Crosby Street Hotel | Bold & Eclectic Luxury

Tim and Kit Kemp are the parents of the Crosby Street Hotel, which marks the first American venture of their celebrated Firmdale hotel group, London based. The impressive 11-story construction was built from scratch on the site of a former parking lot in downtown New York, right in the heart of SoHo, famed epicentre of Manhattan chic. The interior look is classic Kit Kemp – elegant and quirky yet entirely cosy. Each of her 86 individually designed rooms and suites comes fully equipped with flat screen LCD television, DVD/CD player, iPod docking station, WiFi and custom-made Miller Harris bath products, while the top-floor headline suites offer the additional luxury of uninterrupted, 360-degree skyline views.

This impressive list of facilities is rounded off by a luxurious private screening room – a perfectly-executed Firmdale trademark sure to be as big a hit in New York as it has been in London.

Visit Made by Originals to meet the creative spirit behind this hotel.

ARCHITECTURE / INTERIOR DESIGN The quick and impressive success of Tim and Kit Kemp’s Firmdale Hotels can be in large part attributed to a single factor: Kit Kemp’s inborn eye for design. Jumbling genres, combining eras and mixing antique pieces with state-of-the-art technology, the self-taught designer follows no rules but her own. Colourful and eclectic, her signature style strikes the perfect balance between classicism and modernity, elegance and comfort. Each and every one of her spaces is memorable, and no two of her rooms look the same.

Unusual pieces tend to be the starting point for a new hotel’s scheme, and sculptures and paintings feature heavily throughout the Firmdale properties. The Crosby Street Hotel achieves a distinctly American flair without abandoning its British roots. In keeping with the neighbourhood’s industrial history, the hotel facade has been kept minimalist. The exterior of brick, stone and glass pays homage to the surrounding urban landscape, while the floor-to-ceiling warehouse windows are an obvious nod to the iconic SoHo loft look. The best part of all? Everything is built with sustainable materials and energy-efficient technology – green luxury at its best. In fact, the Crosby Street Hotel is one of the most environmentally responsible hotels in the entire United States, well-poised to receive Gold LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the US Green Building Council.

LOCATION OF THE CROSBY STREET HOTEL

The Crosby Street Hotel is nestled in the centre of SoHo, between Spring and Prince Streets and one block behind Broadway. The Crosby is surrounded by shopping and entertainment opportunities in all directions as well of some of the best galleries in New York.

Images credits to: www.oyster.com


Have you ever visited a city and simply fallen in love? We’re sure you have – but which one? We asked our Twitter and Facebook followers to vote for the most beautiful city in the world. From the old-world gems of Europe to modern metropolises in North America, these are the places that came top in the poll. Have a different opinion? Let us know on social!

14. Vancouver, Canada

Starting the countdown is Vancouver, and there’s little wonder why this city has made the cut. With an unrivalled setting between water and the mountains, there may not be a more stunning city in Canada. Find out more about Vancouver

Where to stay

Best for downtown: L’Hermitage Hotel

Best for bay and mountain views: The Westin Bayshore Vancouver

13. Sydney, Australia

A sparkling harbour, beautiful beaches and impressive landmarks galore are responsible for Sydney’s place in our beautiful cities poll. Its charm is further amplified by leafy suburbs like Surry Hills and picturesque coastal paths, such as the one that leads from Bondi to Coogee. Find out more about Sydney

Where to stay

Best for views of Sydney Opera House: InterContinental Sydney

Best for style on a budget: Veriu Central

12. Seville, Spain

Lord Byron once said of Seville, it ‘is a pleasant city, famous for oranges and women.’ But there’s more to this place than its eponymous orange – Seville’s elegant architecture makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as our reader Kelsey MacAulay agreed on Twitter. Find out more about Seville

Where to stay

Best for boutique style on a budget: Hotel Boutique Casa de Colon

Best for views of the cathedral: EME Catedral Hotel

11. San Sebastián, Spain

In 11th place is another Spanish city, San Sebastián. This spot has never been a key important port or industrial centre for Spain, but the coastal city has been a summer playground for the royal family since the mid 1800s. Set in a wonderfully curved bay, with a golden sand beach lapped by the azure waters of the Bay of Biscay, it’s a beautiful place all year round – not to mention the now world-famous foodie scene. Find out more about San Sebastian

Where to stay

Best for a little luxury: Maria Cristina a Luxury Collection Hotel San Sebastian

Best on a budget: A Room In The City

10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Perhaps it’s the coastal location and famous Copacabana beach that draw people to Rio, or maybe it’s the imposing Art Deco statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain. Either way, from the ocean to the forested Parque Nacional da Tijuca, there’s no denying that this Brazilian metropolis has natural and manmade beauty aplenty. Find out more about Rio de Janeiro

Where to stay

Best on a budget for Copacabana beach views: Orla Copacabana Hotel

Best for a little luxury: Belmond Copacabana Palace

9. Kyoto, Japan

You voted Kyoto the 9th most beautiful city in the world. As the centre of Japanese culture for hundreds of years, and surrounded by magnificent and easily accessible mountains, there’s much to be impressed by here. Walk around the east side of the city see the best of the traditional temples. Find out more about Kyoto

Where to stay

Best hostel near local attractions: Piece Hostel Kyoto

Best for wonderful views of the city: Hotel Granvia Kyoto

8. Brisbane, Australia

In 8th place is Brisbane – Queensland Australia’s largest city. You chose Brissy for its winning combination of high-rise modern architecture, lush green spaces and the enormous Brisbane River that snakes its way through the centre before emptying itself into the azure Moreton Bay. Find out more about Brisbane

Where to stay

Best for South Brisbane and Brisbane River: Mantra South Bank

Best for downtown location on a budget: Great Southern Hotel Brisbane

7. Venice, Italy

You voted the floating island of Venice the 7th most beautiful city in the world, despite the millions of tourists that pack its streets each year. Mass tourism aside, Venice will always have charm, with its undeniably romantic setting, classic architecture and wonderful sea views. Find out more about Venice

Where to stay

Best for impeccable cool: Charming House DD724

Best for super luxurious: The Gritti Palace

6. Prague, Czech Republic

Next up in our poll of the most beautiful cities in the world is Prague, a city of two sides: by night it’s a buzzing metropolis with a hedonistic party scene, but by day you can lose yourself in a warren of quaint cobbled streets, or spend an afternoon admiring the view from the Charles Bridge, that stretches across the Vltava river. Find out more about Prague

Where to stay

Best for most desired room in town: Dancing House Hotel

Best for location to the Old Town: Ventana Hotel Prague

Prague, Charles Bridge in the morning © QQ7/Shutterstock

5. London, England

With sprawling green spaces, its huge gothic parliament buildings and perhaps the most famous residence in the world, Buckingham Palace, London can lay claim to being one of the most beautiful cities ever built. Even in the grittier east you can find allure at Columbia Road flower market, or atop the hill in Greenwich Park overlooking the Canary Wharf towers across the Thames. Find out more about London

Where to stay

Best for romance in the heart of London: Hazlitt’s

Best for hip hotel and location: The Hoxton Holborn

4. Edinburgh, Scotland

It’s famed for its excellent annual festival, but there is more to Edinburgh than great comedy and arts – and according to you, it’s beauty. Head east of the city and make the short walk up Arthur’s Seat, an 823ft-high dormant volcano, to take in views of Scotland’s capital and you won’t need to question why it’s been voted the 4th most beautiful city in the world. Find out more about Edinburgh

Where to stay

Best for location to New Town: Apex Waterloo Place Hotel

Best for location to Old Town: Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh

3. Paris, France

Finishing in 3rd place, France’s capital has been long considered the paragon of style and the most glamorous city in Europe – and we can’t disagree with your choice to put Paris near the top of this poll. We love its elegant streets and boulevards, the lofty Eiffel Tower and the huge range of incredible art and architecture found throughout the city. Find out more about Paris

Where to stay

Best for location to the middle of the city: Hotel de Crillon

Best for views of the Eiffel Tower: Eiffel Trocadero

2. Florence, Italy

The cathedral dome that dominates the city’s skyline is just one of the many attractions that make Florence one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The river Arno that cuts through the heart of the city, the Piazza della Signoria and the gorgeous church of San Miniato al Monte are all among Florence’s highlights. Find out more about Florence

Where to stay

Best for central location and attractions: Hotel Pendini

Best for unique views of Florence Cathedral: Grand Hotel Minerva

1. Rome, Italy

At number one you voted Rome as the most beautiful city in the world. With its thousand-year-old buildings, beautiful piazzas and world-class art – not to mention Vatican City – we’re certainly not surprised. Rome, after all, is the capital of the so-called bel paese, or “beautiful country”. Find out more about Rome

Where to stay

Best for romance on a budget: Navona Loft

Best for location to attractions: Hotel Quirinale


JOAN COLLINS UNSCRIPTED 2019

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I recently featured a rare promo magazine cover for the mini series "Sins", the epic drama that Joan produced in 1986. I will be featuring "Sins", in a future post, but as the cover proved popular with readers, here is another promo ad that was used to promote the show on CBS television in February of 1986.

In the 80's the ABC network screened a one hour special every fall to herald a new season. It gathered together all the stars of it's hit TV shows on one set to preview the new and returning shows. This promo ad was for the 1986 season and as well as featuring Joan, also included on it are Linda Evans, John Forsythe, John James, Robert Wagner, Robert Urich, Connie Selleca, James Brolin, Judith Light, Marie Osmond, Ben Vereen, Bruce Willis, Cybill Shepherd, Tony Danza, Brian Keith, and others! On the show, Bruce Willis who was starring in "Moonlighting", sings his own version of "The Love Boat" theme. Ben Vereen dances to "This Joint Is Jumping", Joan vamps it up with The Captain, (Love Boat's) Gavin Macleod. Marie Osmond, Emmanuel Lewis and "The Love Boat" mermaids preform a song and dance number! Also on the show was Gary Coleman, Eli Wallach, and Emma Samms. Great to see so many stars on one show, only in the 80's!

