Thursday, September 30, 2010


They Might Be Giants

Launch East Coast Tour Dates Including

The Kennedy Center in DC &
Two Shows at NYC's Town Hall



“They make defiantly uncool look and sound unbelievably cool…” - Village Voice

"Not sure whether to give these guys another Grammy, a Nobel Prize in one of the sciences, or both.”
- Urban Baby

“TMBG continues to deliver the current generation’s answer to ‘Schoolhouse Rock’…” - The Boston Globe

“The album functions as a wonderful synthesis of old and new; in the process, it reaches a multigenerational audience… ”
- NPR Music

They Might Be Giants continue their US tour, hitting the east coast this September. The Brooklyn rockers will play a special free show as part of the Milennium Stage Series at the Kennedy Center in DC in addition to two performances at New York City’s Town Hall and the 5th annual “fan appreciation show” at Mohegan Sun!

The band is scheduled to play both days of this year’s Life is good Festival in the Boston area alongside three stages of headliners, including Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, OK Go, Ben Harper & Relentless7 and many more. All proceeds go to benefit The Life is good Kids Foundation whose mission is to provide support to kids who face life-threatening conditions such as the trauma of violence, poverty and loss.

The Giants’ kids album, Here Comes Science, released in September 2009, has received praise across the board for its unique and exciting fusion of rock, education and humor. Boing Boing described the album as “top-notch pop music with humor that's aimed at both kids and adults” and called the album“better than great. Perfect.”

They Might Be Giants Tour Dates

10/02: Washington, DC @ Millennium Stage Series at the Kennedy Center (Family Show, Free)
10/16: Port Washington, NY @ Landmark on Main Street/Jeanne Rimsky Theater (Rock Show, 3:00pm)
10/16: Port Washington, NY @ Landmark on Main Street/Jeanne Rimsky Theater (Rock Show, 8:00pm)
10/17: Morristown, NJ @ Community Center at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (1:30pm)
10/17: Morristown, NJ @ Community Center @ Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (Family Show, 4:00pm)
10/30: Fairfield, CT @ Quick Center for the Arts (Family Show, 2:00pm)
10/30: Fairfield, CT @ Quick Center for the Arts (8:00pm)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010


New to You: Andrew Stone

This is the first in an occasional series -- "New To You" -- in which BeansTalk introduces you to an up-and-coming artist (actor, musician, writer, painter, etc.)

Alternative rocker Andrew Stone, 22, was born in Missouri and raised in Hawaii before he made his pilgrimage to Austin, Texas. In Austin, Stone has spent the past couple of years forging his diverse musical background – he is often compared to: Robert Plant, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. On stage, he is a dynamo, a passionate and fiery windmill of power chords.

Stone was a finalist in the 2009 Uncommon Grounds Songwriter Competition in Chicago. He is currently in the studio working on his first full-length record scheduled to be released this fall. His musical influences include: Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, U2, and White Stripes.

Stone is popular with the college and university crowds throughout Texas. He has played at Momo's, Stubb’s, Hole in the Wall, Red Eyed Fly, Monk's in Abilene, Sugar Brown's in Lubbock, 806 in Amarillo, and many others. Andrew recently signed with manager, Harrison Cheung, who previously managed Christian Bale and was instrumental in the actor's career. Stone will make his Los Angeles debut in the near future. Cheung suggests this winter.

Reviews:

“A very talented player. His vocals are emotive and his slide guitar playing unique.”
BigWesternFlavor

“Unless you’ve been to one of his live shows, you’ll never fully appreciate the young musical dynamo that he is.”
Abilene Creative Pulse

“Andrew Stone is one hell of a show. Stone is an animated passion on stage, he often reminds me, quite starkly; of Jeff Buckley the way his vibrato comes out, and the way he's always about to spontaneously overheat and blow up his guitar.”
Smoke a Risin’

“Kind of awesome. Jeff Buckley fans will love Andrew Stone.”
Hairy Man Festival

Web site for videos, scheduling and more.

Andrew Stone's MySpace Page

Andrew Stone's FaceBook Page

Tuesday, September 28, 2010




Judy Collins' Takes on
the "Weight of the World"


Judy Collins' new album 'Paradise' (Wildflower Records) has Collins’ take on songs from the likes of Jimmy Webb, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Tim Buckley, and Stan Jones, as well as duets with Joan Baez and Stephen Stills.

One of the most affecting tracks on the album is “Weight of the World” by emerging Wildflower recording artist Amy Speace, an anti-war song with powerful and personal lyrics. Singing about a brother unthinkably heading off to fight, Collins’ voice is a plaintive, universal cry expressing the unspeakable senselessness of losing a loved one to war. The weight of her world is deeply felt in the intimacy of the song’s lyrics, resonating with “The weight of the world, too heavy to lift/ So much was lost, so much was missed/ It doesn’t seem fair that any boy or any girl/ Should have to carry the weight of the world.”

