Oahu: Idyllic Beaches

"Oh darling,want to go for a swim?" If we'd had time, I would have thrown on a swimsuit and gone swimming at this picture perfect beach called "Hanauma Bay."

Doesn't it look divine? The footpath down to it is a bit tenuous, a steep and dusty path from the highway down to the sand, but it looks oh-so-worth-it! If there only was time for all of this. This is the beach location for the famous kissing scene in the movie, "From Here To Eternity" (with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr) was filmed - a movie set indeed.

I took this photo from above at the scenic pullout for the Halona Blowhole.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

"Hear Ye, Hear Ye, I now present...the Oscar for Best Costume Design!"

I had heard there was an exhibition of wedding gowns worn in famous romantic films on display at The Somerset Collection and I simply couldn't resist.

Do you remember Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes dressed like this? These beauties won Michael O'Connor an Oscar in 2009 for "Best Costume Design" for the movie, The Duchess.

I also photographed Meryl Streep's wedding gown from Out of Africa, the dress Gwyneth Paltrow wore in Emma and even a vintage treasure worn by Amy Irving in Yentl. But as they say, "the mall got in the way" and the setting in most of the pictures just didn't translate.

These two, however, look like they are about to hold court. "Hear Ye, Hear Ye!"

Channeling France in Detroit via La Danse

A few friends and I were channeling France last weekend. We had heard that the Detroit Film Theater would be showing a matinee of La Danse, a 3-hour documentary on the legendary Paris Opera Ballet.

We started the afternoon across from the Detroit Institute of Arts at Good Girls Go To Paris creperie. We each enjoyed our own "savory" crepe for lunch and then split this masterpiece named "Fay" for dessert. It is a warm swirl of bananas, pecans, caramel, salted butter and brown sugar. (Sigh)

It was a clear, bright and cold day as we walked next door to watch our film. The documentary was more than I had hoped for. Yes, 3 hours is a long time, but I fell right into each scene. The gorgeous crunchy white skirts. The "hard-to-believe-they-are-real" ballerinas practicing in classic leotards and toe shoes. The luxurious auditorium being cleaned and prepped for a performance. The attention to detail in this film was intoxicating.  The sweep of the broom.  The lacing of the ribbons.  I loved it all.

My ballet experience is really limited to this Ballerina Barbie I had growing up. She was lovely, regal and everything I knew a ballerina to be. I named her Barbara and found that she was never silly or ridiculous like the other girls (ha!). Seeing this magnificent dance company was relaxing, informative and it brought back some childhood memories to boot! What a delight.

And we had a surprise, too. Remember when I told you about the honey that is collected on the roof of the Opera National de Paris and how I bought some when I was there? They showed the roof and the honey in the movie!

If you get the chance, I recommend that you channel France.

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Do you love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Have you watched the movie version starring Colin Firth so many times that you know it by heart?

Then have I got a movie recommendation for you! I stumbled upon the DVD of Lost In Austen on Netflix (a movie renting website) and could not believe my eyes.

Lost in Austen is a movie that beautifully re-creates the scenes, costumes and story of Pride and Prejudice, all while weaving in a modern character (a devotee of the book) who gets dropped into the middle of the plot.

She wanders through the story much as you or I would, talking to Caroline Bingley, peeking in the cupboards and imploring Mr. Bennet to "do something!" when Lydia runs off with a man. It is fantastic and I didn't want it to end.

No matter how dedicated you are to the story, the movie, the life of Jane Austen...you can't help but enjoy this light-hearted movie. Now go watch it and then forward this post to every Austen enthusiast you know.

Ladies In Lavender

I was invited to join a group of women for "lunch at a lavender farm" this Summer. When we arrived, we were told that it was harvest day. The wind blew the sweet scent of lavender everywhere - simply amazing! As we toured the farm and learned about the many varieties of lavender, college boys harvested fragrant bundles and piled them high on this wagon. It was all too pretty for words.

Since we were literally, ladies in lavender, it reminded me of a movie of the same name. Set in 1936, it revolves around two sisters in their golden years that live in a cottage on the coast of Cornwall, England. One morning after a storm, they find a 20-something man washed up on shore. He is injured and doesn’t speak English, so the sisters decide that they must nurse him back to health. This movie is light, charming, and rich with humanity. Rent it, make a cup of tea (with lavender honey?) and get ready for a wonderful movie experience.