Souvenir Brochure: Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2

Various posters advertising the London production.

Souvenir Brochure cover.

With the DVD release of the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 scheduled for next month, one memory and resource on the history of the musical is also available. The souvenir brochure printed exclusively for the event can be purchased online.

The 13.5x9.5" softcover brochure is filled with 80 colorful pages. Besides the history of the musical and the cast list, there are pages devoted to the advertising the show through 25 years in London, a list of the various cast recordings, photos of the programs from the international productions and a look at the poster girl who has been re-dressed to befit the city where the musical was presented. For fans of the show, this is a definite commemorative item to add to your collection of 'Les Mis' souvenirs. It serves as a companion to the now out-of-print book by Edward Behr which documented the musical's early years in The Complete Book of Les Miserables published in both hardcover and softcover editions.

The brochure can be purchased from Dress Circle for £12 (US$18) or at Les Miserables website shop for £12.50. Other merchandise also available.

Read my review of the cinema presentation from November 2010. Click here for that post and a list of related 'Les Miserables' posts.

Main cast: Alfie Boe (Valjean), Norm Lewis (Javert), Matt Lucas &
Jenny Galloway (Thenardiers), Lea Salonga (Fantine), Samantha Banks
(Eponine), Nick Jonas (Marius), Katie Hall (Cosette) and Ramin Karimloo
(Enjolras).

The various incarnations of the 'Les Miserables' waif.

Program covers of the international productions.

Movies to Travel By: Summertime (1955)

Images from "Summertime" above and below. (photos credit: United Artists)

Venice never looked more splendid or inviting than in David Lean's "Summertime" starring Katherine Hepburn as Jane Hudson, a lonely woman on vacation unexpectedly falling in love with a married man (Rossano Brazzi).

Many movies would capture Venice in equally breathtaking images. But for the time of its release, the film brings a romance and city bookmarked in another time. Filled with friendly locals and popular visitor locations, it's the kind of idealized Venice many people dream about. St. Mark's Square, Camp San Barnaba and the Venice canals, bridges and lagoon are featured prominently.

The story of a woman having an affair with a married man was daring in the 1950s but the portrayal seems innocent in the film. Hepburn displays emotions of longing, lonely, joy and disappointment in the many scenes when is alone onscreen. The film opens with Jane arriving in Venice and ends with a bittersweet goodbye.

One of the highly romanticized scenes in the film .

The source material for the film is the 1952 Broadway play "The Time of the Cuckoo" which was later adapted into an unsuccessful 1965 Broadway musical "Do I Hear A Waltz?" with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical was revived and recorded by the Pasadena Playhouse in 2001.

"Summertime" received two Oscar nominations: Hepburn for Best Actress and Lean for Best Director.

View of Venice from Hepburn's hotel balcony.

Iconic scene where Hepburn's character falls into the canal.

One of multiple moments with St. Mark's Square on view.

The Venice lagoon.

One of the opening scene as Hepburn is rushed through Venice as she follows
her luggage carrier to the hotel.

Another scene from Hepburn's hotel balcony

Katherine Hepburn as Jane Hudson. Love the film camera.

Rossano Brazzi as Renato De Rozzi

The statue is part of the clock near St. Mark's Square.

The Venice lagoon in evening.

Hepburn upon entering her the Pensione Fiorini. The entire hotel
was a fabrication. The hotel's interior and exterior scenes were filmed
at various locations.

The outdoor cafe in the square makes more than one appearance and
sets the initial meeting between Hepburn and Brazzi's characters.

Even the simple shot of Jane's shoe was filmed beautifully.

One of the film's final moments as she waves goodbye to Venice.

Nice to Dream: Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris

Once upon a time, the palace of tomorrow. So elegant, so glamorous, so Parisian. These brief words flow across the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris website to describe the fabled hotel.

