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Trust in the law
Posted by Jordana Rothstein White (02.28.07, 2:06 PM) Yesterday I was in a fender bender in a parking lot. I followed the instructions on my insurance card and immediately reported the accident to the police. Imagine my surprise when I was told I couldn’t be helped because I was on private property! I know I’m new here, but aren’t the police supposed to serve and protect?!?!
Wilson Hardcastle's mom
Posted by Beth Alexander (02.26.07, 5:37 PM) We just discovered a great blog from Nashvillian Wilson Hardcastle: I'm Just Saying. In recognition of his mom Fran Hardcastle, longtime volunteer at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Wilson has posted the invitation there to Nfocus' fashion event, Model Behavior 2007, to be held at Radius10 on Tuesday, March 6 from 6 to 8. Wish you could be here, Wilson!
After Oscar
Posted by Beth Alexander (02.26.07, 12:47 PM) I get it. We’re all celebrating everybody in there-are-no-losers-here Hollywoodworld. But I’ve seen enough video montages now to last the rest of the decade. It’s fun to see those mini-bits of old movies fly by faster than you can say good-bad-and-ugly, but I don’t watch the Oscars to get educated about global culture. I watch to get educated about fashion and injectables. Speaking of which, it looked like Peter O’Toole’s injectables had...shifted a little. But Nicole's face looked great! And at least Nashvillians knew where she was last night. Best dress: Penelope Cruz’s blush Versace gown with full, feathered skirt, hands down. I’ll give an Nfocus ball cap to the woman who wears it to the Swan Ball. The most entertaining part was Tom Cruise trying desperately to demonstrate his sanity while he introduced Sherry Lansing. Very good, very boring indeed. The show is just too damn long. Cut out half of the video montages. And while the Blue Man Group is really talented, it doesn't add to a TV awards show. Plus, what was it Sherry won for? Humanitarian stuff? Not that that’s not our bread and butter, but we’ve got a dozen people here we’d like to nominate. Couldn’t they give that one with the animated shorts or something? Or maybe at the Joe Kraft Awards?
Bring back New Orleans
Posted by Grace Clayton (02.25.07, 03:31 PM) I returned from Mardi Gras this past week—my 10th annual visit since I started going in the 7th grade—and let me tell you, the swamp-like city you have seen on the news reports is once again dry and full of life. Gumbo, red beans and rice, and Hurricanes (the famous New Orleans drink, not the weather phenomenon) flowed through the streets, and the people of the once-flooded city danced to jazz and celebrated their great city. The theme of the city since Katrina hit has been, “Bring Back New Orleans,” and though that idea has proven to be a long and strenuous process, New Orleans is definitely on its way.
No smoking at Sperry's: What!?
Posted by Anne Clayton (02.25.07, 02:48 PM) I noticed an alarming sign on the door of my favorite watering hole last week. As of March 1st, Sperry’s restaurant will be a no smoking establishment! As many of you know, my father was founder of Sperry’s, now owned by my brother Al Thomas. It’s hard for me to take a stand either way on this matter since I am an ex-smoker—and fairly recently, too. I had my last smoke on February 8, 2006. After attending a Super Bowl party at Sperry’s that night, I realized that I just did not want to do it anymore. The smell on my hands, clothes and hair was bothering me, and I was determined that my new home was not going to have that stale smoke smell…not to mention a nice man I had my eye on who was adamantly against smoking. Add to that the death of my father from smoking-related illnesses and several years of taking care of my mother who was being slowly suffocated by emphysema. I just opened the window and threw the last pack and my lighter over the side of the Highway 70 bridge. Sadly, mother actually entered the hospital one day after that party and died a week later from a lifetime of smoking.
Clubland
Posted by John Denson (02.22.07, 08:15 AM) There are a lot of clubs I am not a member of, and never expect to be. They include Belle Meade Country Club, the Mile High club, and the Christian Coalition. Belle Meade Club does not admit democrats (at least that's what they told me when I called). The Mile High club is, well, too risky, plus my wife doesn't like flying, even in a regular seat. And last and least, the Christian Coalition doesn't sound very WWJD-ish, do you think?
The Rat Pack
Posted by Gloria Houghland (02.19.07, 7:54 PM) Did anyone else have the privilege of seeing “The Rat Pack” last week at TPAC? I went to the Feb. 9 performance and for the first time really enjoyed seats that were “a little further back,” because for me, the three performers became Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. I remember watching them on TV when I was a little girl and how much my parents loved them. I still play their music (who doesn’t) and, really, they are my favorite musical artists. So timeless, so cool. I never got to see them in person, but Friday night was the next best thing. I sipped my martini in the balcony while they sipped theirs on stage, laughed at all the politically incorrect jokes and pretended to be one of the backup singers draped across Dean Martin’s arm!
