Square or Trendy? :The Sloane Square Hotel in London.

It is like putting a square peg in a round hole: the Sloane Square Hotel comes across as all cool and trendy on one hand and then all square and anal in another...try as it might it kind of comes out lacking finesse.
Let me explain:

As far as location is concerned it couldn't be in a better place: right in the heart of Chelsea on Sloane Square and a stone's throw from everything! And when the sun is shining you couldn't be happier as you saunter out into the ebb and flow of human traffic that makes this area ,up and around King's Rd and Sloane Street, such a desirable place to be walking around.

But 3 mns into our check- in things started to get decidedly iffy:
"Can I have the credit card you reserved with please..."
My sister hands over her Amex.
"Oh! we don't take American Express" she replied with an air of  determination ." Don't you have another card?"
" I made the reservation with this card!!" replied my sister frostily.
"You can reserve with Amex but just not pay with it"explained the uncomfortable young lady . "Don't you have another card?".... it was getting positively freezing in reception.
"NO!" replied my sister determined to hold her ground and the receptionist had no other  choice but to accept it. So we bandaged the wrong foot we started on and moved on....with forced smiles on our weary faces: the receptionist proceeded to explain to us that wifi connection was £6.00 a day...(ridiculous in this day and age and an unnecessary expense)  but !...  that the second laptop was free....small victory but half arsed at best.

Onto breakfast:it is £16 but if you book in advance it is £12....so what do you do? You bloody book in advance...and hope that you have made a good deal with the God's of breakfast buffets....

So on to the room: it was on the top floor and overlooked the square:fabulous! A nice sized room,comfy bed and enough snacks and tempting tidbits to keep us munching into the wee hours of the morning. The closet space was small and not much in the shelf area but it was good enough for our brief stay.The only real disappointment was the shower and lack thereof of any water pressure...the trickle that came out of the shower head would barely make a dent in my thick hair let alone rinse a well lathered head.Thankfully my hair wasn't the issue but our bodies sure were  ... We may as well have been strapped to the windscreen of a car and had better luck with the spurts of water from the windscreen wipers !

*we bought the Evian...mini bars are treacherous!*

Onto breakfast:the  deal was off with the God's of the Breakfast Buffets....the buffet was a real disappointment: no big whoop....just your basics that lacked lustre and appeal. What intrigued us the most was the large basket filled with "fresh" loaves that were never cut into,nor on offer for that matter and may very well have been a cunning prop....Hmmmm.

*reception as seen from restaurant*

At the end of the day: location,location,location... prevails and they have good rates when other hotels in the area are too expensive for this time of the year.The Sloane Square Hotel has a nice vibe to it regardless of it wanting desperately to come across as a trendy hotel... The fact that they have outside seating at the Chelsea Brasserie (their in-house restaurant)  for the smokers and the trendy Happy hour punters is a point in their favour as well as being neighbours with the extremely popular "The Botanist"restaurant next door.

NB: I love the modern and fun artwork in reception and in the Chelsea Brasserie.

MADONNA IN CONCERT: THE BREAST IS YET TO COME....

To be done to tune of the "Hokey Pokey":



"..You put the right boob back in..."
"You take the left boob out..."
"In ,out...in, out...you shake them all about,"
"You do the hanky panky and you turn around..."
"That's what Madge is all about!"

Repeat ad nauseum throughout the world tour.
If anyone hasn't already been acquainted with Madge's boobs from her "SEX" book days...they will be making continued guest appearances.

The breast is yet to come?

TATEOSSIAN'S "JUBILEE 60 PEBBLE"

This sleek and sophisticated luxury-handcrafted paperweight encapsulates all that Tateossian represents:contemporary,fashion forward and timeless jewellery.

Very masculine with a hint of hidden bling, this signature Tateossian  "luxurious" pebble is made in black obsidian and rose gold encasing a pebble showcasing 60 carats of white diamond dust at its core.
This magnificent homage to the Queens Diamond Jubilee will look impressive and command undivided attention displayed upon the desk of your chosen one.


This one of a kind creation was exclusive for The Masterpiece Show 2012 in London which brings together exhibitors from around the globe to join together and display distinctive and highly aesthetic designs under one forum. The vast choice of exhibitors is as impressive as their designs themselves.


www.tateossian.com


Long Live the Queen and Long Live Tateossian!

"The Red Coats Are Coming!...Quack,Quack!": BOSTON 06/12

After New York we got to relax and take it down a notch or 2 in lovely,welcoming Boston. The weather tried to welcome us too...although it did get a little grey and wet. But nothing put a damper on our visit and stay with friends: nothing like a lobster BBQ on a roof terrace that delivers the Boston skyline to your lap...while you sip on martinis while listening to the dulcet tones of the de-lovely Adele....Heaven.

So here are my snap shots: Let me start you off with our "Ducktour: THE RED COATS ARE COMINGGGG!....QUACK, QUACK..."