Frommer's adds a little more detail:
The Plaza Athénée, an 1889 Art Nouveau marvel, is a landmark of discretion and style. About half the celebrities visiting Paris have been pampered here; in the old days, Mata Hari used to frequent the place. The Salon Gobelins (with tapestries against rich paneling) and the Salon Marie Antoinette, a richly paneled and grand room, are two public rooms that add to the ambience of this lavish hotel. There's also a calm, quiet interior courtyard draped with vines and dotted with geraniums. The quietest guest rooms overlook a courtyard with awnings and parasol-shaded tables; they have ample closet space. Some rooms overlooking avenue Montaigne have views of the Eiffel Tower. The hotel is also home to Restaurant Plaza Athénée, where Alain Ducasse presents an award-winning menu focusing on "rare and precious ingredients."

Sometimes it's nice to just dream. More info at plaza-athenee-paris.com. (all images: Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris)

Heard the Joke about the TSA Pin-Up Calendar?

This is a page from it. A Japanese tech company called EIZO is apparently making fun of the controversy about the full-body scans being installed in airports. The TSA continues to be unsexy. Click here to see the entire twelve months at outburstnow.com.

We Hardly Knew You: Pop-Tarts World New York

(image: lemonwade.com)

(image: shoppingblog.com)

The wizards at Kellogg's came up with the idea to open a shop called Pop-Tarts World in New York City. Alas the the shop located in Times Square was a pop-up store so its existence is meant to be only temporary. Starting in August 2010 and ending this December 2010, the shop served the famous treat in 28 different flavors. Among the uncommon flavors were vanilla milkshake, hot fudge sundae and cinnamon roll. The treats were served toasted, frozen or at room temperature.

Like a Times Square attraction, the shop also sold logo merchandise. But also being served up were Pop-Tarts sushi (minced pop tarts wrapped in a fruit roll-up) and Pop-Tarts served with ice cream and various toppings. Also available were Pop-Tart bits baked into pies or cookies.

(image: slashfood.com)

The one thing I would have probably been dazzled by is the shop's Pop-Tarts Varietizer. Like a vending machine, visitors picked and choose the flavors of Pop-Tarts for a custom packaged box of their favorites. The same old flavors in the bulk box of 24 Pop-Tarts from Costco now just pales in comparison.

Merchandise, limited-edition flavors and special occasion packaging is available online. Visit poptartsworld.com for more information.

(images: ohreallybecky.com)

REWIND: Union Station Holidays (DC, 2008)

The facade of Union Station stretches 600 feet in total.
The unusual background was taken strictly by accident.

With New Year's Eve just around the corner, let's keep the Christmas feeling alive a bit longer with a look back at Union Station in Washington, DC all decked for the holidays. These photos are from a visit in December 2008.

Union Station opened in 1907 and is visited by over 32 million people each year. The terminal is served by commuter railroads such as Amtrak, the Washington Metro and buses.

The main hall ceiling reaches 96 feet above the floor.

Of particular note is the beaux-arts style architecture and vaulted ceiling of the main hall and concourse. As of this writing the train concourse level is being renovated. More than 100 shops and 35 food establishments from fast food to fine dining are located on three levels within the station. In austere downtown DC, this is one the few contained "shopping mall" experiences near the National Mall. During freezing winters or hot summers, the indoor comfort of this landmark becomes even more attractive.

More info at unionstationdc.com.

The three level concourse. 

Main Hall. Like an airport, boards announce rail schedules.

Holiday model train display in the main hall

REWIND: Planet Hawaii, Signs of the Islands on Earth (DC, 2008)

Hibiscus

The southeast corner of the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory is devoted to the Hawaii exhibit. It features the rare and endangered species of the country's 50th state.

Among the endangered plants is the Hawaii state flower: the hibiscus. Threats such as development, overgrazing by livestock and feral animals and competition from invasive weeds have reduced the number of plants surviving in the wild. Currently there are less than 60 plants in 8 populations on the islands of Lana'i, Maui and the Big Island.

The conservatory emphasizes the value of plants to society. The present building opened in 1933. (note: all photos Dec 2008)

Above & below: plants in the Hawaii exhibit.

This is not from Hawaii. I just thought this cactus looked interesting.

Facade and main entrance of conservatory (Dec 2008)