This issue of the Sunday Express magazine, features Joan on the cover from "Dynasty The Reunion" which was to screened at that time. Inside had a spread featuring Joan at home in Hollywood! The magazine was published on September 15th 1991.

When Joan finished on "Dynasty", she was offered many different projects, one of which was a movie to called "Getting Away With Murder" to be produced by 21st Century Film Corporation. I cant recall if any other casting was announced, but the only evidence of the film is the advance poster, which is shown. It features one of my favorite photo's of Joan by Gary Bernstein, that was taken for her novel "Prime Time".

In the 90's, Franklin Mint distributed a line of beauty products bearing Joan's name and tied to her book "My Secrets".The packaging features a fabulous photo that was used on the USA cover of the book retitled "Health Youth & Happiness". Apart from a moisturizer, there was also a line of massage oil and massager. This photo shows these products and the fabulous packaging. Will feature an ad for the moisturizer in a future post. I think this line is now discontinued.

Monday, March 29, 2010

As Joan will be attending a screening of the 1958 film "Rally Round The Flag Boys", I thought I would share this print ad from 1958, which heralds the release of the film. I am looking forward to attending this event and the conversation with Joan that follows the screening. Will of course post photo's when I get back!
The screening is at 18.20 on the 17th April, followed by "In Conversation" at 20.20 at the BFI Southbank London

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Over the years Joan has appeared on many book covers, not always her own! This current publication, released in February and issued by Little Brown features an elegant portrait of Joan with her poodle from the fifties. The book by Judith Watt features portraits of stars with their dogs that have been used on the pages of Vogue. Other stars included are, Britt Ekland , Cindy Crawford , Lady Diana Cooper, The Mitford Sisters, Elizabeth Arden, Andy Warhol and Tom Ford.

Although not quite a Legendary lady! A legend nonetheless was the late Hollywood agent, Irving Paul Lazar aka "Swifty" who was born today in NY in 1907. Swifty Lazar as he is known but not to his friends as he apparently hated the name, which he got from Humphrey Bogart as Irving made three deals in one day for him. As well as Bogart, he also represented Legends, Lauren Bacall, Cher, Noel Coward, Cary Grant, Gene Kelly, Madonna and of course Joan! During her Random House case, one of the most vital ingredient in her victory was the clause in her book contract that stated they pay Joan, no matter if they liked the manuscript or not, providing she submitted a complete work. ( Or words to that effect). Lazar died in 1993 aged 86, from complications arising from diabetes. A true Hollywood player. Happy Birthday Irving!!

Joan as we all know, has many string to her bow! Not only is she an accomplished actress, a best selling author and a mother, she also produces some of her own projects. One of her most memorable productions has been the epic mini series from 1986 "Sins". This star studded and glamorous series running over six hours was produced by Joan and her then husband "The Swede" as she now calls him, Peter Holm. I wont go into too much detail on "Sins", as I will be featuring it in a future post. I wanted to share this rare promo flyer, which is a mock cover for "COUTURE" magazine, this was the name of the magazine that Joan's character Helene Junot, ran in the series. This flyer advertised the screening of the series on CBS Television in February of 1986.

Over the year's I have gotten many signed photo's from Joan and as a regular thread will post some of them. This photo is from the early 2000's ... not sure of exact dates. No matter the year or the photo.. we are always guaranteed a most glamorous pose!

As "Dynasty" is back on TV screens, with screenings on CBS Drama and on DVD, here is a promo ad for a repeat screening of the series on the USA channel KTTV 11 which is a Fox channel in Los Angeles. I will feature various promo's for "Dynasty", in future posts.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

In March 2002, I had the pleasure of attending a special luncheon in honour of Joan, hosted by Foyles bookshop London. This event was held at Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. It was to celebrate the launch of Joan's novel "Star Quality" and sharing the bill was The Rt Hon. Lord Dennis Healey , whose book "Healey's World" was also published. Following a champagne VIP reception, there was a 4 course lunch followed by speeches from Joan and Lord Healey and then a book signing. It was a great afternoon as you can see from these exclusive private photo's. I will be featuring "Star Quality" in a future post. Included in the photo's are Stella Wilson, Joan's PR. Ned Ryan, Theo Fennell and Frederick Forsyth.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Today in 1944 in Detroit, Michigan another Legend was born, Miss Diana Ross. One of the biggest recording artists in the world Diana is also an Oscar nominated actress for her performance in the 1972 film "Lady Sings The Blues", she did not win an Oscar for her role as Billie Holiday, but she did win a Golden Globe. Diana still tours the world with her vast songbook of hits and she will start a new USA tour soon. Happy Birthday Diana!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

This month in 1996, Joan was promoting her novel "INFAMOUS" in the USA. The book was first published in the UK as "Too Damn Famous", but the word "Damn" is considered unacceptable in some states, thus the name change. Joan attended this signing at "Barnes & Noble" 5th Ave. Will feature this book in a later post.

One of most popular womens magazines in the UK for many years is Woman's Own and Joan has graced the covers many times since it's first issue in 1932! This issue was published May 8th 1982 and Joan was featured in an interview to promote her book "Katy - A Fight For Life". This book was an account of Joan's vigil at the bedside of daughter Katy, who sustained serious head injuries when she was struck by a car in Ascot. I will feature the book in it's own post at a later date. The cover shot was one used to promote Joan in "Dynasty" as she had just started in the show. She took the role as it would be warm in California, which would help Katy recover. I will feature many more "Womans Own" cover in the future.

Joan brought style & glamour to Beverly Blvd yesterday when she hosted an exclusive showing of Angela Tassoni Jewelry at Lloyd Klein's Beverly Blvd Store. Guests including Natalie Cole, Barbara Davis and Nikki Haskell. Whilst enjoying the collection of jewelry by New York based Angela, they were treated to Champagne & Caviar. A great afternoon was had by all the Invited guests.


Kate Lechmere

Kate Elizabeth Lechmere (13 October 1887 – February 1976) was a British painter who with Wyndham Lewis was the co-founder of the Rebel Art Centre in 1914. As far as is known, none of Lechmere's paintings have survived. She served as a nurse in England during the First World War and had a three-year relationship with the poet and critic T.E. Hulme before he was killed. After the war she became a successful milliner.

Early life
Lechmere was born in Fownhope, Herefordshire. Her father was Arthur Lechmere, a farmer, and her mother was Alice Lechmere. Kate had two brothers, Arthur and Herbert. The family lived at Bowens, Highland Place, Fownhope, at the time of the 1891 British census and were wealthy enough to employ a nurse and a cook who both lived in. Kate Lechmere was educated at Clifton College. She studied at the Atelier La Palette, Paris, and later under Walter Sickert at the Westminster School of Art. She was close to Lawrence Atkinson with whom she had studied the piano in Normandy.

Meets Wyndham Lewis
Lechmere wrote that she first met Wyndham Lewis in 1912, though according to Paul O'Keeffe it was late 1910 or early 1911. They went to dinner during which Lewis barely spoke, which was not unusual, Rebecca West had the same treatment. Afterwards, Lewis revealed that he had received troubling news. His lover Olive Johnson (19 or 20 years old) had become pregnant by him. By December 1912, Lewis and Lechmere were romantically involved and he wrote to her "I have as many kisses as the envelope will hold. The rest I keep in my mouth for you." He called her "Jacques" because she was reading Jean Jacques Rousseau when they met and she called him "Golliwog" because of his long black hair.

One of the things that Lewis liked about Lechmere was her smile and her laugh, smiles being notably missing from most of Lewis's works in the early 1910s. Lechmere was the model for his Smiling Woman Ascending a Stair and The Laughing Woman, both 1912. In a 1914 interview he commented on the slightly grotesque face of the former, "Although the forms of the figure and head perhaps look rather unlikely to you, they are more or less accurate, as representation. It was done from life".

The Rebel Art Centre

About January 1914, Lechmere wrote to Wyndham Lewis from France suggesting that they set up a "modern art Studio in London, run on much the same lines as those in Paris". After Lewis and Roger Fry fell out in 1914, Lewis with Lechmere and her money founded the Rebel Art Centre at 38 Great Ormond Street in opposition to Fry's Omega Workshops. Lechmere paid the first three months' rent for the centre, paid to have the interior walls moved in order to create the right sized spaces for studios, and even bought a new suit for Lewis. She lived in a small flat at the top of the building.

Lechmere also lent Lewis £100 to produce the first edition of BLAST. Lewis suggested that she take 50 copies to sell but they had to be returned to the publishers when none sold. She was asked by Lewis to complete a drawing for the first edition of BLAST but due to the difficult atmosphere at the time she could not do so. As compensation she was "blessed" in its pages. She did not sign the Vorticist manifesto.

The Centre attracted plenty of press attention, including a visit from the Evening Standard for which Lechmere posed pretending to finish one of her paintings. When the story appeared it ran with the caption "Artists a disappointment in real life". In fact, she did very little painting at this time as she found the Vorticist aesthetic too abstract and lacking a human dimension.

T. E. Hulme

Lechmere met the imposing critic and poet T. E. Hulme (1883–1917) when Lewis brought him to the Rebel Art Centre. Some accounts suggest that Lewis had timed the visit to ensure that Lechmere was out and would not meet Hulme, but she returned unexpectedly early from lunch. In a description that could have been of Lewis, Jacob Epstein, who was otherwise full of praise for Hulme, described him as "large and somewhat abrupt in manner. He had the reputation of being a bully and arrogant because of this abruptness." Hulme "excluded women for the most part from his evenings, as he said the sex element interfered with intellectual talk – a confession of his own weakness."

Hulme was a clear rival to Lewis for Lechmere's affections. In addition, he was not deferential like some in Lewis's circle, and praised Jacob Epstein and David Bomberg above Lewis's own work. Lewis saw Hulme as Epstein's man, and lectured Lechmere that "Hulme was Epstein and Epstein was Hulme". Lewis and Hulme had originally been friends, and Lewis had invited him to write an essay on Epstein for the first issue of BLAST, but now relations soured. A paranoid and insecure Lewis was afraid that he would lose Lechmere and her financial support, and be replaced at the Centre by Hulme or Epstein. He was right about the first two only. There was no conspiracy to replace him. He took to pacing up and down and calling Lechmere a "bloody bitch", which she chose to ignore.

