Nights out

[prettyxcool]

Emerald Street really knows how to hold an event. I finally won one of their film club nights, and it was held at NBC Studios, with loads of food and drinks, and packets of popchips to take away! We had mini steak rolls, bbq chicken skewers, southern fried shrimps, home cured salmon canapes, tomato and herb tarts, vanilla and strawberry milkshake. And the good thing is that they kept topping up, as soon as one plate was finished, another materialised. Other event organisers, please note, this is how it is done!

Gosh what a grim film Zero Dark Thirty is, directed by Kathryn Bigelow of Hurt Locker fame, so I expected her trademark tension direction, but the film lacked character, I could not identify with the CIA agent, who gave up her life to hunt Bin Laden down. However, the series of events and storming of the house was quite engrossing, although the torture methods were horrific. 7/10

[prettyxcool]

Went to Revenge Wears Prada Book Launch, and Q&A with Lauren Weisberger. It 10 years since her last book, and she is still so young. Lovely to see ritamistry and meet martadelas there! The room for the drinks and canapes is much too small for the amount of people there and, as usual, Charlotte Street Hotel do not provide much food, although what you do have is delicious!

The goody bag is great though:

[prettyxcool]

At a last minute's invite, I went to Marriott's Road Show last night at Bounce in Chancery Lane, a famous sports bar for ping pong! The hospitality was great, plates and plates were brought out on to the long tables and everyone can help themselves. As soon as one plate was emptied, another appeared, no fighting for tiny nibbles! There were three types of pizzas, melon and parma ham on a stick, more parma ham rolled up on a stick, salmon on rye bread, mushroom canapes on crusty toast, lamb meatballs in spicy tomato sauce. There were bottles of beer in buckets on the tables to help yourselves from and wine from the bar. There were loads of ping pong table to have a game on, which was really fun. Ping pong in high heels, always a first time! At 7.30pm, an amazing prize draw was drawn.
- 5 nights at the wonderful Residence Inn Central Park New York including New Years Eve
- Breakfast included
- Return flights with United Airlines
Alas, I did not win, but I was able to leave for my film in plenty of time knowing I had not missed the draw, as the evening goes on until 9.30pm, and no one expected the draw to be drawn so early on in the evening. Bounce is right on the Central Line, the perfect line to get to Oxford Circus and the Courthouse Hotel.

Now that is what I call a perfect evening out, complimentary wined and dined and then a free film, after a long hard, busy day at work! I also came away with a lovely Marriott's tote bag and a sample body lotion, new toiletries they were introducing in their hotels to appeal to the younger clients, and a shopping cart keyring, and a lovely dangling eyes keyring from Istanbul to ward of evil eyes!

[prettyxcool]

Haha, noticed it is exactly a year since I posted on here.

Went tonight to the BP Big Screens 2014 live broadcast of Rigoletto from the Royal Opera House at Trafalgar Square tonight. The last one of this season being screened all over the UK. I missed out on the others, as I totally forgot about this event. Noticed that Aberdeen is not on the list for this one!

Love opera and this was a way to see it without any costs! On entering the area reserved for the free screening, we were given a brochure and an inflatable cushion to sit on, but we took our own festival seating which, is of course more comfortable to sit on as it has a back. It was a lovely atmosphere and everyone took a picnic to eat while they waited for the opera to start.

The opera was Verdi's Rigoletto. The music and singing was absolutely wonderful. Such an emotional opera too. The lead singer, Eri Nakamura was incredible with her high notes. She was a finalist in 2009 Cardiff Singer of the World. A very enjoyable evening watching a live performance outdoors, on a really balmy night.

[Sunny Saver]

If you love opera and Verdi, you should go and see Il due Foscari in November at the ROH. Placido Domingo will be in it and given that he's 73, how many more operas is he going to be in?

You might also enjoy Il Barbiere di Siviglia, which we saw last night. A much lighter opera than Verdi and very funny!! One of the funniest interpretations I've seen of this opera to date. The guy who sang the part of Figaro, Lucas Meachem, was enormous, very tall and big built. What a voice!

It was a hot/muggy there though (even though it's supposed to be air conditioned). The overture hadn't finished and OH said he felt unwell. He left shortly after to get some air. But the staff were good and let him watch from a box when he returned.

The irritations that happen at the cinema were there too last night. I was quite irritated by the couple sitting behind us - a Chinese lady and an elderly gentlemen. Just in case you are on this site and need help identifying yourself, you b*ght the tickets only two weeks ago and you like to be spontaneous and doing this is your only chance at being spontaneous. You and your friend also talked intermittently though the opera, with your friend laughing like a seal and commenting 'it's comedy'. Yes, we know it's comedy. We didn't need your commentary.

