Despite swallowing the cost along with the food, I was left hungry at the end of the meal and wound up eating some potato chips ("crisps") when I got home. Normally, I'd be in a comatose state after visiting a carvery or some other satisfying establishment, but this meal was just..blah.
So I ask you, Liverpool, where can I get a mouth-watering, fantastic Sunday roast in this city? I have my own ideas, but I'd love some recommendations.
]]>At any rate, I saw this tutorial the other day and find it amusing enough to share. Enjoy!
]]>This year, however, I was invited to attend the Grand National - and I learned what all the hoopla is about.
At the races, the six of us parked ourselves near the finish line and started placing our bets. My strategy (if you can call it that) was to pick the weirdest-sounding names or ones that somehow reminded me of something in my life. Perhaps you can already guess that I lost some money. Eh, it was all in good fun though.
Oh, and the ladies' outfits didn't disappoint at all. I think every color of the rainbow was represented and then some. I must give kudos to the woman who wore the garish combination of Union Jack corset, bag, and shoes as she clearly didn't care what others thought in her quest to show some British pride. Lord only knows how some women managed to stand in their sky-high heels well past the sobriety point.
I've never been into gambling before; I always found casinos really boring and depressing, with corpse-like figures permanently glued to machines. Horse racing, on the other hand, is something I could see myself getting into...only perhaps next time with a better strategy!
Thank you, English Easter Bunny.
From the days of Paul Revere to the Beatles in the 1960s, America is no stranger to British invasions. The latest one, however, is a bit more artsy.
On March 26, Gormley's "Event Horizon" exhibition was set up for viewing in the Flatiron District. Thirty-one statues were placed on rooftops of various buildings as well as in Madison Square Park (which, by the way, is not located near Madison Square Garden and is best known for its yummy burgers at the Shake Shack). In an apparent attempt to stave off concerned bystanders, the NYPD issued a public bulletin, letting people know that they weren't looking at jumpers, but rather statues.
This is Gormley's first public art display in the US, and it will remain there until August 15.
Great food, sunshine, and free British art? I know where I'll be heading next time I'm home.
Liverpool, however, at least for me, still manages to set itself apart.
]]> Sure, the seagull squawks that accompany my alarm clock each morning are certainly a change from the traffic noises I heard outside my Queens apartment. And, of course, the accents are different, but that goes without saying.Perhaps it's a reflection of my nature, but my favorite Liverpool sound is by far, the most random one I've ever heard outside my window. I've had the fortune of hearing it twice so far, which in itself is amazing. The first time was on Halloween and the second time was this past Saturday night.
What I initially thought was the loud sound of motorcycles being revved up soon revealed itself as the noise snaked through the city streets. Looking out the window, I soon saw the source: a marching band of at least 50 percussionists. Some people lined the streets watching them as others joined in the fun, starting a conga line in front of the performers.
I have no idea what the occasion was, but the sight certainly put a smile to my face. It was like my very own parade, only it wasn't annoying. (I hate parades.) Even better is that it was completely unexpected.
Liverpool, you know how to woo a girl.
I tend to watch a lot of American television over here in an attempt to keep up with my favorite shows, but the other day, I decided to check out what my TV license fee was buying.
That's right, Americanos. In England, you have to pay an annual charge (currently £142.50, or roughly more than $200) to use any TV receiving equipment - including computers and even mobile phones - in your home. Apparently, it only supports the BBC as the other channels receive advertising money. But I practically never watch the BBC, so paying this fee seems pointless.
]]> At any rate, the other day I figured I would get my money's worth and see what program was being offered on BBC Three. Somewhat fitting for a Mother's Day post, there is a show called, I kid you not, "Hotter Than My Daughter."Say what?
It's billed as a "makeover series taking a unique look at mother/daughter relationships, in which the mums claim to be hotter than their offspring." Okay, so it's not about overweight mothers who truly are "hotter" - in body temperature only. It's about self-centered women who view their daughters as competition, rather than as an extension of themselves.
Right.
Am I the only one who finds this premise completely disturbing? As if women weren't catty enough to one another, now girls have to worry about their mothers too?