After a quarrel between Lewis and Lechmere, Lewis pronounced his intention to kill Hulme, and Lechmere was forced to follow Lewis through the streets of London begging him "Please don't kill him, please don't". When Lewis eventually found Hulme at Ethel Kibblewhite's salon at 67 Frith Street, he burst into the room with the words "What are you doing to me?" A fight ensued and Lewis managed to get Hulme by the throat, but Hulme, who was the more powerful man, got the better of Lewis and after the struggle moved outside, hung him upside down on the railings of nearby Soho Square.

The Rebel Art Centre was not a commercial success. It attracted only two poor quality students and received only the most minor commissions. It closed in June 1914 when Lechmere declined to pay the next quarter's rent. She was forced to resort to solicitors' letters to try to get her £100 back from Lewis.

After the Vorticists
By 1915, Lechmere had distanced herself from the Vorticists and she does not appear in William Roberts' painting The Vorticists at the Restaurant de la Tour Eiffel, Spring 1915 (completed 1961–2), unlike the other female painters important in the Vorticist movement, Jessica Dismorr and Helen Saunders, both of whom signed the manifesto in BLAST. Lechmere later dismissively described Dismorr and Saunders, who were both Lewis's lovers, as "little lap dogs who wanted to be Lewis's slaves and do everything for him".

First World War

During the First World War, Lechmere became a nurse in the Voluntary Aid Detachment. She was stationed for several years at Macclesfield, near Hulme's relatives where he could visit her. By then they were engaged. They met when they could, often in hotels there or in London. After he was posted to the front, Hulme wrote her explicit erotic letters which he urged her to reciprocate, which she did. They signed off their letters as "K.D.", a reference to the brass knuckleduster made for Hulme by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, one of a number of similar small items Gaudier-Brzeska made for his friends. The fact that Hulme always carried it was later used to portray him as a man with a high potential for violence but the item was actually a sex toy that Lechmere and Hulme used in their love making. According to Lechmere, the holes in the knuckleduster had sexual and other symbolism for Hulme.

Hulme wrote to Lechmere, "The man I relieved was killed by a shell, but I don't think that's at all likely to happen to me." In 1917 he was killed by a shell. Lechmere never married.

Ethel Kibblewhite
Throughout the period of her relationship with Hulme, Lechmere was aware of his simultaneous relationship with Ethel Kibblewhite, which had begun in 1911. Kibblewhite hosted an important artistic and literary salon at her home in Frith Street, London, where Hulme had the use of a room as a study. Hulme spent the summers with Kibblewhite and her children (she was separated from her husband) as a family, even though he had said that he could not marry her, even if she divorced, for religious reasons. Hulme was careful to keep the two women apart, and Kibblewhite was not aware of Lechmere.

Post-war
After the war, Lechmere became a milliner, trading as Rigolo and with a workshop in Knightsbridge. She made a dress for Vanessa Bell, and hats under commission for several theatre productions.

By the 1950s, Lechmere was retired and living at 29 Oakley Gardens, Chelsea, where she took in lodgers. She was consulted as a "living witness" to Vorticism, and her obituary in The Times concluded: "To those students of the Modern Movement who sought her out, she was a charming and interested friend. That lively intelligence which was her passport in the man's world of pre-war London was still very much in evidence in her final years."

Notes and references

External links

A Henri Gaudier-Brzeska knuckleduster.

Category:1887 births
Category:1976 deaths
Category:Vorticists
Category:Milliners
Category:People from Herefordshire
Category:20th-century British painters


Daniel Boulud

Daniel Boulud (born 25 March 1955 in Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu) is a French chef and restaurateur with restaurants in New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Palm Beach, Miami, Toronto, Montréal, London, and Singapore. He is best known for Daniel, his eponymous, Michelin currently 2-star restaurant in New York City.

While raised on a farm outside of Lyon and trained by a variety of French chefs, Boulud made his reputation in New York, first as a chef and most recently a restaurateur. His management company, The Dinex Group, currently includes fifteen restaurants, three locations of a gourmet grocery (Epicerie Boulud) and Feast & Fêtes Catering. His restaurants include Daniel, Café Boulud, db bistro moderne, Bar Boulud, DBGB Kitchen & Bar, and Boulud Sud.

Culinary background
At fifteen, Boulud earned his first professional recognition as a finalist in France's competition for Best Culinary Apprentice. Boulud worked in France with Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and Michel Guérard and later in Copenhagen before becoming the private chef to the European Commission in Washington, D.C.

After moving to New York City, Boulud opened the Polo Lounge at The Westbury Hotel, followed by Le Régence at the Hotel Plaza Athenée. From 1986 to 1992, he was a critically acclaimed executive chef at Le Cirque.

Restaurants
Boulud opened Daniel in Manhattan's Upper East Side in 1993, before relocating the restaurant to a Venetian renaissance-inspired setting at Park Avenue and 65th Street in 1998. The original Daniel was re-launched as the Café Boulud. He followed these openings by founding a more casual restaurant in Manhattan's theater district in 2001, and a second-second Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2003. Daniel Boulud Brasserie opened in 2005 inside the Wynn Las Vegas, three years before Bar Boulud, a French bistro opposite New York City's Lincoln Center, was opened in January 2008, the same year he opened Boulud à Pékin in Beijing.

In December 2008, after the departure of founding chef Rob Feenie, Boulud reopened Vancouver restaurants Lumière and Feenie's (renaming the latter "db Bistro Moderne", making it the sister restaurant to db Bistro Moderne in Manhattan). Boulud became the chef, consulting chef and co-partner. The two restaurants were closed on 13 March 2011, two years after opening DBGB Kitchen & Bar, a Pan-European brasserie, in New York City. In 2009, Boulud also announced that he was looking to start his next venture in London. Bar Boulud London opened on May 29, 2010 inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Knightsbridge, becoming the first Boulud's restaurant in Europe.

Daniel Boulud Brasserie closed on 4 July 2010, when Wynn chose not to renew the contract between Boulud & The Resort (see Wynn Las Vegas for more). In 2013, it was confirmed that the restaurant would re-open at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas in Spring of 2014.

2011 saw many new Bolud openings, including a db Bistro Moderne at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, a Maison Boulud in Ritz-Carlton Montreal, as well as Boulud Sud next to Bar Boulud, and Épicerie Boulud, a market/deli. In the following year, d|bar opened in the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, while Bar Boulud Boston opened on 16 September 2014 inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Boston. A third location of Epicerie Boulud then opened in the Oculus World Trade Center in November 2016.

Awards
Both Daniel Boulud and his restaurants have received a number of awards. Daniel has been rated one of the top ten restaurants in the world by the International Herald Tribune, received Gourmet's Top Table Award, a four-star rating from The New York Times, Wine Spectator's Grand Award, and New York City's top ratings for cuisine, service and decor in the Zagat Survey. The flagship New York City restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars in the 2010 Michelin, the book's highest rating. As of August 28, 2012, he had 4 Michelin Stars in total and in January 2013, Daniel NYC was inducted into Culinary Hall of Fame. The restaurant, however, lost its third Michelin star in 2015 for "a lack of consistency".

Boulud himself has been named Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit, and received the James Beard Award for Best Chef of New York City in 1992 while Executive Chef at Le Cirque. The James Beard Foundation also recognized him as "Outstanding Chef of the Year" in 1994 and "Outstanding Restaurateur" in 2006 for restaurant Daniel. In April 2007 he received the Culinary Humanitarian Award at the United Nations from the Adopt-a-Mine Field Foundation. The President of France made Boulud a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in March 2006 in recognition for his contribution to the advancement of French culture. Boulud also won the International Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 The Catey Awards.

Television

Boulud previously hosted "After Hours with Daniel" a behind-closed-doors look at the late night dinners, by chefs and for chefs. The series revealed where chefs go to unwind after a night behind the stove and uncovered the foods they crave and cook for each other.  The first season was filmed in New York City restaurants and the second, on the West Coast, in Los Angeles restaurants. The third season of the show featured restaurants in the New Orleans and Miami culinary scene.

Boulud has also been a featured chef on Great Chefs television, and appeared in the second-season finale of the Canadian television program Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag, where his cookbook Chef Daniel Boulud: Cooking in New York City was being tested.  Boulud appeared as the guest judge along with chefs from his restaurants located in Vancouver: Stephane Istel, executive chef at DB Bistro Moderne & Dale MacKay, executive chef at Lumière.  Boulud's cookbook received the "A & K Stamp of Approval" at the end of the episode.

Boulud appeared as a guest judge in Season 1 and 3 of Top Chef Canada.

Boulud appeared as himself in the television drama series Billions, episode "Flaw in the Death Star", season 3.

Community involvement

Daniel Boulud works to support several charities focusing his efforts on hunger relief and culinary education. He has been the board Co-President of Citymeals-on-Wheels since 2003 and hosts an annual gala for the charity each spring. This non-profit organization that provides home-delivered, nutritious meals to frail, homebound elderly in New York City. On 13 April 2008 Daniel Boulud hosted an intimate Sunday supper to mark the 10th anniversary of Savoring Citymeals, an annual gourmet event he has hosted since 1998.

The Daniel Boulud Scholarship Endowment Fund was established by the chef's business partner, Joel Smilow, in 2005. The fund provides education enabling promising young American cooks to pursue professional culinary studies in France.

In 2008, Paul Bocuse asked Boulud to establish a structure for the selection of the Bocuse d'Or Team USA, who along with Thomas Keller and Jérôme Bocuse form the Board of Directors of the Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation. The first Bocuse d'Or USA competition was held in September 2008.

