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12TH Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Talent Retreat Alan Bronstein – Color: The Rarest of All?

The past few months have been filled with award shows ranging from the American Music Awards to the Golden Globes. And if you have been paying attention to the media at all, it has become obvious that our celebrities are walking away with more than just trophies. We recently reviewed an award event that gave away 40,000.00 per gift bag per celebrity who attended. Well, the SAG Awards is no different. January 28, 2006, I visited the Shrine Auditorium backstage the day before the big event, and caught a glimpse of what our Hollywood royalty would be getting this time.

There were only a select few gifting for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, but these goody bags carried a lot of weight. There were perfume, skincare, makeup, laser eye surgery gift cards, CD/DVD players, etc…. But the most exquisite and rarest present of all were fancy colored diamonds. I spoke with Alan Bronstein, the color diamond expert who is among the world’s most trusted advisors of colored diamonds to leading jewelers, fine jewelry designers, and private investors. He is the respected curator of the world’s most famous natural fancy colored diamond collections, the Aurora Collection and the Butterfly of Peace Collection. He lectures widely ranging from the United Nations to the New York University, and he has published two seminal books, Collecting and Classifying Colored Diamonds – An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection and Forever Brilliant: The Aurora Collection of Colored Diamonds. Alan explained just how rare and precious these gems really are.

Alan Bronstein has worked in the diamond business for 25 years as a diamond broker in the diamond business. Somebody came along with a yellow diamond, which was beyond his understanding. It changed the whole course of his career in terms of what he wanted to do with his life. He decided that he wanted to focus on these rarest of diamonds that existed in the world. He had never known that diamonds came in colors (most people don’t know). It became his mission to explain to people that diamonds do exist in different colors: yellow, pink, blue, orange, and green. Honored with such an experience, he wanted to let other people know that they existed, too. So, in the process of the last 25 years, he made a diamond collection, which has been in the Museum of Natural History in New York for the last 16 years. It is considered the finest diamond collection in the world. This has become Alan’s passion and his dream. He has become the advisor and spokesperson for the Natural Colored Diamond Association, an organization that wants to get the message out that diamonds come in different colors, that they’re made by nature, and that they can also be made by man.

“We want to differentiate, and we want to let people know that there’s a difference between natural colored diamonds that come out of the earth (that were made by Mother Nature), and something that can be created in the lab by mankind, which you can make as many as possible and are not rare at all. I want to give you that same experience I had when I first saw the first colored diamond. I was so awestruck, and I wondered what I was looking at and how it came to be. It became my desire to learn as much as possible about fancy colored diamonds.”

Alan was holding a necklace that had pink, blue and yellow diamonds. He put it in my hand and told me that this was the way they came out of the earth: they were cut by man, but created by God. When I looked at the diamonds for the first time, I was speechless. They were exquisite. I had no words to describe the beauty I was holding. It was literally breathtaking.

“The public does not know that diamonds exist in colors. For the most part, they know that diamonds are colorless objects. These are 99% of what exists in diamonds. One of the reasons that people don’t know that color diamonds exist is because they are so rare. They come in every color that nature has created flowers, seashells, and butterflies. That’s the beauty of nature. Nature has no limitations. There are 100 different brown, bronze, walnut and chocolate, cognac, and champagne colored diamonds. We brought to the SAG Awards for the presenters and award winners a bronze colored diamond in a necklace that we will be gifting the presenters and award winners.”

Fancy colored diamonds are so unique that most people will never get to experience them in their lifetime, unless of course, they see them in a jewelry store or museum. It’s not a terrible thing that people should have to spend a fortune on fancy colored diamonds, but to at least know that they exist in nature is Alan’s goal, to raise the consciousness of those who might not have known otherwise.

“I see it like a documentary. If somebody makes a film and takes me 2 miles down into the ocean and I see fish that I had never seen before, it would be my challenge to bring to the public something they might not have been able to experience.”

Even though these diamonds are pricey, Alan shows us the one silver lining in his collection. The chocolate or cognac colored diamonds which are in the orange and brown families, are actually affordable to the public. He wants to bring that to consumers’ attention so that they have options. When they go into jewelry stores, they might be able to buy something different than the white diamonds that they’re used to.

Fancy colored diamonds can cost a million dollars a karat for very rare green or red diamonds. They do not have to be very big either. It can be a 1-karat stone, which is not really that big, costing upwards of 1 million dollars. Alan emphasizes that the average person will not see these particular diamonds, but someone who knows what he/she is looking at will have the opportunity to see them. He wants to educate people so that they will know what they are looking at when they do see them.

“For every 10,000 colorless diamonds that exist, there might be one colored diamond. This is a number that has been around for the last twenty-five years. They are the most beautiful gemstones in the world. This is the trend that is taking place in the jewelry market. Fancy colored diamonds is the trend at the higher end, and we want to be able to show people that they are also available in modest prices from $1,000.00 to $5,000.00, which is affordable and in different colors. These lower priced diamonds can be just as beautiful also.

“People looking for fancy colored diamonds, can go into their local jeweler and ask for them. If that store doesn’t carry them, that jeweler should be able to make them available for their customer. I think in the coming years, you’re going to see a lot more of the fashion jewelry with fancy colored diamonds in all stores.