*OUR CARRIAGE AWAITS...THE ESPLA-NADIA(green one)*




*OUR CAPTAIN:PAUL REVERSE....*




*ON THE RIVER CHARLES*



*COLOURFUL ON NEWBURY STREET*

*MY STOMPING GROUND COTELAC*

*QUAINT*

*SOMETHING OLD/SOMETHING BLUE*

*MIRROR MIRROR...*

*BOYLSTON STREET*

*COMM.AVE.*

*SWOOSH!*



*ALLSAINTS PRESERVE US*



*REACH FOR THE SKY*

*RIPPED OUTSIDE THE PRU*



*BLOOD SWEAT AND STEEL*



*WHERE'S THAT DAMNED HARE?*

*I BELIEVE I CAN FLY*

*ART IMITATING LIFE..*

*PRIVATE DANCER*

*RICO SUAVE @ THE MFA*

*REDLIGHT*

*ANYTHING YOU CAN DO...*

*TRUCK LOBSTER*



*55*



*MUG SHOT:AMELIE*

*MUG SHOT:LOUIS*

*...& THEY CALL IT PUPPY LOVE*

                                                             


                                                              THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

For all those of you who don't know him....THE DAD HATTER

Yes... he does resemble the late great Peter Ustinov's Hercule Poirot in this picture...but The Dad Hatter ain't no sleuth nor a CS Lewis character... He is my Dad: a master of sarcasm , wit and Borsalino's.

The Dad Hatter Chronicles are short bursts of "chatter" between us(my sister,Dad and I and anyone in between)  that I have been lovingly compiling to share with you. All this is a click away...on the left hand side...just by the sketch:


The Chatter will be the comedy relief that will bulk up the book "THE DAD HATTER CHRONICLES" that I am working on: part historical background, part stories of his past with wild characters that spiced up our lives...but most importantly:100%  humour.


If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet....Let me introduce you to:
The Dad Hatter..my dad, my inspiration. 


Check out latest posting: "Where's Yankee Doodle ?"

Supply & Reprimand....

Mr.G was approached by his gardener:

" I have some beautiful tomatoes from my garden to give you..."
"Very kind of you but...we don't cook"replied Mr. G. "Why don't you enjoy them instead"he replied politely hoping that would be that and he could get on with whatever he was doing.

"You don't cook?" asked the suprised gardener. "Well we have some lovely potatos, my wife does a delicious dish with them....I'll bring that over instead"insisted the gardener not getting the finality of the previous sentence uttered by Mr. G.

"No don't bother yourself...really. Enjoy them yourselves!" replied Mr G kindly, insisting with charm and class not wanting to offend the man but now tiring with this repartee.

"Oh! No trouble at all...I'll bring it over tomorrow " satisfied that he had found the compromise, the gardener would finally be able to share his fresh vegetables.But Mr.G unflustered and undeterred firmly replied:

"NO, don't come!"

Don't Shop till You Get Enough...in New York.

So in previous posts I mentioned The Muse Hotel,restaurants and even shared my holiday snap shots...but what of shopping in New York.

Once Upon a Time...shopping in New York was all about : the frenzy! Bloomingdales had hidden treasures only you as the visitor could unearth and the shopping streets were truly paved with golden fashion opportunities....but now?....Not so much.

New York has now also become the victim of :"Everything you can do...I can do better" attitude that London has adopted. All the big US brands are in London and even the ones you could only buy in the States...and the States has now done the same.

Reiss, All Saints have gone Stateside and swamped the market...even bloody Ted Baker is opening on 5th Ave! Just walk around the revamped fashion halls of Bloomingdales's... the British are ever present and frankly,I was bereft and felt like I was in Selfridges. And the same applies to London now: I counted 2 Coach stores, 1 Kate Spade, Club Monaco @HN, my beloved JCrew available on Netaporter and... Rag and Bone soon opening on Sloane Square. Don't even get me started on A&F...

I only want to buy in New York what I can't find in London and frankly...it is getting harder.

So this is why JOE FRESH...is simply that, a breath of fresh air right on 5th Ave....and it is larger than life :

So who is Joe Fresh?

It is the creation of Joe Mimran (Club Monaco) and only available in the States and Canada...YEAY!!!

It was launched in 2006 and was available in certain supermarkets!!! EEK

The fabulous flagship store opened this spring 2012 on 5th Ave. New York and it caught my eye as soon as I walked past it.

At the opening event,Mayor Bloomberg announced that Joe Fresh was:..."the greatest Canadian export since Justin Bieber..." Steady On , Mayor..no need to put us off!

So the clothes:it is a stylish,super affordable brand with bright colours that pop out from the sleek white decor. The shop is spacious and minimalist in order to let the main event:the clothes stand to attention...and believe me they commanded mine from the minute my eyes came to rest on the shop front.

To be honest,I didn't know what to expect with a name like Joe Fresh in orange juice colours...it is COS's brash and bold Stateside cousin with great styles in all sizes for men,women and kids. 

I bought an Equipment style silk shirt in "blush" for 29.99$ and a sleeveless one with orange trim (check out the website) for my sister for a fraction less and less is definitly more at Joe Fresh...more for your buck and that is what makes holiday shopping the best part of your holiday...that special find that everyone is going to ask you about and no one will be able to buy...unless of course they visit New York.