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SOME GIRL(S) Written and Directed by Neil LaBute
In LaBute’s West Coast Premiere of Some Girl(s) at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, the hero is yet another cad. This time we don’t get to know the lead character, Guy, all that well. Instead, it’s his numerous ex-girlfriends that bring the story and emotions to the surface. Guy visits his four exes in hotel rooms in four different cities where they each still live: Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles. Sam, Tyler, Lindsay, and Bobbi are the four women Guy dumped─all without explanation. Now, years later, just before he’s about to get married, Guy, a successful New York writer, returns to see each of them, purportedly to “make amends.” Each woman represents a different stage of his life: Sam, the now-married-with-children ex-high school sweetheart; Tyler, the wild child of his college years who joined him in casual sex, fun, and drugs; Lindsay, a married college professor who The playwright has a flair for smart, pithy dialog, and Guy works his considerable linguistic skills, rekindling affairs of the past with each woman. Opening the emotional baggage of each relationship is an awesome task, well accomplished. However, it sort of leaves us wondering what these women ever saw in this jerk to begin with, and wondering why they would show up years later to see him again. The obvious reason is that these women are as needy as Guy. LaBute recognizes, with perfect accuracy, that while Guy is superficial and an opportunist, the women attracted to him are weak and still hurting after all this time. They’ve come to see him with a curious chip on their shoulder, and to get closure for their pain from so long ago. They want to feel better after his betrayal─even though years have passed and they’ve moved on. Or maybe not. There is a twist at the end, which seals the deal that Guy is not just seeking redemption; he’s carrying on the tradition of a perverse guy with warped interpersonal dynamics and selfish gain as his main motivations. Will he return to his New York fiancée, ten years his junior, and actually marry her? I don’t think so. But maybe that’s another play. LaBute likes his actors, and has written a formidable vehicle to display their talents. The hardest working is Mark Feuerstein, whose edginess is palpable throughout, as he expertly manipulates each of his former lovers with skill and guile. Rosalind Chao, Contributing to the overall enjoyment of the play was the intimacy of the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at The Geffen. The audience becomes almost part of the story, as if sitting on the edge of the bed listening to a friend tell their tale of alienation and loneliness. And how guys, both then and now, can be just plain mean. Both women and men in the audience are able to relate─but hopefully they will return to their homes showing genuine love and tenderness to their mates. Geez, who am I kidding? It’s the proverbial battle of the sexes: Mars and Venus, or Him versus Her. Some Girl(s)brings up lots of familiar issues, questions, and pointed conversation between couples─so don’t expect quiet time on the way home. You’ll be chatting and buzzing all night long. Now, that’s what we call “good theater!” Geffen Playhouse and Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater Phone: (310) 208-5454 Performance Schedule: Thru Sunday, March 16 Tuesday – Thursday: 8:00 pm Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson |
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Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress
Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress
Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson
She’s a super talented lady in a super tough business. So for the audience, it’s not just her jokes, but a glimpse into what Joan feels—and it’s emotional. Getting older in show business isn’t fun. (But is it, anywhere?)
The jokes and revelations all take place in a dressing room at the TV studio where Joan is about to do her gig as a red carpet interviewer. The 
other characters are there to aid and abet, but it’s Joan who takes the stage and keeps us totally absorbed from beginning to end.
The laughs are great as always.But this time, you leave knowing Joan just a little bit better—and we’re all the better for it. Kudos to Joan Rivers, who at 74, has braved the show-biz wars from comedienne, actress, writer and director; to playwright and book author; to jewelry designer, QVC queen, mother, and grandmother. One could get exhausted just thinking about doing it all. But Joan—well, she’s an amazing lady who has enriched our lives with laughter. And her Work in Progress at the Geffen is a terrific evening filled with laughs and more. Thank you, Joan!
Others featured in the cast are Tara Joyce, Emily Kosloski, and Adam Kulbersh.
Box Office Phone: (310) 208-5454
Email: boxoffice@geffenplayhouse.com
LOOK – the Movie
LOOK – the Movie…
LOOK Who’s Watching
Reviewed by Marilyn Anderson
The new feature film LOOK takes its title and concept from the fact that some 30 million surveillance cameras are out there in the world recording what people do literally everywhere they go. And it’s a fascinating LOOK. A variety of disparate characters are followed as they go through their daily lives─all seen from the point of view of security cameras in various places.
Initially, the characters seem like everyday folks─unremarkable at best─including two teenage girls, an office nerd, a yuppie couple with a child, a horny sales manager, and a convenience store clerk/wannabe musician. In casting the roles, writer-director Adam Rivkin made a distinctive and excellent choice. Despite the fact that several well-known actors wanted to be in the film, the filmmaker resisted. He chose to use unknowns, so that we, the audience, can watch each of them without the persona of a famous actor getting in the way.