“Cartier, Harry Winston, Van Cleef and Arpels, Graf carry the more valuable stones. The champagne and cognac colors can be found at Zales, Bailey Banks and Biddle, Fortunoff, and the metropolitan areas. Most mom and pop stores, AGS (American Gem Society stores), do have something to show in fancy colored diamonds. Most people who walk into jewelry stores walk past them because they have no knowledge of what they are looking at. It’s very hard for people to ask questions about something if they don’t even know what it is they’re looking at.”

Alan feels that the jewelers need to start educating the customer that these gems do exist. Then you will see how the trend will take off with fancy colored diamonds.

I was curious about actually finding these diamonds in their raw form. I asked him in which areas in the world can these particular diamonds be found.

“Most blue and yellow diamonds are found in South Africa. Purple diamonds are found in Russia. Pink diamonds are predominantly found in Australia, as well as champagne, bronze, and cognac diamonds. Australia is the major source of fancy colored diamonds. Violet diamonds, which are extremely rare, are also found in Australia. Australia seems to be a place in the earth where there certain elements and formations of the ground. Thoses are where the rare colors in diamonds exist. So, Australia and South Africa are the major places where fancy colored diamonds are found.”

The collection of diamonds that Alan referred to basically sits in museums. It’s not set in jewelry, and has taken twenty-five years to assemble. It has been an ongoing project. It can be seen in the London Natural History Museum. This rare diamond collection tours the world, and goes to different museums.

“The Natural Color Diamond Association will be having an ‘over the top’ jewelry collection at the Oscars this year, and we should be dressing quite a few stars. We will be at the Mondrion Hotel.

“Some of the companies that specialize in setting these diamonds are Diatraco in New York; the company that has put together the bronze colored gift is called Mouawad out of New York. This is the company that created the 10,000.00 brassiere that Tyra Banks wore in her final Victoria Secret Runway show last year. It’s an example how diamonds do not have to be big, or valuable to be beautiful. We are very proud of this piece. We want to spread the message that, Brown, bronze and cognac diamonds are very chic too wear.”

Alan put the necklace set with a few brown diamonds in my hand. Even though the gems themselves were quite small, they really stood out as unique.

“Fancy colored diamonds are rare, beautiful, and chic. We want people to be aware that they exist.”

To learn more about fancy colored diamonds, visit: www.ncdia.com.

(Other gift items selected for the Talent Retreat included:
Amouge, Beverly Hills Physician.com, Coby Electronics, Lamarthe USA, LeVian Time®, Marchon Eyewear, PHYTO, Shu Uemura, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts French Polynesia.)

Interviewed and written by Kaylene Peoples

Michael Isaacson of Tulliano – Proving That Through the Years, Good Taste Combined with Hard Work Pays Off Big!

Michael Isaacson of Tulliano – Proving That Through the Years, Good Taste Combined with Hard Work Pays Off Big!

A visit to Tulliano will do most entrepreneurs a world of good. They will see what a combination of hard work, talent, and exacting taste can get them, and in Michael Isaascon’s case—a lot of money, and extreme satisfaction.

I met Michael, the exclusive founder and designer of Tulliano, last year. He donated some of his garments for a film. The wardrobe department needed upscale attire. When I visited Tulliano and was given a brief tour of the buzzing showroom, there were so many options. And back then Michael gave me his energetic rundown of his line that season. The shirts and pants possessed an understated classiness, refinement, sophistication of the mature, well-traveled, well-cultured male; and I knew that Agenda Magazine would be featuring this inspired designer one season.

Very recently, a day before Las Vegas’s Magic Show, Michael took the time to give me the grand tour of his warehouse while planning to leave the very next day. Hundreds of packaged boxes were laid out everywhere. There were aisles upon aisles of shirts, pants, sweaters, etc. Michael eagerly showed me how exclusive his designs were.

This is boiled wool. I’m one of the few people who manufacture it.

Boiled wool is a version of felted wool, but more dense usually shrunken knit fabric. Boiled wool is a softer drape than wool felt (True felt doesn’t use any bonding agents—the fibers matte together from friction and pressure).

—Sewing Q&A, Marla Stefanellii—

I hadn’t seen much boiled wool in my experience.

He had me feel the fabrics and showed me the multiple shirt and pant combinations. We walked down one aisle where pre-filled orders were stacked one on top of the other while a truck had just pulled away from the loading dock, carrying pallets of orders.

My daughter and I were touring Rome. When I saw this sign I asked our tour guide what it meant. He said, “It comes from the Roman God Tullio.” In the Roman days they broughtwater to the mountain from Rome by way of a viaduct [a bridge], which was called a Tulliano. So that’s what it means. I took pictures of a lot of names, but that particular one stayed. I registered the name Tullio, too.

Besides working really hard, what advice would you give to someone who is starting a business?

Become a doctor! (He laughs). You have to have a passion for what you do. You have to love what you do when you get up in the morning. If you don’t, then you just have a job. You have to have some ability to go with it, but you have to be driven, and not everybody’s driven.

Tulliano can be found at retailers all over the world. Their warehouse is located at 1375 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90021. For more information contact them at 213-749-3388.

Interview by Kaylene Peoples

The Devil Wears Prada – Author Lauren Weisberger

The Devil Wears Prada
Lauren Weisberger

Make a pact with the devil; you lose! Too late to save her relationship with her boyfriend, Andrea learns this hard lesson. The devil wears Prada! Amanda Priestly, editor in chief of Runway, a world famous fashion magazine based in New York, is the boss from hell, the villain of Lauren Weisberger’s best selling novel, now a best selling movie, The Devil Wears Prada.

