Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
When people hear the word “lodge” they tend to think of something rustic. Nowhere is the fallacy of this assumption more wonderfully apparent than in stunning New Zealand, where a slew of lodges, numbering in the hundreds, are rapidly gaining in popularity. These lodges, which promote themselves with themes (nature, fishing, wine and more) in an effort to lure visitors from afar, are as sumptuous as they are varied.
There’s nothing like an old fashioned bookstore. Sure, the warehouse-sized chains have tons of material to offer, but where’s the love there? At the 30-year-old Town House Books, the staff is knowledgeable and the setting is oh-so cozy and inviting … especially since you can smell the delicious dishes being cooked up at the store’s cafe. Weather permitting, you may sit outside with a book or newspaper while you enjoy a cup of herbal tea or coffee. But if you have the time, plan on getting lunch there. The soups are homemade, the salads are delectable and the hummus platter is generous enough to share with a friend.
Every woman in a relationship should watch at least one episode of “Laguna Beach,” MTV’s reality series about a group of young, beautiful and rich kids from Orange County, Calif. This suggestion isn’t being made for the eye candy elements of the show — though there’s plenty. Rather, the male-female dynamics are something familiar to most women in their 20s, 30s and, yes, even 40s. And sometimes just turning on the TV can give you the dating pointers that your friends aren’t.
Jessica Simpson favors Escada’s designer jeans ($2,550) and Claire Danes has been known to “slum” it in a pair of Zac Posen’s limited-edition creations for 7 for All Mankind ($995). Yet most of us would like to spend $100 or less for denim. Preferably much less.
Everyone wants a fat lip these days. At a time when some women are extreme dieting and exercising to achieve a waif-er thin aesthetic, they’re doing everything they can to create puffy, full lips glamorized by Hollywood stars.
We realize it isn’t even officially summer yet, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t prepare you for this autumn’s top trends. It’s all about premium denim, luxe fur and eye-catching details.
Colorful hardware, sexy cutouts and flirty designs define what’s in for this year’s swimwear. Inspired by designer creations seen on the runways of Paris, New York and Milan, bathing suits have a more sophisticated — yet still fun — look this season. And, they’re available at prices for all types of budgets.
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times May 10, 2005 Marshall Fields’ Glamorama takes a walk on the wild side this year with Glam Rocks — a high-energy mesh of fashion and rock ‘n’ roll. Tickets for […]
It was in Melbourne’s chic South Yarra district that the standard was set. Hungry and suffering from extreme jet lag, my photographer and I also were cranky because a local had guided us to a “fabulous breakfast place” that wasn’t open yet. After walking back toward the chic, boutique Lyall Hotel where we were staying, we settled on Cafe Darling – a small, neighborhood eatery. I ordered a focaccia veggie sandwich with a piquant salsa dressing. He opted for a softly poached egg, which was served with thick slices of ham and tomato on a chunk of toasted French bread.
“State Property 2” picks up where the first film left off, with Beans (rapper Beanie Sigel) serving hard time in a penitentiary for attempted murder.
Listen up, ladies. Forget the notion that trench coats are nothing more than boring outerwear to protect us from April showers. This year’s trench options aren’t staid. They’re fashion statements.
We live in a time when the media tell us who we are. What “Lost” has done is tell the world what Asians aren’t. We aren’t all martial arts experts. We aren’t all college educated and over-employed. We’re not always the model minority. We don’t all own dry-cleaning businesses. And just as importantly, we’re not all nice.
Spearheaded by George Harrison, the Concert for Bangladesh was attended by more than 40,000 fans. The lineup at Madison Square Garden was a who’s who of the era’s most popular rock musicians: Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Badfinger, Leon Russell, Billy Preston and Ravi Shankar. The concert, along with sales from the live album, raised more than $10 million for the nation’s starving refugees.
With 2005 just one day away, we look ahead to what’s in store for the videogaming industry. It’s going to be a busy year. With the introduction of its PSP, Sony will be making a bold move to break Nintendo’s domination of the handheld market. And fans of popular games such as “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” will be pleased to learn their favorites finally will be available on other platforms.
As 2004 draws to a close, we can’t help but wonder how some of America’s wealthiest women managed to dress so poorly. Could the stylists be having private jokes at their clients’ expense? Whatever the reason, these are grown women who should’ve known better. So Paris, Ivana and Britney — we hope you’re reading. It’s time for a makeover. We don’t want to see you back here next year.
While 2004 has been a strong year for video games, it’s one of the latest releases that has truly made an impact on me. Regular readers of this column won’t be surprised to learn that my pick for game of the year is Rockstar’s “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.”
It’s three days before Christmas and we know there are more than a few of you who haven’t gotten a present yet for your significant other. Don’t freak out. After all, it’s not that they’re the last people on your list, but rather you’ve saved the best to shop for last. Yeah, that’s it. Have no fear. Whether money is no object or you’re working within a budget, we’ve got some ideas that will dazzle your loved ones. Feel free to improvise, but these tips hopefully will get you in the mood to shop. You may pick up some things at local stores. Others may require a little online shopping, which means it may not be delivered in time for Christmas — so give the recipient a card to let him or her know what will be arriving in the mail.
The idea is to race cars and crash your competitors out of the race. Simple idea. Simple game. Unfortunately, there’s nothing more than that.
Believe it or not, the extended DVD version of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”–which clocks in at a solid 4 hours and 10 minutes — doesn’t feel any longer than the film everybody saw at the multiplex. In stores today, the DVD includes 50 extra minutes of never-before-seen footage added into the original theatrical release, which won 11 Academy Awards.
No matter how many television series are available in syndication, there are some shows you just want to have on DVD to watch any time you please. Some (“Nip/Tuck”) are new. Others, like “The Simpsons,” have been around a while. And then there are faves that have bid farewell (“Friends”). I’ve compiled a list of television shows that are DVD must-haves, whether for yourself or for that perfect holiday gift.