Rivkin lets us take our time getting to know these characters, with no preconceived notions. As the movie progresses, all kinds of emotions are evoked. The audience is amused, intrigued, agitated, concerned, and provoked. But never bored.
The opening of the movie is titillating and comical. With the introduction of each of the characters, the story becomes more complex. The tension builds and the individual stories gradually become intertwined and interlocked.
I refuse to give away any of the plot. Suffice it to say, it’s got surprises, laughs, drama,
satire, misogyny, and a harsh dose of reality. And like reality, it’s not neatly tied up at the end.
In addition to being about those omnipresent, all-seeing camera lenses and the fact that no one actually takes the time to watch what’s on them, it’s also about the secrets people keep from others, even those closest to them. The movie works─and works wonderfully. You come out wondering about the people around you─the people you know and the ones you don’t, the guy next to you, and maybe even the person you’re with. What’s their secret? And what’s yours?
LOOK the movie… is definitely worth more than a LOOK
Never Kiss a Frog Press Release
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For Immediate Release: In honor of Leap Year, Never Kiss a Frog™, the brand designed to help save women from frogs, has partnered with Amphibian Ark, an international organization dedicated to saving real frogs, to create a special “Toadbag™” that lightheartedly raises awareness and funds for the important cause. The tote bag carries a special message: “Never Kiss a Frog – Save One Instead.” Amphibian Ark is a global partnership of zoos, aquariums and conservation groups whose mission is to “ensure the global survival of amphibians – focusing on those that cannot be safeguarded in nature.” Never Kiss a Frog™ was created by Marilyn Anderson, relationship expert, speaker and author of Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp. Interestingly, Ms. Anderson was educated as a biologist and worked at the National Academy of Sciences. She says she is thrilled to be part of the worldwide effort to save thousands of species of frogs from extinction. “When a representative from Amphibian Ark called and told me about their campaign, ‘2008 Year of the Frog,’ I knew I had to get involved. Although my book playfully refers to the men that women should avoid as frogs, the planetary endangerment of real frogs requires immediate action.” To launch their partnership, Never Kiss a Frog™ designed the unique and fun tote bags, called ToadBags™. Now it’s easy for everyone to be GREEN with these 100% cotton ToadBags™. They are perfect to replace plastic supermarket bags and make terrific everyday totes for shopping or schlepping. They also make great goodie bags for meetings, conventions or fundraisers. One side of the ToadBag™ has the message: NEVER KISS A FROG – Save One Instead! The other side has five FrogFellas as featured in Marilyn’s book: Count Frogula, Sir Frogalot, The Bully Frog, The Godfrogger and Arnold Schwarzenhopper. Each purchase results in a contribution to Amphibian Ark. Sales are handled through www.FrogMart.us. Additional information is available at www.NeverKissaFrog.com and www.AmphibianArk.org. For bulk sales or fundraisers, contact Marilyn at 310-502-4047 or via email at Marilyn@neverkissafrog.com. 1. Amphibian species are becoming extinct at a pace faster that anything we have experienced. 2. Between one third and one half of all amphibian species are threatened. 3. Amphibians are contributors to human health providing vital biomedicines, analgesics and antibiotics. 4. Amphibians have been likened to “canaries in the coal mine,” warning us of unsafe environmental conditions that could seriously impact our health. Marilyn Anderson is a relationship expert, speaker and author of Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp. She has appeared on over 150 radio & TV shows and was the Dating, Flirting & Kissing Coach on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover.” Marilyn, who has degrees in Biology and Physiology, is also an award-winning writer for film & television. She is available for interviews to discuss how to save women from human frogs and how to save amphibious frogs that are in danger of extinction. Contact her at 310-502-4047. # # # |
REDONDO BEACH, California
Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD
PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB – Redondo Beach, CA
A short way down the coast from Los Angeles is the beach town of Redondo Beach. Once a sleepy enclave of surfers and airline stewardesses (when they were called that), it now boasts of sky-high real estate and some hidden travel gems, perfect for a weekend escape.
One of these is the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club, located in King Harbor on the Pacific Ocean. The hotel takes its name from the fact that while landlubbers may come by car, the wide berths and superior dock space of the marina ensure that even the biggest boaters have easy access as well. While we were there, many guests had come by boat and sought a luxurious night or two on shore.
With a first-class restaurant across the courtyard, we were looking forward to a great get-away-from-home-for-a-night, as we live only 10 miles away. The Portofino doesn’t disappoint.
Substantially remodeled at a cost of $11 million and operated by the capable Noble House Hotel Group, this once sketchy property is now a first rate inn. The new maritime look is handsome and warm with a soft yellow and blue theme.