Andrea Sachs, twenty-three year-old heroine and right out of college, takes a job as assistant to the world famous Amanda Priestly for one year in hopes of the experience of this job—a job a million girls would die for—leading to a job writing for The New Yorker, her lifelong dream. Her job requires her being on call literally twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, leaving her no time for family and friends. She spends her day, an average of fourteen hours each, running errands, fetching Starbucks, ordering one meal after another…. Never a hello or a thank you nor even deigning to look at Andrea, Amanda treats her worse than a slave.

After nearly a year of neglect, her boyfriend Alex can take no more of the broken dates, missed or unreturned phone calls, and neglect of family and friends. Her best friend since eighth grade is Lily, who has no family but hers and needs her as her life spirals downward under the pressure of her doctorial program. While Andrea is in Paris as Miranda’s lackey, Lily ends up in the hospital, badly injured in an automobile accident while driving under the influence—Alex, a very sensitive elementary school teacher, had tried to warn Andrea that her friend was drinking too much and needed her help. Alex expects her home immediately, but Andrea cannot leave Miranda because she would be fired and miss out on the recommendation to The New Yorker Miranda has just promised her at the end of her year as Miranda’s assistant. She is almost there, just one more month to go.

But Miranda’s worsening treatment of her makes her realize what is really important to her, and throwing caution to the wind, she returns home. Having recognized the Stockholm Syndrome in Emily, another of Miranda’s assistants and Andrea’s overseer and trainer, she realized that like everyone else who worked for Miranda, she herself is beginning to show signs of that syndrome, where the victim identifies with his/her captor; for example, Emily, Miranda’s senior assistant, refuses to criticize her even when she has been so poorly treated she’s in tears. It takes Miranda herself comparing Andrea to her when she was young to wake Andrea up. Seeing herself thirty years later, lonely and unloved like Miranda is all she needs to try to get back her real self.

But is it too late, especially too late to save her relationship with her boyfriend? Make a pact with the devil…. Did she lose Alex? In spite of the hoped for ironic twist, I fear the inevitable. Yet what a great book! I am glad that I chose to read it instead of seeing the movie.

Revieded by Lee L. Peoples

November 2009 Face of the Month – Niki Dean

Niki Dean, you wore cutoffs last summer, and we drove the jeep down to the lake with a guitar. It was perfect! I understand you lived in Canada?

Yes, I grew up in Canada, but spent my early childhood in Grenoble, France, a beautiful city at the foothills of the French Alps. It’s known as the Capital of the Alps.

French was my first language until we moved to Canada. I was just turning ten. But I feel like I have since become a citizen of the world.

Tell me about when and where you born?

I was born September 18 th . I’m a Virgo. I was a child of the 90s. I went to school in Ottawa and was the only non blond-hair-blue-eyed kid in my school. Ottawa was considered to be multicultural, and I had this awful mushroom haircut . . . this bowl haircut, which is only cute now in retrospect.

But you got out of Ottawa . . .

After a year, I moved to Toronto, and that’s where I really began to grow up in Canada. Although I started traveling the world modeling when I was16 and found myself going all over Asia, Europe, and South Africa.

So finding yourself . . .

I grew up as a bit of an outsider, living for 90s rock music. I started painting, sculpting, acting, and just being creative. I realized I was the freest when I was being creative. I was always fond of people and all aspects of them, hence why I love acting, and I always seem to be painting human figures, particularly women.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Inner turbulence.

What do you want to be?

Creative.

What qualities do you most like in a man?

Passion and integrity.

What is your favorite drug?

B-12.

What in your mind would be the greatest misfortune?

To never have loved or been loved.

Who are your favorite painters?

[I like] Amedeo Modigliani, Andre Berton, Edvard Munch, and Claude Monet.

What do you most dislike?

Stupidity.

What is your present state of mind?

Free.

Motto?

. . . In Latin I think it’s,

“Expectare nihilum,

. . . In Latin I think it’s,

timere nullum,

sum liber”

“Expect nothing,

fear no one,

be free.”

By Studio 838
Ash Gupta

An Eco-Riddle – A Toadbag

AN ECO-RIDDLE:

What helps you GO GREEN and carries all your stuff?

A ToadBag!

These adorable, environmentally-friendly 100% cotton tote bags are uber-hip (make that uber-hop) when you’re shopping or schlepping. And they help you GO GREEN in 3 ways:

1) They replace those oh-so-nasty plastic supermarket bags that damage the environment.

2) Each purchase provides a contribution to Amphibian Ark – an international organization dedicated to saving 3000 species of frogs in danger of extinction!

3) One side of the bag features 5 funny green frogs: Count Frogula, Sir Frogalot, The Bully Frog, The Godfrogger and Arnold Shwarzenhopper!

The other side carries the message: NEVER KISS A FROG – Save One Instead!

So contrary to what Kermit said – now its easy being GREEN! Just click on the ToadBag at www.neverkissafrog.com. Only $19.99 and you’re a Triple Green Gal!

Oh yeah, and if you’re heading to the beach, you might want to stash some funsummer reading in it – Marilyn Anderson’s smart and savvy book, “Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp.”