The tall guy in front kept moving his head, which meant I had to keep moving mine too to see. I may have to nick a kiddie's booster seat for next time :).

On a different note, I won tickets to a Chrissie Hynde 'gig'. When the guy rang to tell me, I'd asked how long it would last. He said 'an hour'. An hour, my arse. She sang four songs and it lasted 20 minutes. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered. She sang three from her new album and one old song.

But as my mother said, she's getting old now, perhaps she didn't have the energy to sing more than four.

I also didn't appreciate the parting comment of one of her musicians (I think) or maybe someone from the radio station, not sure which. But as we clapped at the end, someone shouted 'Chrissie Hynde says F**K OFF!'. Well you can f**k off too, I won't waste my time again.

[prettyxcool]

Yes, I do love the opera and had the fortune to see quite a lot when I worked at a corporate company who ballot their corporate seats when they were not entertaining clients Thanks for the recommendations, Sunny Saver, will look out for those!

What a shame when people talk or have a running commentary and spoil it for others, so inconsiderate and selfish. I also sat behind a guy once whose head was like a pendulum! I was not sure if it was an illness, so did not say anything.

What a terrible experience at the Chrissie Hynde gig. I would have been very unhappy if I had pa*d to hear 4 songs! And how unappreciative, well she won't have many fans left, and serves her right!

[Sunny Saver]

Chrissie Hynde: it was a freebie for all.

Opera: The guy in front of me didn't have an illness. At one point his gf rested her head on his shoulder and he put his head on top (ahhhhhhh) and I was hoping they'd stay that way, but alas.... I had an urge to put my hands on each side of his head and say 'keep still'. Likewise, I had an urge to tell the two people behind to 'keep fu*king quiet'.

[asamaic]

What a shame when people talk or have a running commentary and spoil it for others, so inconsiderate and selfish.

Speaking of people talking when they shouldn't, I went to see a play on Saturday night and the audience did not shut up! There were offenders coming from at least three parts of the audience and they were all middle-aged and above, so old enough to know better. One of them even filled in a dramatic pause. Kid ye not.

I really wish Beate had been there, she'd have shut them up one way or another.

[prettyxcool]

I am always interested in anything about Marilyn Monroe, so when I heard my friend's friend wrote this play Hello Norma Jeane, I immediately wanted to go to the opening night, unfortunately, I was away and only just managed to catch it this Sunday, it is only showing on a Sunday at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington.

What a gem of a place the pub and theatre is, in the middle of Upper Street. A really nice pub with a theatre at the back. The theatre is independent to the Young's pub we were told by the Bookings Manager who introduced the theatre and the show, Hello Norma Jeane, an interesting concept and story regarding the equally interesting life of Marilyn Monroe, written by a brilliant writer, Dylan Costello. Well worth catching, only two more shows to go, until 2 November, especially as the wonderful 'Allo 'Allo star, Vicki Michelle stars in it, plus a host of really good actors who make up the rest of the cast, who are all brilliant in their performances. What is also good is the seats are comfortable for a small theatre.

The theatre is very intimate, so you feel that you are in the show as you are so close to the actors. Also an unexpected treat is they actually have delicious ice cream in the interval, just like at the West End theatres!

Another nice thing is after the show you can have a drink in the pub and meet the actors. Although, Vicki Michelle did not remember me, I remembered meeting her at the Run for Your Wife premiere, which her daughter stars in it. All in all a very friendly place, in a convenient location, and if you add a good show, you would get a thoroughly enjoyable evening out.

Speaking of people talking when they shouldn't, I went to see a play on Saturday night and the audience did not shut up! There were offenders coming from at least three parts of the audience and they were all middle-aged and above, so old enough to know better. One of them even filled in a dramatic pause. Kid ye not.

I really wish Beate had been there, she'd have shut them up one way or another.

Yes, why do they rustle sweet wrappers especially during a quiet bit too, when it is a small theatre, it is even more annoying. Surprised the actors could concentrate and not tell them to be quiet!

[prettyxcool]

Had a brilliant two nights out thanks to SFF!

Last night's Michael Ball's If Everyone Was Listening UK Tour at the Hammersmith Apollo was a great show, brilliant entertainment. He sang his heart out, a mix of rock classics, well known tunes and even some country. Songs from theatre shows like Les Miserable and Phantom of the Opera, even Katy Perry's Roar!


Tonight's final night of Fashion Victim - The Musical at The Mayfair Hotel (they turned the screening room into a theatre!) was so camp and funny that I laughed so much, my face ached!