Our room was filled with natural light and the sounds of sea lions cavorting right outside our window. A nice touch by the hotel is a poem about the sea lions in each room. Watching them is a treat, as was the 42-inch plasma television with
DVD player we watched much later. We also particularly enjoyed lolling around in the hotel’s super plush terry robes, while surfing the Internet on their free wi-fi.
After checking in and watching the spectacular sunset, we took a stroll along the beach path to the Redondo Pier. The Pier in King Harbor is the center of the Redondo Beach ocean front. It’s an area of restaurants and pubs bordering the famous Los Angeles bike path, which stretches almost 25 miles from Malibu on the north to just below Redondo Beach on the south. It passes right in front of the Portofino, where bikes are available for free, anytime. We found this a great way to go to brunch the next day at one of the cafes near the pier.
After our walk, we returned to our room for a quick cat nap on the lushest of bedding and casually dressed for the evening ahead at their signature restaurant, Baleen Los Angeles.
A natural for air passengers to Los Angeles, due to its close proximity to LAX, desirable to boaters for the marina facilities at its front door, and a short drive for LA locals, the Portofino is a traveler’s trifecta. We loved the sense of “quiet luxury” imbued in the newly remodeled rooms on the water and also their first-rate restaurant. If you like the easygoing feeling of the seaside, a jaunt to the Portofino could be the perfect destination.
PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-379-8481
www.hotelportofino.com
BALEEN LOS ANGELES – Redondo Beach, CA
Across the courtyard from the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club, Baleen Los Angeles brings fine dining to King Harbor in Redondo Beach, California. Recognizable as the signature restaurant of the Noble House Hotel Group—we have found from prior experience—they succeed where others don’t, in serving food with style and elegance but without pretension.
Baleen is an inviting and handsome restaurant. Just entering relaxes you in a way few places do today. It seems more like a cozy living room than a highly functional dining emporium. We were thinking Bing Crosby and “White Christmas” as we were seated at a nice table close to the fireplace, which warmed our hearts on a chilly beach evening.
The menu is designed to do the same thing for your stomach, that is, warm and comforting food, but with an eclectic and fresh edge to it. Each menu item is a feast for the eyes as well as the palette, with creative presentation being the order of the day.
We started with the heirloom beet salad with pine nuts, feta cheese, asparagus, and aged balsamic vinegar. Tasty and unique with those oh-so-rare heirloom beets! We also split the lobster and crab salad with light dill sauce, topped with caviar and pear balls on the side. Yummy!
Baleen’s distinctive preparations and accompaniments make you want to try everything on the menu. Our entrees included a perfectly prepared grilled char, with an edamame puree topping a crispy potato cake with fresh bok choy and mild ginger sauce. Arctic char is closely related to both salmon and trout and has a reddish pink color, clean taste and even texture. It was char par-excellence!
Nothing is more comforting than a great grilled steak. Our second entrée was their charbroiled rib-eye steak topped with a sweet roasted onion and cabernet reduction, and served with golden fingerling potatoes. Another extraordinary dish!
On our afternoon walk that day, we had both resolved, “No more desserts.” But tonight we realized our promise would have to wait—Baleen simply made it impossible to resist.
“Ever have “Blueberry Soup?” our waiter Joe asked. “Wow,” we said. In all our travels, we’d never come across it. Convincing us we’d like it, he brought a deep dish consisting of cinnamon gelato, ground cinnamon, sugar, and white chocolate sticks in a “soup” of blueberries and sauce. Talk about licking our lips! This was an exceptional dessert that we highly recommend. As if that wasn’t enough, Joe also brought us another dessert, an utterly divine chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. As we finished our meal, all we could say was, “Ahhhhhh.”
Baleen Los Angeles is a place we will return to soon and often. This was our third meal at a Noble House restaurant and each one was as close to perfect as possible.
You also won’t want to miss the Living Room Bar. It’s in the same building as Baleen with comfy chairs and chaises overlooking the marina. The room features a three-story atrium and is a totally “cool” hot spot for cocktails.
Hotel breakfast is also served here.
BALEEN LOS ANGELES at the
PORTOFINO HOTEL AND YACHT CLUB
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
877-225-3365
For the Noble House Hotel visit, www.noblehousehotels.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia
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Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s VANCOUVER, British Columbia Where to Stay:
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites
Coast Plaza’s rooms are spacious. Many are suites, and if you’re on the higher floors, you get a million dollar view of the mountains and bay. Lucky us, we were on the 33rd floor! It was breathtaking and enlightening to witness the weather changing, to watch sea vessels coming and going, and to gaze out at the miraculous sunsets. These moments were made even better as we shared a cheese plate and bottle of champagne from the hotel’s excellent room service.