It’ll help you get rid of human frogs while you’re saving the real ones! Remember, if you think a frog will turn into a prince – FROGGEDABOUDIT!

UCLA Live presents DAVID SEDARIS!

Author, radio star and humorist David Sedaris packed Royce Hall on Saturday, June 28th in the final event of UCLA Live’s 2007-2008 season. It was a hilarious evening, featuring David reading new work and a selection of essays from his best-selling books, excerpts from The New Yorker and even his diary! The sold-out audience cheered as Mr. Sedaris took the stage, and the enthusiasm continued all night with constant laughs.

In addition to his published materials, Sedaris treated us to some essays that “don’t work” in print, such as a piece on one of his old teachers who pronounced “Nicaragua” in such a way that David would keep asking questions that required it to be the answer! His teacher pronounced it rolling the “r” and using the utmost care and Latino flair. David loved to hear him say “Nicaragua” over and over—and as he related the story, the audience did, too!

David has an engaging and quirky quality when he reads his essays, which are intelligent, sardonic (and just downright funny!) observations on the things he goes through in life. His piece on being seated in Business Elite on a flight from France to the U.S., sitting next to a Polish man sobbing over the death of his mother would probably make her turn over in her grave… laughing!

Sedaris’ new collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, has just been published. David is on a multi-city tour around the country, usually in a different city every day, except for the big cities, where he spends two nights. He told us that at book store signings he has sat as long as nine hours autographing for his loyal fans.

Some of his other bestsellers include Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. He is also an award-winning playwright and recipient of a Thurber Prize for American Humor. David’s original radio pieces can often be heard on “This American Life,” distributed nationally by Public Radio International.

Sedaris’ performance marked the end of a wonderful season for UCLA Live. Their new nine-month season will run from October 1, 2008 to June 20, 2009, and is set to include 94 performances, covering an eclectic variety of genres. Single events and nine series will feature theater, dance, spoken word, family, and music ranging from classical, jazz, and world to folk, roots, and electronica.

Audiences can look forward to extraordinary events such as evenings with Pulitzer Prize-winning literary icons Edward Albee and John Updike; the Southern California premiere of Kronos Quartet’s moving 9/11 commemoration “Awakening”; superstar Chinese pianist Lang Lang; the return of legendary barefoot diva Césaria Évora; “A Romantic Evening in Old Mexico” with Linda Ronstadt and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano; the reunion of former Miles Davis bandmates Chick Corea and John McLaughlin; and a UCLA Live exclusive event with director Werner Herzog. In addition, one of the most anticipated offerings is the Seventh Annual International Theatre Festival.

Information on these and all events, performances, dates, and ticket prices can be found at: www.uclalive.org.

Article by Marilyn Anderson

SECRETS OF THE TRADE

By Marilyn Anderson

The World Premiere of Jonathan Tolins’ “Secrets of the Trade” at the award-winning Black Dahlia Theater in the gentrifying Pico District is a drama well worth seeing.

Tolins’ new work is a powerful and sentimental insider’s journey down Broadway that helps us understand universal human themes through the eyes of gay men, who purportedly dominate the theatre industry.

John Glover gives a stellar performance as pompous veteran writer/director Martin Kerner, agreeing to meet a teen-age fan years after receiving the teen-ager’s flowery letter. We’re not sure why, but unfulfilled expectations are Kerner’s gifts.

The smart and ambitious young writer, Andrew Lipman, is played by Edward Tournier. Tournier excels, growing in stature from a manic 16-year old high school student, through college years, and by the end, a cynical 26-year-old Hollywood television writer.

Amy Aquino has been a favorite actress of mine for a long time, and she does not disappoint as Andy’s mother, Joanne Lipman. Fully committed to her only child, she becomes jealous of his relationship with Kerner. Amy does three hysterical cameos, including a New York agent and the Faye Dunaway character, in a musical version of “Network.” Her “dancer” is a total hoot!

Playing opposite Aquino is Mark L. Taylor, whose laid-back role as caring father and understanding hubby serves as Kerner’s counterpoint. His tempered vigilance plays well against the emotion-ladened Andy/Kerner dialogues.

Rounding out the cast is Bill Brochtrup as the bittersweet Bradley, the director’s long-term, sympathetic assistant, who gave up his own creative dreams when Kerner told him, “You’d make a good . . . assistant!”

The Dahlia is a tiny space, yet the director, Matt Shakman, expertly manipulates the actors and sets into commanding scale as the story comes to life. You forget about size as the actors explode and plumb the depths of their characters in a totally free use of the space—behind a scrim, in the aisles, at a table—even on a table. In one scene, John Glover is literally curled up on a kitchen table the entire time—and it is truly magnificent to watch. His presence is imposing, but never false. The entire production flows seamlessly—dialog, characters, acting and directing. It’s intense and powerful, but always natural.

Shakman adds some interesting directorial touches, including a delightful comic dialog where the egotistical mentor handily drops the names of a series of stars . . . whom we never hear. Instead, the waiter (Taylor) simply taps a spoon on a glass, which chimes every time a name comes up. It’s a perfectly timed, masterful sequence that leaves no face in the audience without a smile.

