Murder, She Predicted

Had a fantastic trip to the Big Apple back in March. Family, friends, fun and food were the order of the day as my flatmate Stuart, who had never been to NYC, and I, who hadn’t been in years, played tourist with our NY City Pass (fab offer btw if you are planning a trip). It got us into the Empire State Building and most of the major museums. The trip was a family reunion with Mom, Kait, Dad and Betty on hand to celebrate the Irish Twins’ birthdays. St. Patrick’s Day brought a bright sunny day for Kait, along with the Parade (of course!) and topped off by “Blithe Spirit” with Angela Lansbury, Christine Ebersole and Rupert Everett. Lansbury It was still early days for the production when we saw it, so it was a bit uneven, but ‘Jessica Fletcher’ stole every scene as the wacky medium Madame Arcati! She also wins the award for one of the most gracious stage door celebs. She patiently posed for pics, and even showed us her green wool cap she was wearing for St. Pat's.

Wednesday brought more theatre (of course!) in the form of the fantastic “Distracted” starring Cynthia Nixon and family friend Josh Stamberg (he of memorable roles in Sex and The City and Six Feet Under). I can’t rave enough about this play. Fantastic writing, super creative staging/set, and wonderful, natural performances by Nixon and Stamberg, along with the rest of the supporting cast who play multiple roles. Nixon was outstanding as she is on stage nearly the entire play and made us laugh and cry (often at the same time, b/c like Steel Magnolias says – laughter through tears is my favourite emotion!)

The day wrapped up with a wonderful birthday feast at Ruby Foo’s with good friends Ben, Mary, Joelle and Liz. Our final day in NYC? More food at the famous Stage Deli for a fun lunch with Oxford friends Joy and Howard! Trip Photos are here.

My Big Fat(tening) Chinese/Italian Wedding Trip

Speaking of feasts – food was the focus of the following trip to Toronto for Stephanie and Rocco’s wedding. Our first day I played tour guide to Stu and fellow British friend Helen – both newcomers to T.O. The bitter winds off the lake blew us into the warm environs of the Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar where we saddled up to the chefs’ bar for an afternoon of wine and lots of tasty treats. You must go if you are in T.O.! We even got cute Jamie himself to sign a menu for the bride (who is even a bigger fan than me) and groom.

Major thanks to Steph and Rocco for putting us British travellers up (and putting up with us) at their fab new townhouse! The next night found us dining Creole style with fellow TO friend Joan at Southern Accent, another of my faves. Along with great Cajun cocktails and food, the restaurant comes complete with a psychic (Many of you may remember how freakily accurate she was for me a few years ago!). Stu and Helen had theirs told and sounds like both are in for some career changes!

The wedding day brought us to the Liberty Grand, a GORGEOUS lakefront venue. Steph and Rocco incorporated Chinese and Italian traditions into the event and started with a tea ceremony with Steph looking lovely in her traditional red dress. Moving into wedding white, movies were the order of the day as Stephanie came down the aisle (in probably I have to say the most beautiful wedding dress) to the theme from The Princess Bride. At the reception, members of the wedding party came in to various movie themes (Rocky, Star Wars, etc). But the BEST (at least for this pop culture fan) was their kissing game. Rather than bang cutlery on glasses, in order to get the bride and groom to smooch, you had to get your whole table to sing a song from a movie/t.v. show. Best idea ever! It wouldn’t be Italian if there wasn’t food – six courses of it! From antipasto to pasta to steak to seafood, topped off by the dessert buffet and candy bar! Yum! We worked off the calories the next day at the bride and groom's by partaking in Playstation’s Rock Band! (I clearly missed my calling as a drummer!) Photos are here

Splish, splash I am in love with Bath!

Early April showers gave way to sunshine and a visit from the Scharpfs! Was soo great to see and play tour guide to Tania, Ned, Nadia and Sophia, who dubbed London fun, but ‘too crowded. I can’t wait to get out to the countryside!’ Pics of the weekend are here

Heeding Sophia’s advice, I took advantage of the UK’s 4(!)-day Easter weekend and discovered my new favourite place in the UK – Bath! Beautiful surroundings, gorgeous buildings, friendly people and a really good vibe around the place, I can’t wait to go back. Highlights included a boat tour down the Avon canal (complete w/hot chocolate & Baileys!), a wonderful walking tour of Jane Austen areas, Good Friday service at the Bath Abbey, the infamous Bizarre Bath tour, the most amazing seafood chowder at the Riverside Café and the super tasty Bath Bunn at Sally Lunn’s!

On Saturday my friend Alison came out for the day and we had quite the adventures. We climbed up Solsbury Hill (of the Peter Gabriel song fame) for fabulous views of the area, and then went canoeing! Or ‘Canadian canoe’ as they call it here. Clearly canoeing is a North American pastime as we were the only out on the canal and when I got back to London, I got the strangest responses when I told people. “Really! You went canoeing?! You did?!” I mean seriously, you would have thought I’d said “I went over Niagra Falls in a barrel” the way they reacted. Wacky!

The water theme continued the next day when I did the Twilight package at the AMAZING, FANTASTIC Thermae Bath Spa. Four levels of saunas and steam rooms topped off by a rooftop pool! Relaxing in this as the sun sets with hot air balloons floating by – it don’t get much better than that my friends! The package also includes a one-course tasty healthy dinner and a nice large glass of wine. Not a bad way to end an Easter weekend! Photos are here.