Our one-bedroom suite had a roomy living room with a big comfy couch and two large armchairs, a desk, TV, and small dining table, as well as a full kitchen, stocked with plates and utensils. Oh, and they provide complimentary wireless, which would definitely cost you more at most other hotels. They also have a free shuttle that takes guests to the town center so you needn’t take a cab.
For convenience, you can’t beat the shopping mall on the bottom floors with a market, and yes, even several movie theaters. There are a pool, sauna, and health
 club. They have two restaurants and banquet facilities that hosted a wedding while we were there. The best part of staying here, though, is that you are in a real neighborhood. Walk out on Denman Street and find yourself surrounded with shops and restaurants of all kinds. You’re a local, not a tourist, in this part of the city. Entrance to Stanley Park is a couple of blocks from the hotel. Do not fail to stroll, take a trolley tour, a horse and carriage ride, or rent a bike to see this large and wondrous park. Continue on down Denman and you run into Robson Street, Vancouver’s main street.
The Coast Plaza Hotel is a terrific, no-compromise pick for a Vancouver holiday.
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites
1763 Comox Street Where to Eat: Vancouver is a “food city.” There are so many great places in every neighborhood that finding a satisfying meal is easy. We discovered some absolute gems. Salt Tasting Room
The Salt Tasting Room doesn’t have an actual kitchen. Instead, all cheeses and meats are sliced at the front of the bar with a hand-slicer. There is a good reason for this lo-tech approach; it’s not a retro-trendy thing. Because their meats are cured, an electric slicer would heat up the meat as it was being sliced─in effect, “cooking” it─and alter the taste.
Our choices of meats included wine-drenched prosciutto, smoked pork tenderloin, smoked beef tenderloin, and Italian country salami. Our cheeses were La Rippelle, a local artisanal goat, and a rich cheddar. Our condiments included roasted plums, cornichons, raw hazelnuts, quince paste, balsamic cabernet reduction, apricot-onion chutney, and concord grapes─all accompanied by a huge pile of light crusted white bread.
Instead of ordering the individual glass of wine (or two) that usually carries us through a meal, we opted for the wine tasters. This is six 2-oz. portions of different wines specially selected to be paired with each meat or cheese. We each drank 3 samplers.
We were thrilled with the Salt Tasting Room─and left full and extremely happy! It’s that kind of place─friendly with food extraordinaire! Salt Tasting Room
45 Blood Alley, Gastown Vancouver, BC V6B 1C7 604.633.1912 www.salttastingroom.com Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club
Capones was the first restaurant in Yaletown. When they opened in 1993, the area was empty industrial buildings and warehouses. Now it’s one of Vancouver’s coolest neighborhoods, with apartments, restaurants, shops, and throngs of people lining the streets. Capones is the place to go to listen to music while you dine.
Musicians perform at the end of the room, in another alcove with tables in front. You can opt to be close in, club-style, or farther away, where you still enjoy the music in the background. We chose a spot near the kitchen where we could watch the band as we ate our dinner. We enthusiastically devoured both the music and our dinner!
The menu had many unique choices. Our seared calamari appetizer, prepared in oyster sauce and served with a cucumber wrap, was unusual and tasty. The house salad was a bountiful bouquet of fresh greens topped with cashews, strawberries, goat cheese, and grapefruit vinaigrette. For entrees, Dennis selected the beef tenderloin with roasted vegetables, and I had the seafood medley over Algerian couscous. I especially loved the couscous. Need I say, no doggy bags were needed. Dessert anyone? Well, let’s just say Capones has the richest chocolate combo of mousse, truffles, and brownie we’ve ever tasted, along with a light raspberry mousse and, of course, a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the side. Dennis, a devout chocolate lover, was in heaven, and I felt good because, since I’m not a chocolate lover, I could finally save a few calories! Capones feels good, sounds better, and tastes great. A winning combination, further complemented by an accommodating and professional staff. The food, ambiance, and music served up at Capones made for one exceptionally enjoyable and relaxing evening. Try it. You’ll agree!
Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club 1141 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada 604.684.7900 www.caponesrestaurant.net La Terrazza Restaurant
On our last night in Vancouver, it was raining hard. But we couldn’t let that stop us from going out for a romantic dinner at La Terrazza Restaurant, located in Yaletown. The complimentary valet made it easier, providing an umbrella to walk us to the door from our car.
The simple exterior of the building belies what’s waiting inside. You are immediately struck by the elegance of the room, which has been decorated like an opulent Italian Villa.
 Thirty-foot high ceilings soar up to paintings of cherubs cavorting in the sky, creating a humorous and apocryphal effect over the restaurant. Below, diners are seated in a spacious dining area filled with white linen-covered tables, containing the most sparkling glass goblets and silverware we’ve ever seen. Place settings for each person included five glasses of various sizes and a ransom’s worth of silver. Question: Where is Amy Vanderbilt when you need her?The three owners pride themselves in each area of their expertise, and the wine, food, and management of the restaurant reflect the highest level of professionalism.