“Secrets of the Trade” runs through April 20th at the Black Dahlia, with the potential for a life well beyond that, likely to the New York stage. Tolins’ other plays have been successful. His “Twilight of the Golds” was a provocative piece with an interesting theme that was a hit at the Pasadena Playhouse years ago. It didn’t run long on Broadway, but became a television movie, produced by Garry Marshall.

The production in this small, black box storefront proves that size doesn’t always matter! This is a company that puts on exhilarating, first-class theater. There are only about 50 seats per performance, so you’d better book your tickets now for whatever production is next!

The Black Dahlia Theatre
5453 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-525-0070
www.thedahlia.com

RETURN – The Musical

RETURN – The Musical

Article by Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning

The Falashas are an ancient clan of Hebrews, possibly emanating from the tribe of Dan, who were sequestered to remote locations in Ethiopia because, like Jews everywhere, they were considered different. For reasons unknown, they were “strangers” in their own land and persecuted, isolated, and feared.

This new musical is based on Sonia Levitin’s award-winning book The Return, which recounts the story of the Falashas’ daring exodus from Ethiopia in 1984 and the secret airlift known as “Operation Moses” that saved 8,000 of them. Later, another removal brought the remaining 16,000 out of bondage.

RETURN the musical, premiering at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, is the story of their plight and flight, tellingly performed by an extremely talented and bright cast of about 25 actors. The sad but stirring tale is lovingly conveyed through song and dance in this feature event of the 2008 Festival of New American Musicals.

The story focuses on love of family and the hopes of one starry-eyed young woman to reach her potential in Jerusalem, and one old woman with the strength and determination to recognize her last opportunity for freedom.

The Edgemar is an intimate venue, and director/choreographer Donald McKayle does an exceptional job of making it come alive with the spirit and sounds of the Ethiopian village. It’s not surprising, considering his impressive background. McKayle is a five-time Tony nominee for Broadway shows, such as Sophisticated Ladies, It Ain’t Nothing But the Blues, and Raisin, which was awarded the Tony as Best Musical. He is the recipient of all kinds of awards around the country. He was honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as the “Master of African-American Choreography.”

Return’s cast members range from 11-year-olds to septuagenarians; and they are all excellent, with powerful singing voices. Terry Norman delivers a strong, nuanced performance as Desta, the young woman who’d rather pursue an education than marry. Paula Bellamy-Franklin plays the elderly grandmother, Weizero, with remarkable humor and grace. The dancers in the ensemble are from the Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

A few questions arise in the second act. It was sad to learn that Desta’s fiancé was killed after the couple finally resolved their salient issues of personal growth and marriage. The journey had matured him, and it seemed a shame to have him perish, just when we’d started to like him.

Unresolved, also, is what happens to Desta after she is stung by an insect. We expect her to become ill, or worse; but although her painful bite is brought up twice, it’s dropped and left up in the air as the curtain comes down.

Nonetheless, the audience leaves the Edgemar feeling inspired and entertained. RETURN is a moving and heroic musical that underscores the continuing effort for freedom in the world. It’s also a rare opportunity to see an outstanding cast of actors, singers and dancers “up close and personal.” Catch it before it closes on July 20th.

RETURN – The Musical
Book and Lyrics by Sonia Levitin
Music by William Kevin Anderson
Directed and Choreographed by Donald McKayle

Edgemar Center for the Arts
2437 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
For tickets: (310) 392-7327 or http://www.returnthemusical.com

Dates:
Thursday, June 5 through Sunday June 29 and Thursday July 10 thru Sunday July 20
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm
$34.99 for general admission and $17.99 for students

SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT (AS TOLD BY HIMSELF)

SHIPWRECKED! AN ENTERTAINMENT:
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF LOUIS DE ROUGEMONT
(AS TOLD BY HIMSELF)

This family-friendly adventure tale at the Geffen Playhouse stars award-winning actor Gregory Itzin, best known for his role as President Charles Logan on the TV show “24.”

In Shipwrecked, Itzin wows the audience in a commanding performance as adventurer Louis de Rougemont, a real life storyteller who captivated Victorian England with his incredible tales of survival that were published in The Wide World Magazine.

Other characters in De Rougemont’s adventures include his mother, his faithful dog, a crusty sea captain and some spear-wielding aborigines—all played by the versatile Melody Butiu and Michael Daniel. Daniel gets to show lots of tongue, but don’t worry—it’s canine tongue! Every time he impishly becomes Bruno the pooch and lovingly snuggles up to his master to lick him, the audience howls.

Director Bart DeLorenzo’s staging is dramatic and magical; it’s filled with adventure, style and excitement as well as unique lighting and sound effects, which the actors themselves create right in front of us! Under all the fun, there’s a timeless theme about truth, storytelling, and the meaning of celebrity.

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment was written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies, who was commissioned to develop it for the South Coast Repertory. Theproduction runs at the Geffen Playhouse until Sunday, July 27, 2008.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
310.208.5454
www.geffenplayhouse.com

Performances: Tuesdays thru Sundays; June 25, 2008 –July 27, 2008
Tickets ($35 to $79) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500.

Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain for $15.

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
310.208.5454
www.geffenplayhouse.com

TASTING TAIWAN – A Tantalizing Tour of Sights, Nights and Tasty Bites!

Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s
ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

TASTING TAIWAN – A Tantalizing Tour of Sights, Nights and Tasty Bites!

