors’ Equity quickly changed their minds.

Les Mis is one of the reasons I love Broadway today. I’ve seen the show an unprecedented 13 times, most recently a couple of years ago at an anniversary performance here in New York City.

The theatre was smaller, and the show scaled down from its original glory.  But the story was just as moving, the music still thrilled.  And as I sang each word, albeit under my breath…

I could hear Colm Wilkinson singing.

God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there

He is young
He’s afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Books, Broadway, Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Life, Music, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hat trick

Posted on June 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

I’ve said it before — people just love to judge.

At the recent royal wedding, Princess Beatrice became the focus of a virtual festival of judging.  Did you per chance to see?

Her hat, an original creation by famed London milliner Phillip Treacy — who designed many toppers for the big day — was the object of scorn pretty much from the moment Beatrice stepped out of her car at Westminster Abbey.

A Facebook page even popped up called “Princess Beatrice’s ridiculous Royal hat,” which has netted over 144,000 fans — er, judgers — to date.

Well, Beatrice has taken all that bad press and turned it into a big payday for charity.  She placed the much maligned headpiece up for auction on eBay, with the proceeds from the sale going to UNICEF and Children in Crisis.

The recent winning bid?  $130,000.

Talk about turning a negative into a positive!  Seems that elaborate hat was just pointing out Beatrice’s smarts.

Judge that.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Design, Fashion, History, Humor, Internet, Life, News, Television, TV, Weddings

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Change is good

Posted on May 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

Sometimes a change in scenery is good, sometimes time runs out in a certain spot. — Phil Nevin

Leaving New York City is very good for Woody Allen.

I loved Match Point, set in London, which Allen completed in 2005. Oscar voters loved Vicky Cristina Barcelona, giving Penelope Cruz the Best Supporting Oscar nod.

And Allen’s newest endeavor, Midnight in Paris, may be the biggest charmer of them all.

Allen is not in the film.  That is a good thing. Owen Wilson plays the Woody role, but he plays it as an optimist. I swore I saw the sun shining in his eyes a few times, he is so upbeat (even when he is sad).

His counterpoint is Rachel McAdams, his fiancee and generally unlikable person.  Her parents are even less so.  There is a big “THUD” when they appear on screen because there is no nuance to their characters, but perhaps they are supposed to be the dose of reality.

Because the rest of the film is magic.  Owen’s love affair with the city of Paris.  The people he meets…and he meets some pretty fantastic people.  The unexpected cameos and brilliant performances by actors not mentioned in any promotion for the film.  (I was surprised; I want you to be, too.)

I enjoyed Midnight in Paris so much.  It was, quite simply, a delight.

Guess where I’m jonesin’ to go now?

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Oscars, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,