Upon sitting, we chose a Chianti Classico to warm things up, and then feasted our eyes on their menu. suggestions from our server, Gina, who is the sister of the chef/owner, Gennaro Iorio. Who should know better what to expect from the kitchen, other than, perhaps, his wife? We opted for lighter dinner choices, having eaten our way through Vancouver in the previous three days.
Our appetizer was a shared portion of imported Buffalo mozzarella cheese resting comfortably on locally grown heirloom tomatoes and splashed with Gennaro’s special salad dressing. Whoever invented these beauties belongs in the food hall of fame. This fruit is truly nectar from the food gods. We ordered fish and fowl entrees. The locally caught trout was sautéed and draped in a sauce of roasted cherry tomatoes, complemented by sautéed spinach and roasted baby vegetables. The Cornish hen came dressed with a balsamic reduction and adorned with roasted baby vegetables. Both preparations were exceptional and cooked to perfection, giving us the indelible sensation of pleasure and contentment on a cold and dreary night.
Our waitress, Gina, would not let us leave without tasting her brother’s chocolate soufflé cake with fresh berries and vanilla ice cream.
La Terrazza is one of a handful of restaurants that consistently make the local “best of” lists. With new places opening almost weekly, the competition for top chef is a constant struggle. At La Terrazza they make it seem easy.
La Terrazza 1088 Cambie Street Joe’s Grill A simple name and a simple spot… for a simply delicious breakfast! Down the street from the Coast Plaza Hotel are numerous places bustling with early morning diners. We had spotted a striped awning the night before and vowed to go there the next day, without knowing why. We knew we had “guessed” right when we saw how packed it was inside. And how everyone was happily diving into their morning meal! Joe’s is small and frequently packed. We found a table and had barely squeezed into our seats when our waitress brought coffee and water. Service was prompt and courteous. A definite “come back” place. Joe’s Grill Hon’s Wun-Tun House
Hon’s Wun-Tun House Where to Go: The Yale Hotel After dinner, we headed out for some music. We love the BLUES─and lucky for us, not too far away was Vancouver’s biggest and best blues club. The Yale Hotel dates to the mid 1880s, when it served as the temporary home of workers clearing land for the new community of Vancouver. Over the years it has burned down and has been rebuilt, and has housed all sorts of hard scrapple laborers who contributed to the growth of the city. At night it became a haunt for those seeking the wild nightlife for which Yaletown was known.
The Yale recently built its own recording studio in the basement where stable boys used to groom horses. Today the Yale records “live” performances to promote up-and-coming local blues players and to raise funds for charities. The Yale showcases different bands every night, and we were fortunate to see two terrific local groups. The first band was “So Tight featuring Miss Nadine.” Nadine is a trim little pistol of a singer with a whoppingly big and beautiful voice. She performed many numbers, selecting covers from Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. Helping her soulful vibrancy reach her audience, she is accompanied by five seasoned musicians on sax, bass guitar, piano, guitar, and drums. Adding to her mystique is Nadine’s background. Days, she works as a longshoreman.What’s more, she is a single mother with three children: a 4-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 17-year-old with her own baby. So, Nadine is a grandmother, but belting out those numbers with power and verve, she’s mainly one hell of a singer!
The second band we heard was “Brickhouse,” consisting of six hot musicians with a huge repertoire of original music. Known for innovation and complexity, their sound is rich, raucous and righteous. Listening late into the night, we left exhausted and exhilarated by their creativity and enthusiasm.
This part of Yaletown is still a little on the seedy side, but the Yale Hotel is a musical safe harbor for any and all visitors to Vancouver. Remember, this is Canada, all incredibly safe and civil.
The Yale Hotel
1300 Granville Street Vancouver, BC, Canada 604.681.9253 Tours by Trolley or Double Decker Bus
The best way to familiarize yourself with any new city is to have someone else do the driving and point out all the important sights for you. Limo too expensive? We think so, too, and chose the upper deck of an English-style double decker tour bus, since the weather was so good. You can also take an old-fashioned San Francisco-style trolley. We were treated to endless and interesting banter from Bob, our driver and guide. Bob showed us all the essential locales in about two hours. We would spend the next couple of days visiting individual sights. Vancouver Art Gallery It also hosts rotating exhibits ranging from Native masks to video installations. We were treated to a superb collection of European painting and sculpture from the Cleveland Museum of Art, entitled “Monet to Dalí.” The exhibition included key works by Manet, Monet, Cézanne, van Gogh, Rodin, Picasso, Dalí and other renowned artists. Well worth the $15 entry fee.