Mr. Boulud settled with the workers, seven current and former employees of Latin American and Bangladeshi descent, for $80,000 and agreed to set up standards and procedures for promotions to be overseen by the EEOC & the state attorney general's office.

Books
 Cooking with Daniel Boulud (1993)
 Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud Cookbook (1999)
 In 2001, Boulud allowed author Leslie Brenner near unlimited access to Daniel the result was the 2002 book The Fourth Star: Dispatches from Inside Daniel Boulud's Celebrated New York Restaurant which gives some insight into the workings of the chef and how he operates.
 Daniel Boulud Cooking in New York City (2002)
 Daniel’s Dish, Entertaining at Home with a Four Star Chef (2003)
 Letters to a Young Chef (2003)
 Braise: a Journey Through International Cuisine (2006)
 Daniel – My French Cuisine by Daniel Boulud (Author), Sylvie Bigar (Author), Thomas Schauer (Photographer), Bill Buford (Contributor) (2013)

References

Further reading
 Feast & Fetes covered in New York Parties - Private Views by Jamee Gregory - Nov 2010

External links
 Daniel Boulud's Official Website
 Superstar New York Chef Joins Vancouver's Lumiere
 Interview with Chef Boulud and Video of Restaurant
 New York Times Article on EEOC findings Aug. 1, 2007

Category:1955 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Rhône (department)
Category:French chefs
Category:French cuisine
Category:Head chefs of Michelin starred restaurants
Category:French restaurateurs
Category:James Beard Foundation Award winners


Mr Skinner, 71, had a successful operation at the Royal Brompton Hospital, in London, yesterday. The operation lasted more than three hours and doctors described it as a great, great success.

Murder hunt

THE hunt for the person who strangled Southampton student Hannah Foster to death and left her body in undergrowth was continuing today. A post mortem revealed no evidence of a sex attack on Hannah, 17, who was returning home after a visit to a pub.

False figures

A COMMAND and control culture at an ambulance trust led to bullying and inaccurately recorded data on response times, health inspectors said today. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) today published a report on Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which, it said, was using inaccurate methods to record response times up until June 2002.

TV awards

ACTORS, presenters and programme makers were being recognised tonight at the annual Royal Television Society Awards. Newsnight host, Kirsty Wark, and RTS president, Will Wyatt, will host the event at Le Meridien Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, central London. Among those nominated for awards is Channel 4's Autopsy, which captured controversial doctor Professor Gunther von Hagen's public post mortem examination on a 72-year-old man.

Stop homes

DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott's plans for huge housing growth in four key areas could devastate the countryside, rural campaigners warned today. Members of the public are being urged to write to and lobby their MPs over proposals to build thousands of new homes in Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent and the Thames Gateway. The call comes from the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Debt switch

NEARLY one in four homeowners are planning to change their mortgage within the next year, with most planning to take advantage of historically low rates, researchers claimed today. Around 8pc of people with a mortgage will change, says the Alliance & Leicester.


Bitesize Summer Autumn Finale

23 Nov 2006

Bitesize Cinema returns with an exclusive feature length compilation of new shorts from the finest emerging talent. Featuring the hottest new short films from our Summer & Autumn programmes, crossing genres of animation, drama, comedy and musical with a Q&A with the filmmakers afterwards and complementary beer from Cobra. A one-off feast of shorts not to be missed.

Programme

Cubs

Dir Tom Harper, UK 2006, 9 minutes

A gang of inner city kids have discovered a fresh sport: the dark new world of urban fox hunting. Starring Ashley Walters (Bullet Boy, Life'n'Lyrics), this acclaimed short introduces stunning new filmmaking talent in director Tom Harper, one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow.

Winner of Rushes Sohoshorts - Best Short 2006

Death Of The Revolution

Dir The Blaine Brothers, UK 2005, 6 minutes

When Tony is told off for stealing a pencil, his ten year-old logic seethes at the injustice. What course of action is open to him other than to inspire a juvenile revolt? With truth, justice and his comrade pupils marching by his side, what can possibly stop him?

Offical Selection Edinburgh Film Festival 06

Love Me Or Leave Me Alone

Dir Duane Hopkins, UK 2003, 16 minutes

A young boy, a young girl. Against the backdrop of the countryside they try to understand and express their feelings for one another. A study in the articulations and limitations of first love.

Winner Best Short at Edinburgh Film Fest

The Grotlyn

Dir Benji Davies, UK 2006, 6 minutes

I know when the Grotlyn's been,Slipping through your house unseen,I see the wicked path it went,With mischief making mal-intent,This creature with a blackened heart, Its demon soul now withered dark...

Official Selection at Edinburgh, London Animation and Sohoshorts Film Fests 2006

Vagabond Shoes

Dir Jackie Oudney, UK 2006, 18 minutes

On a Friday night in London, Alec, an enigmatic homeless man, sits across the street from a black-tie party at a posh hotel. A chance occurrence gives Alec the opportunity to enter a high society gathering, where the layers of his personality and past are revealed to an unsuspecting audience.

Winner of Best Short at Kodak/Bafta Showcase 2006Winner of Best Short at N.Y.C Shorts Film Fest 2005Winner of Grand Jury Prize at Lille Film Fest 06

Who I Am And What I Want

Dir Chris Shepherd & David Shrigley, UK 2005, 8 minutes

This film is about who I am and what I want. It's NOT about who YOU are and what YOU want. You always think everything I make is about you but it's not. It's all about me...

Winner of an astonishing nine International Best Short Awards

Hock Hiap Leong

Dir Royston Tan, Singapore 2005, 7 minutes

A filmmaker's glowing and heartwarming tribute to a 55-year-old Signapore coffee shop, set for imminent demolition as part of a re-development. The building may be gone but the scent of coffee and the community spirit live on in vivid musical memory.

Offical Selection at over 20 International Film Festivals

Gash

Dir Rong, UK 2005, 3 minutes

What does it take to win an award these days and to be recognised as a groundbreaking filmmaker?

A child cries, a crack addict mother tries to comfort him. This is social realism. This is Gash

Love Letter

Dir Richard Fenwick, UK 2005, 11 minutes

Staring rising star Jamie Winstone, this is a tense and sweet story of a lovesick boy trying to find the right way to give the girl of his dreams a love letter.


Johnathan Ball, left, and Tim Parry died in an IRA bomb attack in Warrington in 1993

The father of the IRA bomb victim who inspired The Cranberries song Zombie said he was "completely unaware" the song was a tribute to his son until he learned of Dolores O'Riordan's death.

Dolores O’Riordan died suddenly in London at the age of 46 on Monday.

Colin Parry appeared on BBC Good Morning Ulster this morning to pay tribute to the singer and rock icon.

Mr Parry's 12-year-old son Tim was killed alongside three-year-old Jonathan Ball in an IRA bombing in Warrington in 1993. The Cranberries' song Zombie, released in 1994, was written in memory of the two boys.

Expand Close Colin Parry's 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington 25 years ago PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Colin Parry's 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington 25 years ago

Mr Parry told BBC Good Morning Ulster he had been touched by the lyrics but had been unaware of their significance until yesterday.

"Only yesterday did I discover that her group, or she herself, had composed the song in memory of the event in Warrington," he said.

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"I was completely unaware what it was all about.

"My wife came home from the police centre where she worked yesterday and told me the news.

"I got the song up on my laptop, watched the band singing, saw Dolores and listened to the words. The words are both majestic and also very real."

Mr Parry said the event at Warrington affected families in the UK and Ireland "in a very real way".

"Many people have become immune to the pain and suffering that so many people experienced during that armed campaign," he said.

"To read the words written by an Irish band in such a compelling way was very, very powerful.

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Whatsapp Dolores O'Riordan in The Cranberries' video for Zombie

"I likened it to the enormous amount of mail expressing huge sympathy that we received in the days, weeks and months following our loss. Proportionately a very high total of that came from the island of Ireland," he said.

"It was a shock that a lady so young should die so unexpectedly," he added.

On March 20, 1993, a bomb was planted in a litter bin in Warrington city centre by the IRA. When it exploded it killed 12-year-old Tim Parry, three-year-old Jonathan Ball and injured 54 other people.

When the news broke, The Cranberries were on tour in the UK and O'Riordan was on a tour bus in London. She wrote Zombie alone in her hotel room between tours and the song was released in September 1994 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, No Need to Argue.

It reached number one in Australia, Belgium, France, Denmark and Germany.

"I remember at the time there were a lot of bombs going off in London and the Troubles were pretty bad," O'Riordan told Team Rock last year.

"I remember being on tour and being in the UK at the time when the child died and just being really sad about it all.

"These bombs are going off in random places. It could have been anyone, you know?"

She added: "It's a tough thing to sing about but when you're young you don't think twice about things, you just grab it and do it.

"As you get older you develop more fear and you get more apprehensive but when you're young you've no fear."

Online Editors


The 7 shadiest moments from Daniel Craig's 'Spectre' press tour

Maeve McDermott | USATODAY

Behold, the gloriously DGAF affair that is Daniel Craig's Spectre press tour.

He's already made clear this is likely his last Bond, and so he's treating the rounds of press he's subject to leading up to the Nov. 6 Spectre premiere with the ultimate disdain.

Lucky for us, seeing interviewers—and the rest of the internet—wither in the face of Craig's bone-dry British humor been unbelievably entertaining.

Below, a few classic moments from the press tour we wish would never end:

When he said he'd rather slash his wrists than play Bond again.

...tell us how you really feel, Dan!

Here's what he told TimeOut:

"I'd rather break this glass and slash my wrists... I'm over it at the moment. We're done. All I want to do is move on."

And when he literally doesn't care who replaces him:

Another instant don't-give-a-(expletive) classic from his TimeOut interview:

"Look, I don’t give a (bleep). Good luck to them! All I care about is that if I stop doing these things we’ve left it in a good place and people pick it up and make it better. Make it better, that’s all."

When he refused to pout for this interviewer:

"I think you need to move on."

