LilSugar

Walt Disney Banning Children?

babysugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:00:24 PST

Children dream of going to the wonderful world of Disney to meet their heroes, wear mouse ears, ride the Dumbo ride, and eat cotton candy. And, most parents love taking their kids to Disney to fulfill those childhood fantasies while relaxing a little bit themselves. Apparently, some adults, in the midst of all things Disney, will be able to relax kid free according to a Tampa Bay news report.

Victoria and Albert's, an upscale restaurant at Walt Disney World, has closed its doors to children eleven and under. At first, I flinched thinking, isn't Disney World a place where two large rodents by the names Minnie and Mickey Mouse roam free? And Bambi and Donald the Duck are revered and not hunted? But after reading up on the swank eatery, I realized that maybe this was the right call. To see why I think the restaurant made a good decision,

read more. As I learned from Frommer's, Victoria and Albert's is a "jackets required" romantic hot spot with limited seating – only room for 65 people to dine at a time. While a harpist serenades patrons, they can browse the menu, set at $95 prix fixe minimum. The fare, which is offered across seven courses, includes duck, pheasant, abalone, veal, or tuna. At the end of the meal, the diners are presented with a personalized menu and a rose. Call me crazy but this doesn't sound like the kind of place that has chicken tenders or French fries for emergency tantrum solutions. But just in general, it seems like an oasis for adults and older children, those who can appreciate silverware and the lack of sippy cups, to enjoy a nice night without a pair of oversized round ears poking out from every table.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin Have a Dinner Date With Taylor Swift

Allie Merriam — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:56:08 PST

Taylor Swift was the lucky lady sharing a table with Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow in London last night. The trio sat down for a meal at The Delaunay, which is a new spot in the city's center. Gwyneth, Chris, and Taylor have long been friends and got together for another meal when Swift was in the UK during March 2011. Chris and Gwyneth have even played matchmaker for Taylor - Gwyneth introduced Taylor to her now ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal at the end of 2010.

Gwyneth's home in England after a midweek trip to Paris, where her good friend Cameron Diaz spent a few days making the rounds at the couture shows. It seems Gwyneth didn't take a seat in any of the front rows. However, some of her old clothes will be on display soon. Gwyneth's Shakespeare in Love costumes are set to be part of a Hollywood exhibition opening later this year at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Textile Field Invites You to Sit and Stay Awhile

Elka Karl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:03:19 PST

I love artistic takes on the concept of bringing the outdoors in, and designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec did just that when they created the Textile Field Installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last Fall, as part of a collaboration with the textile company Kvadrat. The project was recently nominated for one of the Design Museum's Design of the Year Awards.

According to the designers, Textile Field provides:

An invitation to lascivious reverie. Our intention is to propose a different, casual approach to freely experience what can be a quite intimidating environment, such as a museum. We conceived an expansive, coloured foam and textile piece with gentle inclinations to produce a sensual field on which to comfortably lounge while meditating on the surrounding Raphael Cartoons. Everyone can immerse into this temporary installation, for a minute, an hour or more, that is the idea. No efforts, no apprehension just contemplation.

Click through for more photos of this gorgeous and restful design installation.

The V&A Museum Gets Its Scent On

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:00:50 PDT

If you're the kind of person who loves going to museum exhibitions but feels that the average gift shop isn't beauty-centric enough, the famed Victoria & Albert Museum has anticipated your needs. The London spot has begun commissioning fragrances to go with its exhibitions.

To accompany its Autumn 2010 exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, the V&A had perfumer Roja Dove create a scent named after the great theater's founder. So what does Diaghilev smell like? Apparently a rich, old-fashioned chypre with notes of bergamot, rose de mai, oakmoss, and vetiver. What do you think? Would you buy museum fragrance, or is the concept just too strange?

Happy 80th Birthday to Design Legend Sir Terence Conran!

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:00:54 PDT

You may not be familiar with the name Sir Terence Conran, but don't let that fool you. This man has left a lasting imprint in the world of interior design.