Black tie: What it means for girls
Posted by Amy Lee Bell (02.19.07, 10:27 AM) Several days before Heart Gala, I got an email from a female friend that said, “Can I ask a very junior high question? What are you wearing to the gala this weekend?” Girl, I thought, that is not a junior high question. For us gals, figuring out what to wear to all these different events can be complicated. For guys, “black tie” means just that. All our fellas have to do is make sure the tux is cleaned and pressed, the shoes freshly shined and the bow-tie appropriately assembled. It’s A-OK for a gentleman to wear the same tux to different events. Even if he owns five tuxes, ten pairs of slick black shoes, fifty bow or dress ties and one hundred pairs of cufflinks, he’s still wearing a stinkin’ tux to the black-tie event. It’s that simple. Wait…I take that back…. If he’s Scottish, he could wear a dress kilt, which involves a lot more accessories and add-ons than your basic black tux. Still, it’s not like anyone would whisper, “He’s way too old for that Tartan,” or “A white sporran after Labor Day? Sooo tacky.” And he’d never have to worry about static cling or obvious panty-lines because, well, Highland dress includes hose and garter flashes, but no knickers. It’s totally not fair.
Plastic surgery: Yes
Posted by Gloria Houghland (02.18.07, 09:07 AM) I am all about life-changing moments. Those little things in life that make you decide to go left rather than right, say yes rather than no—what Oprah calls “aha” moments. And from that point on, you’ve charted a new path for yourself. No going back. You may have regrets, but you can’t do it over. And you learn to live with and hopefully be happy with your decision. My light bulb moment came when I was diagnosed with a small carcinoma on my face caused by a sun-worshipping past life.
From Green Hills to Buckhead
Posted by Mandi Coleman (02.18.07, 8:56 AM) Here’s the scenario: I wanted a new bag. A gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, creamy leather handbag that could go with whatever outfit I threw together. Where did my friends and I turn to? Atlanta. This actually happens a lot. Nashville is great, but where do you turn when you need a fix of something unique and classy, something that not everyone else owns? Don't get me wrong; I love some of the boutiques the area offers, from Franklin to Belle Meade. And you can absolutely find some great Christian Lacroixs without having to travel, but you'll also be paying more than Neiman Marcus charges for that same pair of shoes. Of course, I’m a small-town, southern girl. I love having my “regular” shops, where I know I'll find something I adore at the last minute. That's what I want here in Nashville! I want to be able to take a quick drive down the street when a craving hits for a pair of new shoes, or even a new sweater. Cravings may be an understatement when friends pile in together for a day trip with just this purpose! So where are these hidden gems in Nashville? Not the trendy, urban shops that come in a plethora of shapes and sizes—the classy, timeless stores that offer what the pages of Vogue hold. And when will our malls be able to compete with the legends?
M&M now stands for Made in Mexico
Posted by Anne Clayton (02.15.07, 4:30 PM) Today I heard the disturbing news that the Hershey Chocolate Company is planning to move a large chunk of is manufacturing capacity to Monterrey. Mexico. Is nothing sacred anymore? M&Ms are my favorite candy.. I have to eat them one by one, trying to crunch each one just right to remove the candy shell before letting the chocolate melt on my tongue. I even know someone who is so OCD that he will only eat them after he arranges them by color. [Don’t worry, Bob; your secret is safe with me.] I seem to remember a famous rock band that tore up a hotel room when it was discovered that the brown M&Ms had not been removed as was called for in their contract. Now, those guys were seriously disturbed! Something tells me that making candy in Mexico was not in the plans of Milton S. Hershey when he opened his first plant in 1894 in what was to be come Hershey , Pennsylvania. But his company is being forced to do so to keep up with the Mars Candy Company , manufacturer of M&Ms, among other things. The Hershey bar, M&M candies and Hershey’s Kisses are American icons that should be made by Americans. The next thing you know, something as American as “apple pie” will be made in Mexico and shipped back to the states. I guess this is a sly way of helping to stem the tide of illegal immigrants coming to the US looking for work If we send enough of our jobs to Mexico, they will stay home and learn to love the lowly M&M as much as I do. I think it’s a little odd that the announcement of the move was made after Valentine’s day … They wouldn’t want to make American chocolate-lovers mad on one of the biggest sales days of the year, now would they? By the way, Hershey’s gross sales for 2006 were $4.836 billion, and net profits for 2005 were $493.24 million. The stock was up 1.81% as of Feb. 15 at $52.23 a share. So maybe no one cares except me.
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