When he thought the previous Bond films were garbage:

He told EW exactly what he thought of the pre-Sam Mendes Bond films—in an interview conducted "in a posh hotel suite," because really, is there any other place where Daniel Craig could or should physically give interviews?

“It was going to be an easy decision for me,” says Craig, seated in a posh London hotel suite. “They were going to show me a script that was like other Bond movies. It was going to have the gags in it, what Pierce did, what Sean had done. They’d all be in there. And I could go, ‘Thank you very much, good luck with that.’ And that would have been wonderful. I would have been totally at peace with it.”

When he called out this reporter's sexist question:

DGAF Dan does NOT appreciate you calling his 49-year-old Bond Girl costar Monica Bellucci an "older woman," as an unfortunate writer from the Red Bulletin (aka, Red Bull's magazine) learned.

"I think you mean the charms of a woman his own age," the 51-year-old actor responded after being asked about Bond "succumbing to the charms of an older woman" in Spectre.

"We're talking about Monica Bellucci, for heaven's sake. When someone like that wants to be a Bond girl, you just count yourself lucky!"

When he reminded us all that Bond kinda sucks.

Whether you want to be with 007 or want to actually be him, Daniel Craig is here to tell you you're wrong.

Another classic moment from the Red Bulletin interview—Craig reminding the interview, and Bond fans everywhere, that their idol is reeeally not a great guy.

THE RED BULLETIN: "What could we learn from James Bond that would help us in our day-to-day lives?" DANIEL CRAIG: [Thinks for a short while.] "Nothing."

THE RED BULLETIN: "Speaking of women, many men admire Bond for his way with the ladies …" DANIEL CRAIG: "But let’s not forget that he’s actually a misogynist. A lot of women are drawn to him chiefly because he embodies a certain kind of danger and never sticks around for too long."

And is actually a sad, pathetic man.

Still on Team Bond? Craig had more flattering things to say about his character, one of the most beloved figures in the history of film, in an interview with Esquire:

“He’s very (expletive) lonely. There’s a great sadness. He’s (expletive) these beautiful women but then they leave and it’s … sad. And as a man gets older it’s not a good look. It might be a nice fantasy – that’s debatable – but the reality, after a couple of months…”

K, bye!


Your Journey starts here

A bar doesn't mean you have to drink

I'm not sure how it began. Centuries of almost continuous warfare meant Sikh soldiers were known for carrying around certain natural painkillers. One of the leading Sikh Misls (conferederacies) of the 18th century, the Bhangi's, were given their name due to their love of cannabis and some Nihang Singh's protect their practices of taking Sukkha (peace giver) passionately to this day.

However drinking alcohol, although recorded, wasn't a Sikh favourite until Sikh's started to get power and money in the early 1800's. Left unchecked, alcohol consumption in Panjab has reached epidemic proportions, its now one of the largest areas of alcohol consumption per capita in the world.

My mom tells me a story that during her pregnancy with me, she went into labour while my dad was out drinking in the pub. And although alcohol didn't kill him, it certainly didn't help. Back home in the Midlands I worked behind the bar of the largest club in the city when I was a student and also worked part time in an Asian wedding hall. I've pretty much been surrounded by alcohol my whole life, and I'm sure thats the same for many Panjabi families.

Sikh's are so closely linked with alcohol that if my friends offer me a drink and I refuse they look confused, even my white friends ask me "what sort of a Sikh doesn't drink?". Something isn't right in our community. But thats another post for another day.

So when I talk about my favourite rooftop bars, I'm not saying go out and get drunk (that's on you). I love these places because they are a world apart from the small town in central England where I was born. Tall buildings with amazing views of a beautiful city, whats not to love. Now thats out the way, here are my 5 favourite FREE rooftop bars in the City...

5. Aqua Shard @ The Shard, London Bridge

The Shard is associated with excess, and therefore you'd imagine that it costs a fair few pounds to get inside the tallest building in Western Europe. And you're right. It costs £25 to see 'the View at the Shard', however, to visit Aqua Shard, a bar two thirds of the way up is totally free.

As you'd imagine everything inside is pretty expensive, from the food to the drinks, however you do manage to get a good view of London. From the ceiling to floor windows you can see all the skyscrapers in the City of London across the river, as well as the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. To the west you can see St Paul's Cathedral which looks fantastic from this angle.

The best part about Aqua Shard is the toilets. I know it sounds weird but you are literally looking over London as you do what you got to do. It feels weird, I won't lie.

The biggest drawback is that its usually quite busy and cramped, its difficult to get a position by the window so you always end up looking over somebody's table.

In terms of getting in; as long as you are dressed smart they tend to be quite liberal in terms of who they let in. I've never been refused entry, and that's pretty rare for a brown guy to say.

4. Radio Rooftop, The Strand

Located on the Strand, the long road that separates the City of London from the City of Westminster, its pretty easy to walk past the entrance to Radio Rooftop without realising.

I've only ever been to Radio Rooftop in the daytime to get food but the views from this part of the city are quite different to the skyscraper cluster around the City/London Bridge area. You can see all the main sights and the food isn't too bad either.

As with Aqua Shard, getting in isn't too much of a problem and staff were generally quite friendly.

3. Attic Bar, Canary Wharf

Attic Bar is really cool. Located in South Quay, a short walk from Canary Wharf, Attic Bar is slightly different to the others in that it feels more like an actual bar with loud music and strobe lighting.

The view of Canary Wharf and the O2 is incredible and unmatched in its beauty. The first time I walked out the lift and saw the lights of One Canada Square I stood there for a good five minutes just staring at it. There is a very small outdoor space which removes some of the glare you can get from the windows when looking outside in the evening.

Getting in isn't too much of a problem, and because I work in Canary Wharf, I'm usually wearing a suit which helps.

2. City Social @ Tower 42, The City

I love City Social. Located in Tower 42, the former headquarters of Natwest Bank, the entrance to City Social is a small unassuming door down a small alleyway. Unlike the three buildings before it, a solitary security guard does a short and minimally intrusive bag check before a hostess shows you to a lift.

The dark lights of the bar and restaurant allow you to have a perfect view of the outside. I found City Social gives the best view of the Gherkin and good views of other skyscrapers in the city, as well as the Shard. Unlike the Shard, no matter what time or day I go to City Social, there is always space, always a table free. The food isn't too bad either.

I've never had a problem getting it, I do always have a problem getting out. Press the wrong button in the lift, and you end up inside offices, and if you do that, its very hard to get back out.

1. Skygarden, The City

Its one of the newest additions to the London skyline, and also one of the most controversial. Its unique shape has divided opinion across the city, but I'm a big fan personally.

Although its free to get inside, you have to book tickets in advance and these tickets tend to go quite quickly, especially for the best times. I will admit, I hate the entrance, its basically like airport security and just like airport security I take a deep breath before approaching, always fearing the worst. However, I've never once had a problem getting in and once you reach the top you realise exactly why tickets go so quickly. An absolutely huge open space has a small bar near the centre. The windows are huge giving you a 360 panoramic view of the city. In fact, its the only building on this list where you can get a true 360.

The Skygarden is separated into a number of areas. A small outdoor part faces the east, west and south, while a staircase leads to a higher section that faces the north. In middle of the two areas are hundreds of plants that give the top floor its name. It's one of my favourite views of London, and the best part is that its completely free. Just make sure you go online and get the tickets 2/3 weeks in advance.

Honourable mentions, Madison Bar

I don't really like Madison Bar. Its free to get in but inside its expensive, its pretentious and there's always someone at the door who's job it is too see if you are dressed appropriately. Seriously, thats a persons job. Someone gets paid to do that. Nothing about the Madison Bar experience is pleasant...until you get to the top.

It gets a mention just based on the view which is absolutely incredible. The large open air roof gives you amazing views of St Paul's Cathedral which is just across the road but also further across of the Oxo Tower and the London Eye.

Getting in is hit and miss; I will say one thing, I don't think getting turned away is to do with my skin colour, I think its because I refuse to buy expensive shoes or clothes. If you can afford it, go check it out.

St. George's Hotel Roofbar, Regent Street

With views of east and west London, St George's Bar seems a world away from the rush of Regent Street below it.

The building itself is an old hotel and is the shortest of all the other buildings on this list, but the fact that its so central means you get to see all the famous attractions and the best thing is, because the building doesn't stand out, its always quiet.. The only things that really brings this place down is that the inside looks about 30 years out of date.


UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday said it was “highly likely” that Russia was behind a mysterious chemical attack on a former Soviet double agent last week — a strike that threatens to increase tensions between London and Moscow.

Here’s what happened: On March 4, Sergei Skripal, a former Soviet and Russian spy, was found unconscious on a bench alongside his daughter Yulia. According to May, he was poisoned with a nerve agent known as “Novichok,” perhaps at an Italian restaurant or pub in Salisbury, southern England, where he lives.

Novichok is part of a group of nerve agents considered to be the most lethal in the world, and the Russian government has been producing it for decades.

In a statement, May requested that Russia help her government understand exactly what happened. If Moscow doesn’t comply, the UK will consider the poisoning to be “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom,” May told the British Parliament.

May says she will give Russia until end of tomorrow to respond to nerve agent attack against ex-Russian spy. “Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russia state against the United Kingdom.” pic.twitter.com/9qzhJZYL1Q

In the meantime, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond indicated that Britain might impose sanctions on Russia because of the attack. If that happens, London could mimic the US’s Magnitsky Act sanctions, the 2012 measure that allows Congress members to place travel restrictions and financial penalties on foreign officials who abuse human rights.

If this happens, May would probably target Russian oligarchs, access to British banks, and perhaps even military officials with ties to the chemical program, experts told me.

It’s also possible that the effects of the attack will spread. British authorities are recommending that around 500 people wash their clothes, rinse off their glasses, and clean their cellphones with baby wipes because they may have been exposed to the nerve agent at the restaurant or pub.

Both Skripal and his daughter are still in the hospital and are reportedly in dire condition.

Even before May’s announcement, experts I spoke to thought Moscow was at fault. “This is a classic Kremlin playbook[move],” Rachel Rizzo, a European security expert at the Center for a New American Security think tank, told me.