By Marilyn Anderson

One of the perks of being a freelance writer is that you can be spontaneous. You don’t have to plan far ahead in order to “take time off from work.” Hey, I take off for years at a time! So when I got the opportunity to take a trip to Taiwan, leaving in ten days, I didn’t need to think about it – I just said, “Wow, I’m there!” I threw some travel pants in a bag, went to a clinic to get a typhoid shot with the longest needle I’d ever seen and pouff! I was ready to roll. The trip ended up being a whirlwind week excursion around the island of Taiwan, where I got to see all kinds of magnificent sights and eat my way across the country.

Some of you may remember that Taiwan used to have a different name: Formosa. Even now, the locals refer to it as Ilha Formosa which means “Beautiful Island” in Portuguese. It’s easy to see why.

Taiwan is an exotic country full of modern and vibrant cities, picturesque mountaintop villages and unique oceanside settlements. Visitors can experience different customs, diverse lifestyles, strange languages, and traditional Taiwanese culture and arts that have been passed down for generations. And of course, an array of exotic cuisines that will totally please and completely surprise the palate.

We visited a variety of specialty restaurants, from posh hotel dining rooms to local eateries to roadside stands, and even 7/11s, which dot the roads all around the country. Wherever you are, the tantalizing tastes of Taiwan are graciously provided by warm and hospitable people who take pleasure and pride in hosting their guests.

This issue features Northern Taiwan and the sophisticated and culturally diverse capital city of Taipei. Parts 2 and 3 in future issues will cover the Central, Eastern, and Southern parts of the island.

TAIPEI

We arrived in Taipei late at night after a 15-hour flight, and one of the things we all noticed as we drove into the city was that even at midnight, the place was jumping! Restaurants, bars, and clubs were open; lines of people were standing outside karaoke parlors; and we learned that if we wanted to go shopping no problem! That’s because Taipei has many night markets, famous for terrific bargains on clothes, toys, leather goods, and electronics, as well as food and snacks galore. There are also 24-hour-foot massage parlors, a 24-hour bookstore, Eslite; and even the parks had young men playing sports in the middle of the night! Our sleepy group passed on the late night activities and headed for the hotel, but you can be sure on my next trip, I’ll spend more time partaking of their rocking night life.

During the day, Taipei is a stylish and bustling city with plenty of attractions to keep every tourist happy. There are temples and festivals, museums and shopping, art and culture,flower and jade markets, and food from every corner of the world.

Following is a sampling of some of the fabulous foods we savored and the special places in Taipei
that served them.

SILKS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Grand Formosa Regency Taipei

The Grand Formosa Regency has eight restaurants, and their newest, Silks House, is where our group was treated to a veritable feast of never-ending courses. I counted 23! Some dishes looked and sounded like things we might normally eat, but others that looked new and peculiar went untasted, especially after we were told what they were!

Here are a few of the delicacies they served:

Crispy Eel Sprinkled with Sesame – Dee-lish!
Marinated Jelly Fish Mixed with Celery – Didn’t try it. Hey, I was stung by one once! Vegetable Soup served in a Pumpkin Shell – Divine!
Marinated Pig’s Ear with XO Sauce – It was pig, but I chickened out!
Steamed Winter Melon with Yunnan Ham – Excellent!
Baked Seafood with Cheese in Dragon Fruit – Delicious and bee-yootiful, too. Fermented Tofu – also known as STINKY TOFU – and there’s good reason! Roasted Farm Goose – Mmmm, mmm…

The waiters wheeled everything in on carts, and with some, such as the Roasted Duck Grand Formosa Style, we were treated to a show. First, the chefs presented the mouth-watering red bird with gorgeous crispy skin. Then, they sliced it up and served it on plates with scallions, sweet red bell peppers, sour ginger slices, and a special sauce, all in a light and puffy Chinese bun.

The 23 entrees were followed by the dessert, which elicited a myriad of “oohs and aahs” from our group. Billed as “Seasonal Fruits with Crushed Ice,” it was much more extravagant than it sounded. Presented in a huge bowl, it had a surreal “halo of mist” floating over an enormous assortment of colorful fresh fruits, including some we’re not used to in the U.S., such as grass jelly, beans, and black tapioca. This fruit cocktail swam in a punch of crushed ice, condensed milk, and brown sugar. Palate-cleansing and refreshingly cool to taste, it was the perfect conclusion to a colossal feast.

For those of you who like to combine gourmet dining with sightseeing, a brand new Silks Palace just opened at the National Palace Museum.

SILKS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Grand Formosa Regent Taipei
No 41, Chung Shan N. Rd., Section2, Taipei 104, Taiwan
TELÅF886 2 2523 8000
http://www.grandformosa.com.tw

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FIVE DIME DRIFTWOOD RESTAURANT

One of the joys of Chinese dining is getting your share of the food as the Lazy Susan spins around the table. At Five Dime, the courses just kept coming in the ultimate experience of “family dining.” Everyone got some of everything as the exquisite dishes were brought hot and steaming from the kitchen.

Some of our dishes included Spicy Chili Chicken; Prawns with Ginkgo and Lily; Floatingheart Stems with Fragrant Manjack Fruits, and Down-Home Sweet Potato Rice. However, when the strange-looking, purplish Sea Cucumber came twirling by, I admit to a surge of culinary cowardice. I smiled and said, “I’m simply too full,” and pushed the revolving tray on to the next guest!