It was like rubbernecking on the highway when you see an accident. I had to click on the show to see how awful it was. The episode I saw featured a woman in a bikini top, tutu, and "hairy wig boots" dancing around in clubs while her 15-year-old daughter shrouded herself in baggy clothes to compensate for her mother's outrageousness. The mother admitted she thought she was more attractive than her child, but in a few years, that might change. Talk about a knock to the daughter's self-esteem at a time when she needs as much positive reinforcement as she can get.
I don't understand mothers who put themselves first like that. It's like they enjoy being in control/playing mind games to keep their children under their thumbs forever, rather than letting them be their own person and in the spotlight. That poor girl was being overshadowed by her mother's "me, me, me" attitude. Who knows, maybe the daughter looked like the absent father, and that's where the mother's arrogance originated.
I'm not saying there aren't attractive mothers out there; there are tons! I just think it's a sad day when they feel the attention from - who? teenage boys? - is more important than making sure their daughter has confidence in herself.
Granted, the women I saw in the episode were either delusional or paid for their efforts - probably with my licensing fee. Is there a way to get a refund on this? Or at least have a vote in what programs we want to pay for?
I'm lucky to have a mother whose inner beauty makes her outer beauty even more radiant. My heart goes out to those who don't have the same.
]]>Aintree, the organizers of the John Smith's Grand National meeting, want Liverpool to experience what the Aussies do: that being Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria, where the state's residents are given a day off in order to attend/celebrate the horse race. The campaign officially kicks off on April 8, the first day of the Grand National meeting, and there will be a number of events celebrating Liverpool's culture.
]]> Groups have sprung up on Facebook and Twitter for people to support the campaign and there is also a petition on the 10 Downing Street website; apparently 500,000 votes are needed in order to present the request to the government.Is Liverpool the first English city to do this? Have other cities attempted it? I think it's a great idea and a way to really bring the city together. Plus, how great would it be to see people who don't like Liverpool have to grumble thanks for their day off work?
Whether you enjoy horse racing or not, a public holiday is never a bad thing in my opinion!
I wasn't sure what sort of reception RCPM would get here in the UK, but let's just say, what they got blew my mind.
]]> During the course of 14 days, the band put on 12 shows in 11 cities. Perhaps that fact alone will give you some kind of inkling as to the sort of energy behind this incredible foursome, whose sets hover around the two-hour mark.I started my adventure at their Edinburgh show, which felt a bit like a homecoming not only because I was able to meet up with friends there, but also due to the number of Americans in the crowd. I'm not talking ex-pats like me, but rather fans who decided to spend their vacation time in England and flew over. There were folks from New York, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., the list goes on. RCPM inspires that sort of dedication.
And we all traveled. To London. To Bristol. To Nottingham. To Barton upon Humber. Taking in the English scenery and meeting new local pals as well. People might find the "peacemakers" part of their name a little hokey - side note: it's also the name of a gun - but fans of RCPM get along better than those of other bands I've loved. New friendships were forged with both English and American fans on this tour as the Facebook community will testify!
Along with the fans and veterans in the audience, there were tons of newbies and older folks who appeared to be converts at the end, dancing around and even checking out the merchandise. Each night, the venues would become a hot, sweaty mess of globalism gone right. As per usual, the band would come out and mingle with the crowd after the show, thanking people for traveling and supporting their music. From a fan perspective, it's easy to do that when you know your efforts are appreciated.
So thank you, Smart Choice Music, the English company behind the tour, as it was an incredible experience and one I hope we can do all over again soon!
]]>Folking Cool is definitely worth a click or two. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out!
.
To me, that work symbolizes the Olympics, so I was shocked to discover that it's not the theme song. Rather, it's television station NBC's theme for it, which they use anytime they start coverage, including coming back from commercial breaks.
I know that might not sound like a big deal, but it's one of those cultural differences you don't realize until you come across it.
I've never been in another country during the Olympics, so it's both interesting yet homesick-inducing at the same time. I've always enjoyed watching the opening ceremonies, particularly when the athletes walk in, as it's fun to see all the nationalities having a good time under one roof. (No commercial breaks on the BBC, however, means a bursting bladder in my case.) I like that coverage here sticks with one sport at a time, rather than jumping around the way it does on NBC as a way to keep ratings high. However, as I write this, I have yet to see any medal ceremony, despite an American woman winning the mogul skiing competition. Are only British winners shown? At home, they show all the awards ceremonies. Maybe it's just on at another time.