Russia, meanwhile, denies any involvement in the attack, calling May’s account a “fairy tale.” A Kremlin-sponsored TV show has even claimed that Britain poisoned Skripal as a way to undermine Russia’s hosting of the World Cup in June and July.

But that seems unlikely. Russia has a history of targeting people in the UK that the Russian government believes are enemies of the state — and it looks like that just happened again.

Who is Sergei Skripal?

Skripal may be one of the most important turncoats you’ve never heard of.

He was a member of a Russian intelligence service, known as the GRU, who was convicted in 2006 of handing over the names of 300 Russian agents to the British. Skripal admitted to helping UK spies for at least a decade.

It’s unclear if Skripal ever spoke out against Putin or the Russian government, and it’s especially unclear why Russia would target him now. But Evelyn Farkas, a former top Pentagon official focused on Russia, thinks Skripal may have been on a Russian list for some time:“This looks to me like he’s on a list of former spies and former Kremlin cronies who Moscow likes to eliminate as a sign that you have to stay loyal.”

That list, sadly, is seemingly quite long.

“We’ve seen this happen before, and we’ll see it happen again”

The attack on Skripal isn’t an isolated incident. Russia has a longstanding campaign to identify and kill Russian dissidents living in the UK.

The Skripal case has already drawn comparisons to one of those murders: that of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy and defector to the UK. In 2006, two Russian agents put polonium-210 — a highly radioactive chemical — in Litvinenko’s tea at a London hotel bar. It took weeks for Litvinenko to die, and he blamed Putin for orchestrating the attack.

“You may succeed in silencing one man,” Litvinenko said from his hospital bed, “but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr. Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life.” Russia continues to deny any involvement in Litvinenko’s death.

There are other cases as well. In 2013, Boris Berezovsky, then a Russian oligarch, died on a bathroom floor in his home outside London. Berezovsky was a Putin critic — at one point, he called for a coup against Putin — who blamed the Kremlin for Litvinenko’s death. Berezovsky eventually tried to go back to Russia, but he died before Putin granted his request to return.

That, in part, is why analysts suspected Russia from the start. “We’ve seen this happen before, and we’ll see it happen again,” Rizzo told me. “The question is: What does the West do about it?”

Will the US push back on Russia?

As the UK lines up its response, it’s unlikely that President Donald Trump will do much to counter Russia’s aggression against one of America’s top allies, because, as Farkas told me, “We really see Trump behaving abnormally when it comes to Russia.”

Recall that Trump’s campaign is currently under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller for possibly colluding with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

During an interview in February 2017 with then-Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly, the president pushed back after O’Reilly called Putin a “killer.” “There are a lot of killers,” Trump said. “We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?”

So it’s unclear if Trump will join Britain in punishing Russia with sanctions, or what exactly the measure will be. But it’s clear May feels her fellow citizens were attacked — and she will likely do something about it.

“It was an indiscriminate and reckless act against the United Kingdom, putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk,” she said.


Berezovsky’s billions: How the tycoon lost

Published: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 5:30 a.m. CST

(Continued from Page 2)

LONDON – How do you burn through billions?

The unexplained death of Boris Berezovsky, whose body was found Saturday inside his upscale English home, has refocused attention on the fantastic wealth racked up by Russia's ruthless oligarchs – and their propensity for spending it. Berezovsky, 67, had once been considered Russia's richest man – but by this January, a British judge was wondering whether the tycoon would be able to pay his debts.

Police say Berezovsky's death is unexplained but that there was no evidence of anyone else being involved. His lawyer said the oligarch had been in "a horrible, terrible" emotional state. The tycoon had survived several assassination attempts, including a 1994 car bomb in Moscow, and there was speculation as to whether his death was natural, part of a conspiracy or a suicide.

To understand how one man could lose so much money, it helps to see how he made it in the first place.

FOUNDATIONS OF A FORTUNE

Berezovsky, a mathematician, made his fortune in the 1990s during the catastrophic privatization of the Soviet Union's state-run economy. That era was marked by hyperinflation, contract killings and rampant corruption. As Russia's GDP crumbled, oligarchs leveraged their ties to ruthless criminals and crooked officials to tear off huge chunks of the country's assets for themselves, draining resources and stripping factories to build fabulous fortunes.

Berezovsky – whose interests ran from automobiles to airplanes to aluminum – was one of this dark period's primary beneficiaries. He became a political operator in Russian President Boris Yeltsin's inner circle, trading on his connections to rack up assets estimated by Forbes to be worth roughly $3 billion in 1997.

"No man profited more from Russia's slide into the abyss," author Paul Klebnikov wrote in a critical profile of Berezovsky titled "Godfather of the Kremlin."

Eventually, the abyss began threatening Berezovsky as well.

The tycoon had been instrumental in orchestrating the accession of Yeltsin's successor, Vladimir Putin, but when the new leader and Berezovsky began to clash, his political cover disintegrated. Berezovsky then fled the country in 2000, eventually claiming political asylum in Britain.

LIVING LARGE IN LONDON

How much money Berezovsky really had – and how much he was able to take with him from Moscow – remains shrouded in uncertainty. Rich Russians at the time routinely stashed their money in labyrinthine offshore trusts or held assets under the names of associates or family members. Many deals weren't even put into writing.

What's clear is that the 1998 Russian financial crisis, coupled with Berezovsky's spectacular fall from political grace, had a big impact on his bottom line. Forbes estimated his post-Moscow fortune in the hundreds of millions. Rival oligarch Roman Abramovich testified in court that Berezovsky had been down to his last $1 million when he fled Russia.

If Berezovsky were strapped for cash, he didn't show it. He rode around London in a reinforced Maybach limousine and was often seen huddled with business contacts in the exclusive hotels that line London's Hyde Park. His string of oversize mansions in England, France and the Caribbean suggested he was a cut above the average millionaire.

Russian officials seemed to believe that Berezovsky had plenty of cash on hand, trying – with mixed success – to claw back some of the exile's assets. Charges are still pending against him in relation to the alleged embezzlement of some $13 million from Russia's now-defunct SBS-Agro bank. Berezovsky had also previously been convicted in absentia of bilking hundreds of millions of rubles from the airline company Aeroflot and the carmaker AvtoVaz.

THE BILLS PILE UP

Berezovsky often expressed a fondness for Britain's legal system, despite his frequent and expensive encounters with it. A search of British court records throws up roughly three dozen judgments – libel, fraud, divorce, breach of contract – involving the tycoon in some way.

Berezovsky sued a business associate over a fraudulent loan. Other business associates sued him over a botched oil deal. Berezovsky sued Forbes over an unflattering profile. He sued Russian television for suggesting he had a hand in the poisoning death of ex-Russian KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko. His second wife sued him for a divorce. His girlfriend sued him for a house he'd promised her. He sued the wife of his long-time partner, Badri Patarkatsishvili, in a complicated dispute over how to split the man's assets after his death.

The sums involved were staggering. The loan deal was worth $5 million. His second divorce settlement in 2011 reportedly cost him 100 million pounds (about $154 million at the time). Patarkatsishvili's assets could be worth hundreds of millions more. The biggest lawsuit of all, against Abramovich for breach of contract and blackmail, was for a mind-boggling $5.6 billion.

Berezovsky lost the lawsuit against Abramovich last year and the judge involved stopped just short of calling him a liar. He was stuck with tens of millions of pounds in legal bills.

A FORTUNE FALTERS

Whatever the extent of Berezovsky's wealth, his expensive divorce, Patarkatsishvili's death and his paper mountain of litigation left it much reduced.

In 2008, Berezovsky was forced to sell the Darius, a 110-meter (360-foot) -long custom-built yacht that many believed was an attempt to compete with an even larger ship, the Eclipse, being built for Abramovich.

Earlier this month, the Times of London reported that Berezovsky was downsizing his art collection, selling off his homes, firing staff and closing his office in London's upscale Mayfair district.

In a January ruling in a dispute between Berezovsky and his ex-girlfriend Helena Gorbunova, High Court Judge George Mann wrote that the oligarch's fortune appeared to have been spread thin.

"On the evidence, Mr. Berezovsky is a man under financial pressure," he said.


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Tommy Eytle

Thomas Daniel Hicks Eytle (16 July 1926 – 19 June 2007) was a Guyanese calypso musician and actor. Although born in Guyana, Eytle's career was based in the United Kingdom, where he lived after emigrating in 1951.

Eytle's career began in the 1950s. He initially found success playing African and Caribbean music with his calypso band. He continued to perform musically until the mid-1990s. He had many roles on television, radio, film and stage, but he was most famous for playing the role of Jules Tavernier in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990 to 1997.

Early life
Eytle was born in Georgetown, Guyana (then British Guiana), to James, a gold miner, and Gertrude Eytle. Eytle attended St Philip's Primary School, Central High School and Queen's College in Georgetown. After finishing his education he worked as a gold and diamond miner with his father for a year, before joining the Civil Service and qualifying as a land surveyor.

His parents separated in 1951 and his mother and siblings moved to London. Eytle joined them, arriving for a holiday on Festival of Britain Day, and decided to stay in the UK. He worked first as a surveyor and draughtsman before turning to music and working as a bandleader at some of London's top hotels.

Career

Musical career
Eytle was a self-taught guitarist and in the early 1950s he formed Tommy Eytle's Calypso Band in response to the surge of interest in African and Caribbean music at the time. The band performed a mix of Afro-Caribbean music and modern jazz and in addition to playing the jazz guitar, Eytle provided the band's vocals. They performed in many jazz venues and nightclubs around the country, including the Sunset Club, the Bag O'Nails, Club Basie, Pigalle and Al Burnett's Stork Club.

Tommy Eytle's Calypso Band were featured in many BBC plays and were most notable for performing "Narrative Calypso" in the film The Tommy Steele Story (1957), in which Eytle sang and played the guitar.