Food aside, another great reason to go to the Five Dime Restaurant is to see the extraordinary architecture and learn about the owner, Hsieh Li-shiang. At eight years old, Hsieh built a tree house, which became her inspiration for the five restaurants she built in Taiwan. Without any formal training, she started designing buildings based on her love of nature. Driftwood and trees are an integral part of her work, along with colored bricks, oyster shells and rocks.

Hsieh designs every aspect of the restaurants herself, from the airy interior and nature-inspired exteriors down to the tables, chairs, and beautifully crafted plates and cups. Her first restaurant, Five Cent Driftwood House, was built for NT $200,000; and the newest, Five Dime in Taipei’s Neihu District, cost NT $6 million. Her restaurants are well-known landmarks of unique architectural style and fine cuisine, created and operated by an incredible woman with only a junior high school education.

I took some time to walk around each of the three floors of this fabulous restaurant, marveling at the unusual trees, pond, sculptures, and objets d’art. When you’re in Taipei, you’ll definitely want to visit Five Dime for both the delicious food and the unique and dramatic atmosphere.

FIVE DIME DRIFTWOOD
(02) 8501-1472
No.8, Lane.32, Sec.1, Neihu Rd., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.five-dime.com.tw/html/homepage.htm

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Dinner with the Governor of Taipei County
VR GARDEN CAFE
Danshui, Taipei County

Less than an hour by MRT (Taipei’s rapid transit metro), Danshui is a historic riverbank city rich in diverse cultures and the clash of contrasting styles. New streets and old run parallel to each other along the riverbanks; historical monuments and religious temples abut modern shops; and contemporary coffee houses stand next to old Chinese style tea houses, along with stores selling an eclectic assortment of items like fish balls, confections, fish crisp crumbs, and antiques. It’s a soothing diversion from the intensity of Taipei.

The highlight of our detour to Danshui was being joined for dinner by the Governor of Taipei County, Hsi-Wei Chou, (Roy Chou). A charming and gracious host, Mr. Chou actually attended USC in his twenties. He and his wife greeted us by the wharf, and as we walked along the old street and up a steep path past some of their historical monuments, the local people were thrilled to shake his hand and snap cell phone photos. We continued up the windy walkway to Fort San Domingo, taking in other sights, such as the 1800s Canadian Pastor George Leslie MacKay’s wall, the British Consular Residence, Fu You Temple, and Oxford College.

After our walk we went for dinner at the charming outdoor VR Garden Café. Danshui is particularly proud of its local artisans and actively promotes them. At our dinner, three artists were featured showing their paintings and even offering us custom-made works of art on the spot.One of the artists, David Wu, had animal images with people’s names embedded in them. Since I’m the author of “Never Kiss a Frog,” I asked him to make me a frog with my name in it. Within a matter of minutes, I had my own personal David Wu Froggy, with “Marilyn” etched in its belly, to take home as a souvenir. Interestingly, Governor Chou is an accomplished artist as well, and I brought home a coffee-table book filled with stunning pages of his oil on canvas and acrylic on canvas paintings.

Our five-course meal at the Garden Café was served American style, with appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, and dessert. I was so busy getting my frog art that I didn’t write down what I ate. I just gobbled it up, savoring every morsel. Afterwards the artists treated us to atraditional tea ceremony, served with a teapot and plates made by one of them. Our delicious meal and special company was capped by a dramatic sunset and spectacular nighttime view of the harbor. In fact, one of Taiwan’s Eight Wonders is the “Danshui Sunset,” famous because at sunset, a leaf of golden rays shows up on the surface of the river.

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PEARL LIANG CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Grand Hyatt Taipei

I love romance, and the Grand Hyatt Taipei’s beautiful restaurant Pearl Liang has a truly romantic history.

The owner, Pearl Liang, was born into a wealthy family in old Shanghai upscale society. She grew up in Taipei and later lived overseas in England, Switzerland, and the United States. While traveling to Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, Pearl met her true love, an influential business tycoon. After marrying, they continued traveling the globe, attending lavish parties and collecting memories along with exquisite pieces of porcelain, art, books, and tableware. Hers was a true storybook romance, ending sadly and suddenly when her husband perished in an avalanche on a heli-ski vacation.

This is when Pearl returned to Taiwan to create Pearl Liang, an extraordinary restaurant, filled with her collectibles, in the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Nostalgic music from Pearl’s favorites—Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Billy Holiday, and Louis Armstrong—adds to the ambience. The restaurant combines her passion for entertaining with fine wines, designer fashion, and exquisite home-style Chinese cooking. Many of the secret recipes came from Pearl’s mother, all impeccably prepared in the old fashioned way: by hand on the table and in full view of the guests.

Although I didn’t get to meet Pearl on this trip, I hope to next time. Maybe we’ll be able to share some girl talk about Romance on the Road!

PEARL LIANG CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Grand Hyatt Taipei
2, Song Shou Road,
Taipei, Taiwan 11051
Tel: +886 2 2720 1234
http://www.taipei.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

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THE GRAND RESIDENCE
Grand Hyatt Taipei

Speaking of romance, if you’re looking for a special location for your Destination Wedding or a marvelous rehearsal dinner, this could be the place!

The Grand Hyatt has an entire new wing for parties and events called The Grand Residence. Designed by international designer Tony Chi, this new architectural icon provides a beautiful and stylish atmosphere for large festive occasions or small business meetings.