Click Here to Listen

Monday, September 27, 2010


Ways to Save: Books

(the first in an occasional "Ways to Save" series)

By BeansTalk

Duh. The Library.

I'm at the point where I very rarely buy books at bookstores. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the library can be very convenient. Just remember to either renew or return the books when they're due.

Used Or As We Prefer, Recycled, Books

If you must add everything you read to your collection of "keeps," consider visiting sites/places which offer books at reduced rates. One such place is a library -- many libraries have designated rooms for library book discards or donations.

Library Discards or Donations to Buy

Our local library offers all mass market fiction sized books for .50 cents and all trade paper and hardbound for $1. There must be a lot of readers in our community because the turnaround is very good. Many libraries hold quarterly/bi-annual/annual book sales, too. Keep an eye out for them. Visit http://www.booksalefinder.com/ and get on their mailing list and they'll send you a weekly listing of all book sales in your area (based on zip codes).

The Thrift Store Alternative

Another option is time consuming, so set aside a nice block of time to peruse thrift store bookshelves. This is an unpredictable venture since some stores have large sections and others very little. The only way to tell is to visit thrift stores in your area (or, for that matter, anywhere you are) and head to the book section. This is not a quest for the impatient or intolerant.

If you cannot bear the thought of actually going out to look for whatever you might find, ie. out on the hopes you might get lucky and the book you're looking for is on a thirst store shelf for hardly anything.

Try Locally, Be Green Globally

We're in Southern California, on the Westside of Los Angeles and in the last couple of years we've lost two excellent thrift resources for books -- the now defunct Salvation Army on Washington Blvd. in Culver City and the Boys and Girls Club, also on Washington Blvd, but in Culver City west. Both shops had separate rooms dedicated to books and it could be a real joy scanning and finding something you've been wanting.

You can't rely on on one thrift store chain to concentrate more on books. This takes an actual visit. There are some Out of the Closets that don't carry a lot of books and some that do (the one on Pico Blvd. west of Overland Avenue in West Los Angeles and the one on Fairfax between Third and Melrose are excellent book hunt venues).

Yelp Help

If you visit yelp.com and search for local thrift stores and a sub-search for books, or simply read through comments (contributors often mention if a locale is "good" or "bad" for books). In addition to the more commonly recognized names, be sure to consider independents or smaller charities.

Some Goodwills are donation centers that sell books-only, check their website for more details.

Online Book Sales

If you'd rather tinker/patrol/stalk/monitor the internet than actually getting in a car and driving to peruse bookshelves, you might want to consider buying online -- there's the Ebay-owned company, www.half.com or Ebay itself. Amazon offers used books, too.

Trades and Swaps

Another alternative to support your reading habit is to consider swaps -- www.swap.com. Establish contact and online associations with like-minded readers.

Friday, September 24, 2010


Peep-Toe Black Booties

We have to admit we're intrigued with this look -- the open-toed bootie. It's strictly for fashion, since an open toe, socked or not, is not going to keep you warm if it's cold. It surely not for comfort with the heels most of them sport. At any rate, Friday Fashion offers a look at what's out there for this very trendy (and not likely long-lasting) well-shod style. We also present to you a wide variety of price points.

Alexander McQueen

leather upper.
Provocative peep toe.
Zipper front closure with a supernatural skull zipper pull engraved with "Alexander McQueen".
Fascinatingly fierce leather fold down lapels with snap button closures on the vamp.
Hypnotically repeated circular pattern stylishly stitched at the back quarter.
Leather lining.
Leather and synthetic insole.
Leather outsole.
Stiletto heel.
Made in Italy.
4 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
12.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: These are admittedly more extreme, and probably the most "fashion-forward" [or "fast" as they say in the biz] of the collection we've assembled for you. With Sarah Jessica Parker and other celebrity fashionistas honoring the late designer, we felt compelled to include this style.)

$1,159

Giuseppe Zanotti

Grainy leather upper.
Pull-on style.
Captivating fabric cuff with sequin embellishments.
Enthralling open toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Spectacularly stacked stiletto.
Leather sole.
Made in Italy.
4" heel.
9.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: We've got two different versions -- and price points -- that feature a faux sock element. While the open toe means your toes won't be cozy, this style is likely to be more comfortable around your ankle and keep it warm.)