Eytle worked as a professional musician until the late 1980s, but he was forced to give up playing the guitar due to early onset arthritis in his hands. However, he continued to sing jazz and calypsos into the mid-1990s and was given occasional acoustic solos in BBC's EastEnders, which he sang — in-character — during scenes in the soap's pub, The Queen Vic.

Acting career
During the 1950s he was introduced to acting when he auditioned for a few radio plays. Throughout his career he appeared in many BBC radio plays (mostly by black dramatists), which included The Barren One (1958) with Cleo Laine; Lorca's Yerma by Sylvia Wynter; Jan Carew's The Riverman (1968) and Milk in the Coffee (1975). Other radio plays included Carnival in Trinidad (1975) and God in the Water (1983).

Eytle was also a veteran stage actor. He appeared with Norman Beaton, Mona Hammond and Rudolph Walker at the Royal Court Theatre in Mustapha Matura's acclaimed 1974 Play Mas, which Eytle also performed in the radio adaptation in 1975. In 1981 he appeared in Measure for Measure at the National Theatre, being one of several actors in the all-black cast.

Eytle appeared in films such as Naked Fury (1959), The Criminal (1960) and The Hi-Jackers (1963) and on television in programmes such as The Big Pride (ITV, 1961), a psychological drama about a prison breakout in Guyana written by Jan Carew and Sylvia Wynter. Other credits included Danger Man (1965); The Spies (1966); Adam Adamant Lives! (1966); The Saint  (1967); The Troubleshooters (1970); Never Say Die (1970); Quiller (1975); Rumpole of the Bailey (1983); Johnny Jarvis (1983) and Casualty (1987) and Bob's Weekend (1996), among others.

His most notable role was playing the Trinidadian charmer, Jules Tavernier, in BBC's EastEnders from 1990 to 1997. The introduction of the Tavernier family heralded the first time that an entire family had joined the programme all at once. Their introduction was also a well-intentioned attempt to portray a wider range of black characters than had previously been achieved on the show. Eytle played the role for seven years, remaining after the departures of all of his on-screen family. Towards the end of his time on the show his character became semi-regular, and his appearances became increasingly sparse due to Eytle's poor-health. He was never given an official exit from the series, but was not featured again after December 1997.

Personal life
Eytle was one of eight children and two of his elder brothers also had successful careers in Britain. Ernest Eytle was a well-known cricket commentator for the BBC and Les Eytle became the first black mayor of the London Borough of Lewisham in 1984.

In 1951, Eytle married Avis D'Ornellas, who was also a native from Guyana. They lived in Kenley, Surrey. Eytle died of a heart attack aged 80 on 19 June 2007, in Reading, Berkshire, survived by his wife.

References

External links

Category:Guyanese male actors
Category:English male soap opera actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male film actors
Category:1926 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Guyanese emigrants to England
Category:People from Kenley
Category:People from Georgetown, Guyana
Category:Alumni of Queen's College, Guyana
Category:Black English male actors
Category:20th-century Guyanese male actors
Category:Guyanese musicians


Harvey Weinstein is one of Hollywood’s top producers. His company is behind multiple Best Picture award winners and he himself is an outspoken progressive who has hosted a fundraiser for President Obama in one of his homes. According to a blockbuster story published today by the NY Times, Weinstein has also been involved in sexual harassment of actresses and young female employees for decades:

Across the years and continents, accounts of Mr. Weinstein’s conduct share a common narrative: Women reported to a hotel for what they thought were work reasons, only to discover that Mr. Weinstein, who has been married for most of three decades, sometimes seemed to have different interests. His home base was New York, but his rolling headquarters were luxury hotels: the Peninsula Beverly Hills and the Savoy in London, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc near the Cannes Film Festival in France and the Stein Eriksen Lodge near the Sundance Film Festival… In interviews, eight women described varying behavior by Mr. Weinstein: appearing nearly or fully naked in front of them, requiring them to be present while he bathed or repeatedly asking for a massage or initiating one himself. The women, typically in their early or mid-20s and hoping to get a toehold in the film industry, said he could switch course quickly — meetings and clipboards one moment, intimate comments the next. One woman advised a peer to wear a parka when summoned for duty as a layer of protection against unwelcome advances… “It wasn’t a secret to the inner circle,” said Kathy DeClesis, Bob Weinstein’s assistant in the early 1990s. She supervised a young woman who left the company abruptly after an encounter with Harvey Weinstein and who later received a settlement, according to several former employees.

One of the women accusing Weinstein of this kind of harassment is actress Ashley Judd. In 1997 while working on a film, Judd was summoned to Weinstein’s hotel room for breakfast:

When Mr. Weinstein invited Ms. Judd to breakfast in Beverly Hills, she had been shooting the thriller “Kiss the Girls” all night, but the meeting seemed too important to miss. After arriving at the hotel lobby, she was surprised to learn that they would be talking in his suite; she decided to order cereal, she said, so the food would come quickly and she could leave. Mr. Weinstein soon issued invitation after invitation, she said. Could he give her a massage? When she refused, he suggested a shoulder rub. She rejected that too, she recalled. He steered her toward a closet, asking her to help pick out his clothing for the day, and then toward the bathroom. Would she watch him take a shower? she remembered him saying. “I said no, a lot of ways, a lot of times, and he always came back at me with some new ask,” Ms. Judd said. “It was all this bargaining, this coercive bargaining.” To get out of the room, she said, she quipped that if Mr. Weinstein wanted to touch her, she would first have to win an Oscar in one of his movies.

Weinstein also reached a settlement with actress Rose McGowan in 1997. But the accusations continue up until at least 2015. That’s when a former Miss Italy finalist named Ambra Battilana reported to police that Weinstein had groped her and put his hand up her skirt during a business meeting at his office. The case was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD but the DA declined to press charges against Weinstein. Despite that, the NY Times reports Weinstein made a settlement of some kind with Battilana.

What’s stunning here is not that a Hollywood producer is a casting-couch creep. Hollywood has been producing those for as long as it has been profiting off beautiful young starlets. What’s striking is that Weinstein could travel in the most elevated social circles and be treated as a progressive political champion while carrying on like this for decades. Here’s Weinstein in February writing about the need to defend progressive causes including, ironically, women’s rights:

The way transgender children were treated this week is an act of pure malice that’s beyond compare. We need to Defend them and the LGBT community. We need to Defend Planned Parenthood and women’s rights. We must Defend against racial crimes and anti-Semitism. We must Defend ourselves against those that would divide us. But no matter how we win, the Defenders need to do it in the Red States and prove our point by being there.

In 2012, Weinstein hosted a star-studded fundraiser for President Obama at which he once again spoke of the fight for women’s rights. From the pool report published by the Hollywood Reporter:

As we entered the room, Harvey Weinstein was speaking, introducing the president, who was standing beside him. “Leading with your heart is the utmost for this president. Fighting for Planned Parenthood and protecting women’s rights, this president has fought the good fight,” Mr. Weinstein said. “Recently in Aurora, we saw him put his arms around the people that needed him the most.” He added, “You can make the case that a he’s the Paul Newman of American presidents.”

Weinstein’s penchant for outspoken progressive activism has led to plenty of praise for his excellent qualities as a person. Just a few months ago Weinstein, along with Jay Z, received the inaugural “truthteller” award from LA Press Club:

“In our troubled times, we could not find two finer examples of integrity and social responsibility than Jay Z and Harvey Weinstein,” said Los Angeles Press Club president and NBC4 anchor Robert Kovacik in a statement.

Integrity. Social responsibility. Sexual harassment. One of these things is not like the others. And yet, it doesn’t seem to have crimped Weinstein’s style at all. At least not until now.

Weinstein has released a very brief statement saying he’s “caused a lot of pain” and adding that he’ll be taking a leave of absence to work on his issues. That’s a great option for a wealthy Hollywood mogul who appears to have paid off potential accusers with settlements over the years. He’ll just slink off to some resort while his team of PR gurus prepares for his return. Naturally, Weinstein’s crisis PR advice is being handled by people best known for their work in Democratic politics. From Buzzfeed:

Anita Dunn, a top Obama campaign staffer and former White House communications director, helped offer damage control advice for the Hollywood mogul… Sources said that Lanny Davis, former special counsel to Bill Clinton, has been central to the PR effort for Weinstein, who is a major Democratic donor. Dunn, for her part, is the managing director of SKDKnickerbocker, a Washington public affairs firm with deep ties to Democratic politics. She was communications director for Obama’s 2008 campaign and served briefly in his administration.

The bottom line here is that Weinstein won’t be crossed off Hollywood’s progressive power list over decades of (alleged) sexual harassment. The people who are still rooting for Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Joss Whedon and of course, Bill Clinton are not about to have a problem with this. Frankly, the bar is already so low for progressives in Hollywood that Weinstein will be back in action before you know it. If credible accounts of rape aren’t enough to take the sheen off someone’s character in tinsel town, a naked mogul pressing young women (who depend on him for employment) for “massages” sure isn’t going to do it. We’ve known for a long time now that Hollywood has two standards, the one it uses to attack conservative hypocrites and the one it uses to ignore the progressive ones.


The Latin American international investment and insurance marketplace is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with the demand for protection of assets amid volatile political and economic backdrops as necessary in 2020 as it ever was.
Across the Latin American region, the need for both products and advice is on the rise.
The inaugural International Investment Latin America Forum will look at where the industry is heading, the challenges and opportunities for the industry in the region, and how advisers, brokers and product providers are adapting to political and regulatory changes.The event will take place on Tuesday, 6th June , Miami.

The inaugural International Investment London Forum will look at where the industry is heading, the challenges and opportunities for the industry in the region, and how advisers, brokers and product providers are adapting to political and regulatory changes.The event will take place on Thursday, 30th April at the South Place Hotel, London.

The 21st International Investment Awards will take place on 8th October 2020, at One Whitehall Place, London. The II Awards are the longest-running event of their kind and last year saw a record number of categories and entries.