It's a weird feeling to miss sports broadcaster Bob Costas, which my amigos back home (and fellow Newhouse alums) may find amusing. He's a fountain of knowledge about US sports, so it's somewhat entertaining to hear American athletes talked about by the BBC commentators. For example, when I was watching men's speed skating the other night and skater Apolo Anton Ohno appeared on the scene, one commentator said that Ohno's father is Native American, but implied he wasn't sure which tribe. To which the other commentator replied, "Er, I'm not sure, but I know he's from...(pause)... that region of the world." Actually, Ohno's father is Japanese. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt though and assume that what they're telling me about their own athletes is correct.
In the meantime, it's back to Vancouver I go.
]]>Okay, who am I kidding? I was never into watching football, even at home; I would just tolerate the Super Bowl game in order to get to the highlight: the advertisements. Millions of dollars are spent on these 30 seconds because the captive audience is so incredibly huge. Americans literally park themselves on the couch for a few hours with good friends, food, and beverages. Super Bowl Sunday is a huge national party.
]]> How disappointed I was then last year to see that when the game would go to commercial break...there was no Budweiser Clydesdale horse achieving its dream, no catch phrase start like 'Waaazzzzupppppppp' or any random Doritos one. Instead, it went to some English studio where sports people were commenting on the game. Gahhh!! I was heartbroken. My Super Bowl fun was sucked out of the game.Older and wiser (not to mention employed) this year, I knew I didn't have to stay up way past my bedtime in order to catch my beloved commercials. Thank you, o glorious YouTube.
And so, I present to you, the English viewer, some of the highlights of what you and I missed this year. Enjoy!
Fans of "Lost" may appreciate this ad:
The Simpsons made an appearance with this one:
Some funny ones have been compiled in this clip:
Wondering what happens at the end?
All of a sudden, the home goods department of stores became appealing.
I can't recall if it was IKEA or Target (pronounced "Tar-zhay" by the cool kids) that first piqued my interest in home goods, but once it hit, it stuck. All of a sudden, I was going to places like Marshalls to find cheap paintings to decorate my apartment and picking out funky candle holders. I was becoming all domestic - and it was actually kind of fun. Oh my god, I really am an adult, I thought while flipping through catalogs. I would make a pilgrimage to Target pretty much every weekend, just to have a look around and to see if there was something that I didn't know I needed in there.
Here in Liverpool, I wondered if there would be an equivalent, some place that would also grab me. TJ Hughes was an early contender, but there is one store here that has my heart. Home Bargains. Not only is it full of quality goods, it's cheap! Want a box of tissues for 39p? Done. Some shower gel, perhaps? Just 79p. This place is packed with a range of goods from alcohol and kitchen products to pet food and kids' toys. Being foreign works in my favor since I'm not biased to any brand names here, so I just get the cheapest one. Talk about a dream place, especially in a recession! We have dollar stores at home, much like your Poundland, but nothing like Home Bargains, at least in New York.
According to its website, Home Bargains now has 190 stores around the country, so clearly others agree it's a fantastic business. Did you know that the first one opened in Liverpool more than 30 years ago? Even more reason to celebrate it!
Oh, and that little girl inside of me who hated all things home-goods related? She still lingers in the stationery sections of such stores.
So I built a quick site for this global mobile snapshot: http://whatsinfrontofyou.wordpress.com
Here's where the help comes in: I need to get the viral ball rolling (and I apologize if you've received the earlier text--you were among my test subjects). If you wouldn't mind forwarding some version of the following info. to friends, it would be super-helpful. It's just under 160 characters, so texting would be awesome, but feel free to pop it on your Facebook page, Tweet a version of it, or whatever.
• Send pic of what's in front of you (PG, please!) to whatsinfrontofyou@gmail.com w/ location, name, email. Fwd this msg, visit whatsinfrontofyou.wordpress.com •
And of course, I'd love to get your submissions! Send them to whatsinfrontofyou@gmail.com or tweet them to @whatsinfront.
Thanks, everyone! I guess we'll see what happens..."
Cool, no? Too bad I don't have a camera phone!
As I post this, the photographs are all US-based, but I hope someone tries to get Liverpool on there!
]]>So thanks for making this a memorable year! I raise a glass of my new favorite drink - Kopparberg pear cider - to you!
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