$1,125.00

Michael Kors

Leather upper.
Back zip closure.
Rows of elastic strips create allure.
Peep toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Leather-covered platform.
Leather sole.
Made in Italy.
4" heel.
3/4" platform.
9.00 oz.

$875

Burberry Engraved Crepe Peep Toe Bootie

Suede with leather detailing.
Front zipper closure.
Peep toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Etched synthetic outsole.
Made in Italy.
3 1/2" heel.
3/8" platform.
10.00 oz.

$595

Donald J. Pliner Zerli

Quality leather upper.
Flirty peep-toe style.
Easy side-zip closure.
Branded metallic buckle.
Leather lining and insole.
Cone-shaped heel.
Branded leather outsole.
Made in Italy.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
6.00" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
12.00 oz.
$450

Velvet Angels Opium

Leather or metallic leather upper.
Intriguing design at vamp that wraps around the ankle.
Metallic button accents.
Side zip closure.
Lightly padded footbed.
Man-made lining.
Covered heel and platform.
Leather sole.
4 1/2" heel.
1" platform.
4.00" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
12.00 oz.

$329

7 for all Mankind Brussels

Crinkled leather upper
Back zip for easy on/off.
Pyramid stud detail adds a dose of shine.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Wrapped wedge heel.
Synthetic sole.
Imported.
4" heel.
1/2" platform.
7.50" shaft height.
11.00" circumference.
15.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: The studs and wedged heel make this rocker and gothy and different.)

$325

Diane Von Furstenberg Angel
Suede upper.
Magnificent mesh inlay.
Back zipper closure.
Open toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Suede-covered heel.
Leather sole.
Made in Italy.
3 1/2" heel.
9.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: These are quite pretty. As you can tell from this long list of choices, despite the distinctive styling of the peep-toed black bootie, they are available in smooth or crinkled leather or suede. For the budget conscious, there are man-made options. Just the slight differences in additions, burn-outs and cut-outs can suit whatever edge you prefer.)

$444 (on sale on Zappos for $318)

Belle by Sigerson Morrison

Leather upper.
Front zip closure with adjustable buckle detail.
Silver-tone hardware.
Open toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Stacked heel.
Leather sole.
Imported.
3" heel.
10.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: We're not a fan of the stacked heel and this is probably our least favorite, but we're here to show you what's out there and available to you.)

$299

Betsey Johnson Niles

Leather upper with contrast perforated wing tip detail.
Adjustable lace-up front and convenient side zip closure.
Sexy peep toe design.
Leather lining.
Leather-covered heel and platform.
Heart-print leather sole.
4 3/4" heel.
1" platform.
5.50" shaft height.
11.25" circumference.
18.00 oz.

$299

Juicy Couture Nyda
Crinkly nappa leather upper.
Side zip closure.
Open toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
"Smells Like Couture" stamped on man-made sole.
Imported.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
11.00 oz.

$275

BCBG MaxAzria

Leather and suede combo upper.
Peep toe design with adjustable buckle detail.
Slimming silhouette with back zip closure.
Lightly padded footbed.
Man-made lining.
Sexy covered pencil heel.
Leather sole.
3 3/4" heel.
6.50" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
8.00 oz.

$227

Maxstudio Zimbabive

Suede upper.
Peep-toe design with slouch.
Lightly padded footbed.
Leather lining.
Stacked heel.
Man-made sole.
4" heel.
1/2" platform.
12.00 oz.

$183

Calvin Klein Sallie

Suede upper.
Peep toe for added style.
Buckle accents.
Full length side zipper for easy on-and-off.
Leather insole.
Padded footbed.
Durable man-made outsole.
4 1/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
4.50" shaft height.
11.25" circumference.
15.00 oz.

$179

Matisse Joplin

Easy pull-on construction.
Leather upper.
Peep toe.
Leather lining.
Lightly cushioned leather footbed.
Studded midsole.
Wood platform and heel.
Man-made sole.
3 1/2" heel.
3/4" platform.
12.00 oz.
$169

Martinez Valero Odella

Stretch fabric upper.
Peep toe.
Man-made lining.
Hidden platform.
Leather sole.
4 1/2" heel.
1" platform.
9.50" shaft height.
10.00" circumference.
13.00 oz.
BeansTalk note: These may be our favorites -- a combo of looks, potential comfort (as these things go) and price
$153

Naya Ana

Chrome-free leather or suede upper with pleat detailing at the vamp.
Zip closure on the instep makes for easy on/off.
Smooth leather lining for "ohh-la-la"-inducing comfort.
Biodegradable foam comfort system for pillowy comfort with each step.
Platform midsole.
Recycled cork non-slip outsole.
2 3/4" heel.
1/2" platform.
11.00 oz.