Fitch: HSH Nordbank privatisation plans ambitious

Following the EU Commission approval of a 2013 government intervention to rescue German Landesbank HSH Nordbank, ratings agency Fitch has warned that the planned timeline to privatise the lender is ambitious.

The German federal governments of Hamburg and Schleswig Holstein intervened in June 2013 with a €3bn rescue package to re-increase the guarantee ceiling of the German lender, which struggles with high levels of non-performing loans.

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As part of the agreement, HSH would be split into a holding company, taking over most of the guarantee fee payment obligations, and an operating subsidiary to run the banks current operations.

Moreover, the bank can sell at market value up to €6.2bn of bad assets, predominantly held in shipping debt, to its owners, the German federal authorities of Schleswig Holstein and Hamburg, and another €2bn to the market.

Finally, German authorities agreed to sell the operating subsidiary. However, according to Fitch, the timeline for the planned sale will be challenging.

“The conclusion of the state-aid case removes uncertainty for creditors for now as there is no requirement for further restructuring or to bail-in creditors before the bank’s privatisation. But HSH has little time to demonstrate the viability of its business model to potential buyers, which include other Landesbanken as well as private sector investors. It will only be able to reflect progress up to its end-2017 accounts. The short deadline is particularly challenging because a key business segment for the bank is shipping, a sector Fitch has on negative outlook” the rating agency stressed.

Fitch also highlights changes to the preliminary agreement proposed by the Commission, which would result in a €260m one-off payment by the operating subsidiary to the holding company. “This will slightly lower capital expectations at HSH as the amount would otherwise have been available to boost common equity Tier 1 capital” Fitch stresses.

The rating agency is also cautious of the prospects for selling the subsidiary to the private sector: “HSH’s ‘BBB-‘ Long-Term IDR is support driven and reflects our view that if privatisation does not take place, the wind-down would be orderly under the current ownership. The Negative Outlook reflects our expectation that institutional support from HSH’s current owners would no longer be forthcoming if HSH is privatised, and that any new private owners are unlikely to have the ability and propensity to provide any necessary support at a ‘BBB-‘ level.”

Consequently, it suggests a sale within the German public sector as a potential solution. However, this would raise the question of state aid again.

The report concludes by warning that if privatisation were to fail, the bank would have to cease new business activities and be wound down.


A well-meaning official manual for tourist industry workers, instructing them how to cater to the needs of foreigners during UK visits, has been accused of racially stereotyping the very people it aims to please.

VisitBritain, the government’s agency with a budget of nearly £30 million a year, which is tasked with bringing as many visitors to the UK as possible, releases a detailed inside guide on tourists from most destinations for use by British hoteliers and operators.

It does not appear that government officials considered that actual tourists might get their hands on the open-access documents – only to see themselves portrayed as demanding, irrational, and odd in very country-specific ways.

For example, Russians “may come across as cold and not very open or polite”, while “spending more than they can afford” during their sojourn to the UK.

This “tall nation” will be disappointed by the size of hotel rooms in London, so any hoteliers are advised that the “ceilings and doorways should better be of a suitable height.”

The “big bread lovers” and “hearty eaters” are also to be served “preferably brown bread” with the three hot meals a day that they expect.

While Russia’s voracious giants present one set of demands, the easily-flustered Chinese are an entirely different proposition.

Apparently, Chinese tourists dislike ghost stories, “beds that are too soft”, and four poster beds (which are said to lead to “ghostly encounters”). They also hate talking about money, and any fillet meats “which are considered to be uninteresting foods”. Instead the Chinese will “recourse” to “comfy” meals such as “stir-fried leafy vegetable” and “spicy food”.

Indians “have a tendency to change their minds quite frequently”, but not when it comes to bargaining, which they will engage in “whenever they see an opportunity”.

They are also “not confident drivers”, like to ask “unnerving personal questions” (but in good faith) and shun credit cards because they bring “temptation” and are “difficult to understand”.

While it is unsurprising that ‘exotic’ tourists are described in a striking light, those from more familiar cultures apparently pose their own problems.

The French are a “private people” who don’t “smile or make eye contact with strangers”, but nonetheless “won’t hesitate to challenge you or complain if something is not to their satisfaction”.

Germans can come across as “demanding, aggressive and rude”. They also like “to plan in advance” and collect “detailed information on all activities” as well as being obsessed with “cleanliness”.

And Australians are “sarcastic”, “intolerant” due to long flights, and almost never tip “unless the service was exceptional” for cultural reasons.

Unsurprisingly, the official documents have caused a stir after being republished by local newspapers in many of the countries that received an unflattering write-up. More than one newspaper pointed out that the instructions may as well have been written by Basil Fawlty the hotelier from the classic 1970s sitcom, famous for failing to hide his prejudices towards the vast majority of his customers, particularly those hailing from abroad.

But VisitBritain, which says that more than 30 million foreigners visited the UK last year, spending more than £20 billion, has defended the guide, saying it has been an important part in making the country a top destination.

“Our market intelligence reports provide an unrivalled source of information on inbound tourism, allowing British businesses to gain an invaluable insight on key markets globally,” said VisitBritain’s marketing director Joss Croft in a statement.


Dash, the privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has announced that it has formed an alliance with Ireland-based discount gift card platform BitCart to allow its users access to online savings at Amazon and hotels.com (the latter expected soon).

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Dash VP of Business Development Daniel Diaz said: “One of the most important things we need to do to help cryptocurrency adoption grow is to give potential users a strong reason to overcome the technical hurdles and start using digital currencies every day. Offering a 20% discount on Amazon purchases is a powerful incentive for new users to try Dash out, learn about it, and most importantly, start realizing its benefits.”

Suggested articles ForexTB Set to Launch New Innovative Trading PlatformGo to article >>

CEO of BitCart Graham de Barra said: “Dash is an obvious addition to our payment options due to its scalability. It is the superior cryptocurrency for payments over any other cryptocurrency. There is nothing more exciting for me than the decentralization of the global finance system, which is currently inefficient and riddled with fraud. Dash allows our merchant platform to completely eliminate the chance of chargebacks, and it opens up more options to anyone in the world.”

“Customers can be from anywhere in the world, but currently most users are predominantly from the USA and Asia. With Bitcoin falling to 66% of the total market share, and Dash recently climbing to the fifth most valuable cryptocurrency, I have no doubt that our customer-base will increase with this implementation,” de Barra concluded.

Additionally, popular payments plugin CryptoWoo has also integrated Dash. This means that e-commerce websites that implement the plugin can now accept Dash as a method of payment, alongside Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.

Finally, Venezuela-based cryptocurrency exchange CryptoBuyer has completed its integration of Dash. Now Venezuelans can use Dash and Bitcoin to make remittances, top up cell phones and recharge debit cards.


Earl's Court is the location of the famous exhibition centre, where massive events such as award ceremonies, sports, fashion and music events are held. It is one of the largest indoor arenas in the country. This draws many people to the area, and visitors from all over the world come to stay here regularly. The streets are lined with grand white town houses, bars and restaurants, making it the perfect place to bring a date.

If you are a discerning gentleman looking for some company, simply have a look online for 'Escorts London Earl's Court' and browse through the portfolios of gorgeous women. Just like a fantasy come true, you can choose the girl you are most attracted to, call the agency and book a date with her. At V London Escorts, we take great care in selecting only the highest calibre of ladies who would make the very best companions for you. They are happy to visit you either at your place of residence or any hotel, and they will make sure that your time together is thoroughly enjoyable. We only allow the most beautiful, sensual and intelligent girls to represent our agency so you can be assured that whomever you choose as your companion will be first class.

Before the Norman Conquest, Earl's Court was a rural area covered in green fields. Today it is a built up district that is rapidly developing. In the last decade, property prices have increased steadily, raising the tone of the area. If you live here, 'escorts London Earl's Court' are the most exciting way to spend your time. Within an hour of calling the booking agency, you could be in the company of a genuine beauty - and she will want to show you a good time. You are sure to enjoy an Earl's Court escort's fabulous companionship. However if you are one of the thousands who visit, why not hire an escort to keep you company in your hotel?

If you are interested in booking escorts London Earls Court, call V London Escorts. We cater to every man's taste, and your chosen girl will be brought to your door at a time to suit your schedule. There really is no better way to spend your time! There are plenty of attractions in nearby Kensington High Street and Hyde Park, so if you prefer to go out you will not be short of things to do. Earl's Court escorts are hugely popular and make wonderful companions.


Tag Archives: Hyper Japan 2013

Amsterdam Hotel London – A stylish place to stay close to the Exhibition

For fans of Japanese culture – whether it’s the music, arts, fashion or food, Hyper Japan is the event of the year. Bringing together the best of Japan into one exciting event at London’s Earls Court, Hyper Japan is an incredible mixture of entertaining acts, fascinating insights into Japanese arts, inspiring and mindboggling fashions, and delicious treats to try out and enjoy.

All of this – and so much more, taking place right in the heart of London, means that this is an enormously popular event, attracting visitors from all over the city, the UK and further afield. And for those coming from outside London, having a comfortable and stylish place to stay close to the exhibition is vital – which is why The Amsterdam Hotel is a great pick for visitors to Hyper Japan. Just a short distance away, comfortably furnished and easy to get to – you can spend more time on enjoying yourself at London’s top exhibition of Japanese culture – rather than looking for your hotel! Continue reading →


Lip synchronising software, beachwear designed for colostomy bag-wearers and a cattle monitoring computer system have been named Scotland’s top inventions.

Eighty-three years after the inventor of television John Logie Baird changed the world by transmitting images from London to Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel, today’s leading Scottish innovators and inventors were honoured at the hotel in a ceremony.

The men, who both carried out research at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics before they set up their company, have combined speech technology and computer animation to produce a high-quality, lip synchronisation solution for the video games industry.

The software could save the gaming industry billions by transforming the process of lip syncing.

Mr Berger said: “This award represents a lot to us. Scotland has proven to be a great place to go into business. Not only is the video game industry in Scotland world-leading, but there is also a network of support for innovation here that is second to none, and the John Logie Baird Award captures the essence of that.”

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