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Street Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6Z 2H7 604.662.4719 Granville Island
All great cities have great farmers’ markets, where the best products are made and eaten while fresh, and where the city’s top chefs find fresh local ingredients. The Granville Island Markets is one of the best. The food choices here are unlimited; you can find almost anything that is edible, waiting fresh and delectable. We had to go back twice to coddle our taste buds, each visit lasting only as long as it took to over-indulge. Our sampling included: Blueberry bread with white chocolate icing Peach and tarragon cake Pesto and tomatoes foccacia Apple bread with caramel and sesame seeds
Brownie with chocolate chunks and white sugar Local peaches, apples and blueberries
Raw oysters and steamed clams Smoked salmon
Sausages Coffee
Rolaids!
The best thing to burn those calories after eating all the Granville Island Market’s goodies is a stroll around the island. Fairly compact, it’s easy to cover the place in a short while and explore the various buildings, watch students watching you, and walk along False Creek. Stop at the Granville Island Information Centre near the Public Market for a free map.
Stanley Park One of the largest urban parks in North America at about 1000 acres, Stanley Park has activities that can fill your whole day. Chief among its attributes is its downtown, easily accessible location.
We chose the two-hour horse trolley ride around Stanley Park. Our driver, who was there because she loved the horses, was anticipating a more serious job – as a trained helicopter pilot waiting to get into the military. Stanley Park Capilano Suspension Bridge Ten minutes from Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has been trekked across by millions of visitors since 1889. Crossing a huge ravine, it’s fun to walk across this historic bridge and then traverse the Treetops Adventure, a short boardwalk that’s high up in the treetops of ancient conifers. Incredible views and fresh air! Capilano Suspension Bridge Spas Given the healthy Vancouver lifestyle, it’s no wonder spas are flourishing here! The city’s day spas are swamped with Vancouverites (male and female), getting wrapped in seaweed, slathered with Moor mud, exfoliated, massaged, manicured, pedicured, purified, revitalized, and refreshed! There are many to choose from all around the city, and many hotels also have in-house facilities and services available. Neighborhoods:
Vancouver is a city of neighborhoods, each with a variety of interesting features, restaurants, and feel. Get a city map and enjoy! West End Our hotel, the Coast Plaza, was located in this neighborhood, which feels very much like New York City, with high-rise apartments and streets filled with people at all hours of the day and night. Off the main thoroughfare are lower density residential areas of lovely Edwardian homes and parks. Nearby are Stanley Park and English Bay. Chinatown
Gastown Gastown has history and the kind of old-fashioned architecture, including a real skid row, in the midst of downtown. Home to the Steam Clock, which sounds Westminster chimes on 5 brass steam whistlers each 1/4 hour; Blood Alley; the Europe Hotel, dating to 1892; and a statue of the colorful saloon owner, “Gassy” Jack, for whom the area was named. Gastown is a charming mix of old and new with cobbled streets, antique gaslights, Victorian architecture, and a unique tangle of mews, courtyards, and alleys pleasantly gentrifying into new housing shops and restaurants. Daily walking tours through the area are a must-see.
Yaletown
Yaletown, Vancouver’s former warehouse district, is now the city’s coolest neighborhood. Now adorning the original manufacturing buildings are high-end designer shops, excellent restaurants, and the local Mini dealership. Extending from downtown to the water’s edge along False Creek, new housing, parks and office towers bring a new vibrancy to a once rundown railroad yard. |
This unique charcuterie in Gastown is located on a street called “Blood Alley.” That alone should make it worth visiting. Once inside, you realize you have found a place unlike any other.
Their menu is listed on a chalkboard taking up the entire back wall. This makes it easy to change the enumerable daily selections of cheeses, cured meats, condiments, and wine options. It took us quite awhile just to “digest” all the selections and variations.
If you’re at all like us and want to recall what you ate at the Salt Tasting Room, they make it easy for you. When the waitstaff serves the food, they place a chart next to your plate, listing everything you ordered, so you know which delicious morsel you are eating, and you can remember it later on.
The Salt Tasting Room isn’t just eating─it’s an experience─and definitely a fun and delectable one!
Capones is a long narrow restaurant with the feel of a New York cabaret. Extraordinary mural lined walls, mirrors and a brick bar contribute to a warm ambience, ideal for casual dining. A tiny kitchen pokes out of one wall only a few feet from where you’re eating and offers many delectable and unusual selections.
There is an ample selection of wine displayed and racked all around the restaurant, providing only a hint of the restaurant’s impressive 1500 item wine list.
Joe’s menu offered loads of choices.