Conceptually, The Grand Residence blends traditional catering and meeting space with an interactive open kitchen into a warmer, more hospitable environment. It’s almost like visiting someone in their elegant home. A section called “the glasshouse” allows hosts or their party planners to select their favorite tableware, décor, and gifts, which are on display. The dining rooms are Residence One, Two, and Three, as well as the most discreet one, called simply, The Residence. Its adjoining terrace features a spectacular view of Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building, which is next door to the Grand Hyatt.

Adjacent to the central kitchen is the tasting room, where hosts can have a grand time planning what they are going to serve their guests. Lucky them, they get to sample loads of absolutely scrumptious dishes!

I can attest to that, since our last night in Taiwan we had dinner at The Grand Residence. It was fun being able to walk over to the numerous cooking stations in the ultra-spacious kitchen as the chefs each put their individual specialties on our plates from cold appetizers, sushi, and salads, to delectable hot entrees to assorted dim sum and then some! I love to taste different dishes, and this was food heaven to me.

Check out some of the yummy entrees:

Grilled Lamb Loin on Warm Smoked Eggplant Salad
Pan Fried Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce –
Seared Beef Medallion and Duck Liver with Truffle Sauce
Wok Fried Prawns “Szechwan” Style
Stewed Pork Ribs with Rock Sugar and Chinese Tea
Sautéed Asparagus
Steamed Rice in Lotus Leaf

After tasting these and more, we went into the bar, which was specially set up for our desserts, including Chilled Mango Pudding with Sago and Coconut Jelly, Raspberry Tiramisu Slice, and Soft Chocolate Tart with Five Spice Cream. Did I say food heaven? Make that Nirvana!

The Grand Residence is an impressive and elegant new addition to the Grand Hyatt and an exceptional alternative to traditional hotel party rooms. Now, all I need is to plan my wedding there. I’m ready!

THE GRAND RESIDENCE
Grand Hyatt Taipei
2, Song Shou Road,
Taipei, Taiwan 11051
Tel: +886 2 2720 1234
grandhyatttaipei@hyattintl.com

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TAIWAN TIDBITS

Taipei 101: Built to resemble a stalk of bamboo, this is the tallest building in the world, with the world’s fastest elevators. You reach the 89th floor observation deck in just 30 seconds!

The Grand Hotel: Built by Madame Chiang Kai-shek in the style of Beijing’s Forbidden City Palace, it stands majestically on a hilltop, offering spectacular views of Taipei.

National Palace Museum: This fascinating museum is the world’s fifth largest. It contains more than 700,000 artifacts representing Chinese art and culture from the Neolithic period to the end of the Qing dynasty.

Lungshan Temple: The Dragon Mountain meeting place of the gods known for the wealth of deities worshipped here.

Confucius Temple. This grand temple of the Jiangnan style was built in the first year of the Guanghsu period to worship Confucius. The annual ceremony of Confuscius’ birthday will be held on September 28th.

Night Markets: Don’t miss the excitement and energy of the throngs of people winding through the stalls with exotic foods, clothing and other bargains. The Shilin Night Market is the foremost among all the night markets in Taipei. I got a handbag for about $25 that I saw in the U.S. for $225!

Foot Massage Parlors: Taipei holds the world’s record for the most foot massages given in one day.

Tea Shops – A glorious history of tea growing exists in Taiwan, with tea shops all over, each with a counter for tasting, drinking, and talking with friends and servers.

Cosmetic Surgery: If you have some extra time for a little tightening here and there, medical costs are a lot less expensive in Taiwan. Surgical costs are generally half the price.

Wedding & Honeymoon Destination: Taiwan’s booming wedding industry is famous. Over 1300 wedding studios and packages include wedding outfits and costumes for the bride and groom and imaginative studio or outdoor photo shoots.
Taiwan High-Speed Rail: Asia’s newest bullet train.

Festivals – Throughout the year, there are Dragon Boat Festivals; Lantern Festivals; Flower Shows; Hot Spring & Fine Cuisine Carnivals; Music, Art & Cultural Festivals; and Kite Festivals.

Hotel Breakfasts: If you’re staying at one of the larger hotels that have a buffet breakfast, be prepared for a morning spread that includes not only the usual American fare, but also unusual breakfast delicacies from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.

Money Conversion: $1.00 US Dollar = NT $30.321 Taiwan Dollars
NT $100 Taiwan Dollars = $3.29804 US Dollars.

Want to visit Taiwan? Easy. There are 99 flights a day from the U.S.

Going to Asia? Stopover in Taiwan! Only $79 – “I Land” Paradise, Taiwan Special — US $79 per room/night including breakfast through December 31, 2008.

Stopover at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport? If you have at least a 7-hour layover, you can get a free half-day tour to Sansia / Yingge or Taipei City

And the winner is! The one-millionth, two-millionth, three-millionth, and four-millionth foreign visitors to Taiwan during their special promotional period in 2008-2009 will win a credit card good for purchases in Taiwan for NT $100,000, NT $ 200,000, NT$ 300,000 and NT $400,000! (In U.S. currency, that’s about $3300 up to $13,120!)

TAIWAN
Touch Your Heart
Tourist Bureau
www.go2taiwan.net

By Studio 838 Ash Gupta

By Studio 838
Ash Gupta