Tea for three? Priceless (or $27,100)
If you had the cash, high tea with ex-President Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu is a snip at just over $27,000. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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A site for global citizens interested in life, style and the nexus of the two from the POV of a six continent chickIf you had the cash, high tea with ex-President Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu is a snip at just over $27,000. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Pair a wonderful summer afternoon with a stroll through Chelsea, calorie-killer cookies from City Bakery (as in the chocolate fudge cookie has a cookie layer sandwiching solid chocolate -- it's insane! Don't eat this alone!!) followed by Keeanu on the big screen in "Scanner Darkly" at the Landmark Sunshine Theatre on the Lower East Side. It doesn't get much better than this... except if you end the evening with drinks at "The Elephant" and dinner at "Prune." That's weekend perfection.
For those who don't already know it, there is only one "star" that I would qualify as being a screaming fan of, and that would be Keanu Reeves. Don't mistake me for being one of these recent 'Matrix' adorees, my Keanu fix goes back 20-plus years to the days of 'Bill and Ted' and 'My Own Private Idaho.'
There's nothing like coming back to your first day of work and heading out to a gala awards show. Especially when it's an evening to honour the results of teamwork in an area close to one's professional heart: the internet. In this case, it was The Webby Award. (See a few images from the evening here.)
Okay, that's a lie, seeing as my shoulders were at least five feet above his and I was safely entombed like tinned tuna. Remember the movie train spotting? Well, this was celebrity bus spotting. Gere was getting out of his limo and doing the celeb-studded red carpet arrival; I was gawking from the MTA bus.
Another day, another celebrity, or so it seems to be lately. This morning it was tennis superstar, Roger Federer, and at midday, Shakira strode the halls. (You might remember it was only last week that Angelique Kidjo and Youssou N'Dour stopped by.)
Continue reading "Roger Federer makes landfall, but no Shakira sighting" »
If I had any influence, media coverage of "the stars" wouldn't be weighted so heavily in favour of their outrageous behaviour, but rather on their civility. After all, today, bizarre celebrity behaviour appears to be the norm, while civility seems to be the truly abberrant quality.
And if that were the criteria for my own personal "Us Weekly," then the pair of celestials I met yesterday would certainly be up there in the top ranks.
A super-friendly group of four was walking along the corridor yesterday afternoon. We greeted each other heartily and informally, like saying hello to someone you've met before but just can't place, so you chat about the wonderful Spring weather.
That is until you walk further down the corridor because you happen to be heading in the same direction and witness a formal introduction... to Youssou N'Dour.
As a lover of this pioneering Senegalese artist's music, I was shocked. I simply didn't recognize the singer out of the only context I've ever seen him -- in concert and wearing traditional clothes. And what I loved about this brief brush was the fact that he came across completely unaffected, interested in reaching out to know you.
My other entry to the list would be the Beninese singer/songwriter, Angelique Kidjo, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting a few times over a few years under different circumstances. Yet every time I see her, what strikes me is her warmth and openness. She exudes an incredible energy, a positive vibe, and these qualities seem remarkably constant whether you meet her before or after a concert, a formal circumstance, or sharing the ladies room.
Come to think of it, these are super star qualities we should all be more eager to acquire than poor imitations of celebrity wardrobes or tiny dogs named Tinkerbell.
Technorati tags: Celebrities Youssou N'Dour Angelique Kidjo
If you're into Asian pop culture, there are certainly two Chans that you would know. One, martial arts film star Jackie Chan. The other, chart-topping singer, Agnes Chan. I've been fortunate enough to meet both, and last night they star-spangled my evening again at a reception in New York to launch the latter Chan's new album, "Forget Yourself" in the US.