Cheap. Fast. Good. Generous portions of fresh Chinese food served steaming hot. Hon’s is known for their dumplings: pork, beef, chicken, or vegetarian; served pan-fried (potstickers), steamed, or with soup. There is a large selection of vegetarian dishes. Hon’s is always crowded, but the waits are short. A great spot anytime.
No longer a hotel, the Yale has become a mainstay for rhythm and blues bands and their followers from around the world.
Located in the midst of downtown, the Vancouver Art Gallery was a lively place on our visit. Originally designed as a courthouse and then renovated into a museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery is home to a large collection of works by Canadian painter Emily Carr.
Granville Island, an eclectic collection of restaurants, quaint shops, theaters, hotel, housing, galleries, and industry, is easily reachable by aquabus or car and bus. For “foodies” in Vancouver, the Granville Island Public Market is nirvana. We wandered around the island, going in and out of the various buildings and bought some wonderful pottery in my (Marilyn’s) favorite subject: frogs.
SEATTLE IS FOR LOVERS, UMBRELLA OPTIONAL
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Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s Romance ON THE ROAD The Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, Washington SEATTLE IS FOR LOVERS, UMBRELLA OPTIONAL
Our room was over Elliot Bay—with an AMAZING view—of Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula. We were entertained daily by a variety of seagoing activities, including the Canadian ferries, local tour and fishing boats, and parasailers swooping by our window. Befitting the upscale Noble House chain, our room had a mixture of elegant and interesting touches, including extremely soft and fluffy linens, large screen LED TV and a free standing, claw-foot tub in the bathroom. Opening the optional sliding door gave us a crisp starry view out the bedroom window, while we were soaking in a bub-bub-bubbly tub. Isn’t that romantic? The large and cozy room also had a fireplace The hotel’s décor is rustic chic. The lobby, bar, and restaurant feel and look like the outside is inside. Rocks and trees predominate─with parts of real trees and branches reaching up to the ceiling. A private dining room features a stand of beautiful aspen trees. Furniture is rough hewn hardwoods in a variety of styles. For dinner we didn’t have far to go. The Edgewater has an ultra-romantic restaurant, the award-winning Six Seven, so named because it’s on Pier 67. We’ve rarely eaten in a hotel dining room that was quite this special. We sat at an indoor table overlooking the water. As it was warm, we opened the sliding door and watched a sun-setting spectacle while bathing in those final ochre rays of a heavenly day. After sundown, a soft breeze graced us as we sipped local wines and enjoyed a most delectable and perfectly prepared meal. Nancy, the hotel manager, stopped by our table to say hello. Our waiter, Kent, surprised us with an amuse bouché served in a demi-tasse cup, consisting of a cold heirloom tomato soup with fresh prawn salad at the bottom. Rich and pure, it could have passed for dessert. “Mmmmm” is all Marilyn could say when our appetizer of diver scallops with chanterelles, herbs, and pork cheek arrived. “Dee-lish” was her commentary after tasting this tantalizing tumble of textures and tastes. Six Seven cuisineFor our main courses, Dennis had the Bandit Boat Red Grouper with homemade chorizo, grilled tomatoes, and kalamata olives in a ratatouille sauce. Marilyn had a deliciously tender and maximum juicy Allen Brother’s Seared Tenderloin of Beef, in a cabernet reduction with morels, roasted cipolini, and fava When we first told people we were staying at the Edgewater, they seemed surprised. It turns out that, years ago, it wasn’t such a beautiful place. But after extensive renovations and tutelage of the Noble House Hotels and Resorts team, there’s no doubt that it’s now one of the loveliest places you can stay in Seattle. In addition to offering deluxe accommodations and a world-class restaurant, the Edgewater has a unique location. It’s the only hotel on the waterfront and within walking distance of the city’s main attractions, including Pike’s Market, the Olympic Sculpture Park and Seattle’s extensive bike and hike path. If you don’t feel like walking, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service. We spent considerable time sightseeing in Seattle. It’s that kind of place; and fortunately for us, the sun was shining every day. But if we hadn’t been so lucky, the Edgewater would be just the spot for us to happily stay inside by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate, snuggling and watching the rain. Next time, we might even leave our umbrella at home! The Edgewater Hotel 2411 Alaskan Way, Pier 67 Seattle, WA 98121 800.624.0670 |
Vivienne Tam Fall 2008 – Himalayan/Disney Inspired Designs
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Vivienne Tam Fall 2008 – Himalayan/Disney Inspired Designs Vivienne Tam was born in Canton, China, and raised in Hong Kong. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she cultivated her interest in fashion. In 1994, Vivienne Tam launched her signature collection of Eastern-inspired clothing with a Vivienne Tam continues to appeal to a wide demographic with inspired, fresh collections every season. And her fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection is no different. The Disney-inspired designs, coupled with Himalayan thangka painting are an interesting juxtaposition of inspirations. The colors Vivienne Tam chose for her new collection are vividly rich with unexpected color combinations. Her signature dimensional cutout technique, which we’ve seen in past collections, managed to be fresh and new. And a quilted theme What inspired your collection this season?