A pioneer in design work that transformed the look of the British home, Conran kicked off a design studio and later an architecture practice that has had a global impact on the world of interior design. In order to celebrate Sir Conran, a new exhibit, The Way We Live Now, at The Design Museum explores Conran's accomplishments whether it be key themes of his career or looking at where he channeled his inspiration. We wish we could go to London just to check it out!

Since we can no longer hop on the Concorde, we've decide to celebrate in our own way, by sharing some fascinating facts about Sir Terence Conran's legendary career. We could list his astounding accomplishments for days, but here are five things we find oh-so intriguing about Conran's legacy.

He's the brains behind the iconic store Habitat.
There was nothing cooler than London in the 1960s; Conran's spot, Habitat, totally broke down the preconceived notions of furniture stores of the past by blending pop culture, modern design, and an unprecedented retail experience.
He's a philanthropist.
In the '80s, Conran developed the The Conran Foundation, "an educational charity focused on promoting a better understanding of design." Its first big initiative was the Boilerhouse Project, a gallery housed in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Age doesn't define him.
Well into the late 2000s, Conran continued to open restaurants like Boundary in East London and Lutyens in Fleet Street.
He's a restaurateur.
Conran's background in architecture and designed propelled him into being a key player in the development of the new restaurant culture driven by a passion for simplicity.
He's a real knight!
Terence Conran became Sir Terence Conran in 1983.

Source

Food and Drink Wedding Traditions of the British Royals

Susannah Chen — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:23:46 PDT

It's here! The week of the royal wedding has finally arrived, and there's no doubt it'll be the biggest celebration England's seen so far this century. Still, Prince William and Kate Middleton have some pretty big shoes to fill: they'll be following in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

With hundreds of years of history behind them, the soon-to-be newlyweds are following more than a few precedents set by the British crown. To see what traditions they'll likely be sticking to - and which ones they're breaking! - keep reading.
Source: Getty

Eva Zeisel Celebrates Her 105th Birthday by Debuting a Lighting Line

Elka Karl — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:11:42 PDT

While most people would've been content to retire decades earlier, designer Eva Zeisel is still innovating. Now, as she celebrates her 105th birthday this November, the iconic designer will debut her first-ever lighting line with Leucos, distinguished by its Italian contemporary hand-blown glass lighting. Zeisel's lighting line, which will debut this Fall, will include two pendants, two wall sconces, and two table lamps that are available in glossy white and natural earth tones. These pieces, which will work with incandescent, CFL, and LED bulbs, will feature an organic, curvaceous look interpreted from Zeisel's initial two-dimensional sketches. Zeisel notes, “I always like to design at least two shapes together, so that I create a family that relates to each other. These lights are cousins.” The line will include a shade-less table lamp and glowing, rounded pendants.

Eva Zeisel's life is truly inspirational. She was the first woman to showcase a one-woman show at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1946. In 2005, she was awarded the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award For Lifetime Achievement. Zeisel’s works can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and Brooklyn Museum in New York; the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montreal; Bröhan Museum, Germany, and many others. Take a look at the video below for a glimpse into this centurian designer's unique process.

Eva Zeisel: Distinguished By Design from Jeremy Bales on Vimeo.

Gwen and Gavin Relax in the Desert With Kingston as She Shares a Wedding Memento With the World

Lindsay Miller — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:15:00 PST

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale were in Palm Springs enjoying a pre-weekend getaway this morning with their oldest son, Kingston. Gavin and Kingston lounged around in the grass while Gwen squeezed in a workout in a loose-fitting tank. The singer and designer, who graces the current cover of Elle UK, opened up about her family life in the magazine and admitted that marriage isn't always easy. After 14 years together, though, she and Gavin know how to keep the romance alive. The musical duo also devote much of their time to their boys despite their many projects. Gwen's fans can also now get up close to a very special keepsake from the Rossdale-Stefanis - she just put her wedding dress on display at the Victoria and Albert Design Museum in London.