How did you come up with the fabrics? When I started my business, I had no money, so I ended up creating my own fabrics. So it’s very special, and nobody has it. I used a real basic fabric to create my own special fabrics. When I started, I couldn’t afford the European fabrics. I did find that your fabrics are unique. I love how you’re able to assimilate within a wide range of demographics with your clothing. Do you have a favorite piece out of this collection? Every piece is essentially my favorite piece. Vivienne Tam’s clothing brand is inspired by Chinese design and modern fashion.
Her shops can be found in most major cities around the world. Madonna and Julia Roberts are among Tam’s celebrity fans. To learn more about Vivienne Tam, visit her websitewww.viviennetam.com. By Kaylene Peoples |
Lela Rose – Fall 2008’s Sporty Cocktail Theme
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Lela Rose – Fall 2008’s Sporty Cocktail Theme The Texas-born designer, Lela Rose, has a vast background in the aesthetics. She attended the University of Colorado, where she studied sculpting and painting. After graduation, she worked under Christian Francis Roth and Richard Tyler, both prominent fashion designers. In 1996 Lela Rose launched her first collection out of her apartment. This collection featured feminine clothing with lots of embellishments. Her clothes have been worn by an extensive list of celebrities, including Ashley Judd, Mischa Barton, Selma Blair, Molly Sims, Jessica Simpson, and Jenna and Barbara Bush. Lela continues to create simple, timeless garments.
I attended the Lela Rose’s fashion show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York and was delighted by the sporty upscale clothes she presented on the runway for Fall 2008. This collection supported refined ruffles and a more refined shimmer. This was a very different look from seasons past. The Fall 2008 Lela Rose collection focuses on the venturesome woman characterized by modern agility–the Sporty Cocktail. -Lela Rose- And that “Sporty Cocktail” look ranges from bomber jackets to zip-up parkas to racer back swimsuits, but with a cocktail feel adorned in untraditionally rich fabrics. She deems her day collection as “Susie Chapstick meets Park Avenue.” Her cocktail theme effortlessly spills over to night with the alluring rock star glamour of a young Jerry Hall, consisting of high collars and ruffles juxtaposed with rock star edge.
Her descriptions, though a mouthful, were also eye candy: peacock cashmere felt duffle jacket, birds-eye looped paillette sweatshirt dress, gold dot layered inside out dress, mallard dot gazar layered dress, and fuschia gazar strapless gown, etc. When asked what inspired the various colors and textures, she replied: I wanted to do a backdrop of salt and pepper so I really wanted to do bright colors. I am kind of a bird lover and started going through bird books of different colors that I loved in certain birds. That’s why we had cardinal, gold finch, mallard. I really wanted a very rich color pallet. Mid 2007 Lela Rose introduced to Payless Shoes an inexpensive line of shoes for women and infants. Some of the pieces were revealed on the runway, including: The Bixby, a round toe d’orsay pump with a satin bow; the Addison, a round-toe flannel wool pump with a wood-stacked heel in a variety of colors; and the Sibley, a round toe flat with a removable pink bow. Her shoes will be available in the fall of 2008 at Payless stores and payless.com.
For a list of retailers, or to learn more about Lela Rose’s designs, visit her website, www.lelarose.com. Written by Kaylene Peoples |
Tracy Reese’s Feminine Chic – Fall 2008 Runway Review
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Tracy Reese’s Feminine Chic – Fall 2008 Runway Review
Tracy Reese and Tracy Reese plenty have been featured in Cosmo Girl, New York Post, OK, Vogue, InStyle, Lucky, Essence, and marie claire. Celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Mya, Jamie Lynn Dyscala, Beyonce, Mira Sorvino also wear Tracy Reese. Tracy Reese’s fall 2008 collection featured a variety of animal prints, pleated skirts, sequined pencil skirts, and a combination of oatmeal crew neck sweaters matched with gold sequined skinny skirts. A gray paisley print on a jacquard raglan coat and a russet striped turtleneck over a gold slim skirt go surprisingly well together. Other I was really into nature and the elements—just how weather can affect our emotions. And we wanted to do some florals, but we didn’t want to do them the same old way. How can we expand on that? And we literally expanded them into dramatic proportions so they became abstractions—just not the typical thing, but when you put it on and layer it all together, it had a dreamy effect. I was really happy with that effect. -Tracy Reese- To learn about Tracy Reese, visit her website www.tracyreese.com. By Kaylene Peoples |