$149

Nine West Buren

Side-zip closure with laces ensure effortless on and off.
Combo leather and man-made.
Peep toe.
Man-made lining.
Wrapped platform and stacked heel.
Man-made sole.
4 1/2" heel.
1" platform.
4.50" shaft height.
11.25" circumference.
14.00 oz.

$139

Dolce Vita Viper

Back-zip closure.
Suede upper with multiple rows of straps embellished with studs.
Soft leather lining.
Lightly cushioned leather footbed.
Covered heel.
Leather sole.
4 1/4" heel.
3/8" platform.
11.00 oz.
$184 (on sale Zappos $115)

Sam Edelman Belmont

Zipper closure with lace-up front.
Rich suede upper with buckle accent at shaft.
Peep toe.
Combo leather and fabric lining.
Lightly cushioned leather footbed.
Wrapped platform and heel.
Textured man-made sole.
4" heel.
6.00" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
19.00 oz.

$175

Miss Sixty Jaiden 2

Side-zip closure ensures effortless on/off.
Ruched suede upper.
Contrasting leather lining.
Lightly cushioned leather footbed.
Man-made sole.
4" heel.
3/4" platform.
13.00 oz.

$169

Report Hahn

Side-zip closure ensures effortless on and off.
Rich suede upper.
Peep toe.
Soft lether lining.
Lightly cushioned man-made footbed.
Wrapped platform and heel.
Man-made sole.
4" heel.
1" platform.
13.00 oz.

$140

Steve Madden Bailley

Side-zip closure ensures effortless on and off.
Leather or suede upper with ruched detail.
Peep toe.
Man-made lining.
Lightly cushioned man-made footbed.
Wrapped heel.
Man-made sole.
3 3/4" heel.
10.00 oz.
$130

Kenneth Cole Rise n Shine

Leather or snake print upper.
Side cutouts add allure.
Back zip closure.
Lightly padded footbed.
Wrapped platform.
Rubber sole.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
12.00 oz.

$99
Jessica Simpson Dakee

Easy pull-on construction with adjustable buckle closures at calf and instep.
Leather upper.
Peep toe.
Man-made lining.
Lightly cushioned man-made footbed.
Wrapped or stacked heel.
Durable man-made sole.
4" heel.
13.00 oz.

$141 (on sale Zappos $97)

Vince Camuto Avo

Peep toe ankle bootie with an open heel.
Soft leather upper with ruching detail and shiny metallic stud accents.
Instep zipper makes this style easy to slip on/off.
Leather lining and insole.
Lightly padded footbed with brand detail at the heel.
Stacked cone heel.
Man-made sole with logo detailing.
Imported.
4 1/2" heel.
9.00 oz.

$124 (on sale at Zappos $89)

Madden Girl Krizta

Side-zip closure ensures effortless on and off.
Man-made upper with strap and buckle detail.
Peep toe.
Soft fabric lining.
Lightly cushioned man-made footbed.
Wrapped platform and heel.
Durable man-made sole.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
14.00 oz.
$60

Unlisted Shelf Reliance

Suede-like fabric upper.
Eye-catching pleated detailing.
Back zip closure.
Lightly padded footbed.
Fabric lining.
Stacked heel.
Man-made sole.
3 1/2" heel.
9.00 oz.
$59

Madden Girl Kernal

Easy slip-on wear with front-zip closure.
Man-made upper with ankle cuff and bold stitch detail at heel cup.
Peep toe.
Man-made lining.
Wrapped heel.
Durable man-made sole.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
12.00 oz.

$50

Thursday, September 23, 2010



Nathalie Dubois-Sissoko + Gifting Suites

= High-class Global Venues


by Beth Zerilli

Contributing Editor

East Coast Correspondent


Nathalie Dubois-Sissoko (seen above with Emmy-winner and Nurse Jackie star Edie Falco), president and CEO of Dubois, Pelin and Associates (DPA) officially debuted her gifting suites at the 2005 Golden Globe Awards. With French –style and products, in 2010, DPA has produced six major suites making Nathalie and DPA an intricate part of almost every major award show or film festival worldwide. Born in France, Nathalie travels throughout the world and draws on the diversity of cultures and designs she discovers to make her suites unique and unforgettable.


BeansTalk grabbed a few moments with Nathalie during last week’s T.I.F.F (Toronto’s International Film Festival) to discover more about this Global Gifting Suite company.


BT: How does this year’s suite compare with the suite two years ago?

ND:This year’s suite is a bit different. There are less familiar faces this year.


BT: And the overall success of this year?

ND: If you look at the overall seven days it had been a good event. We are actually closing earlier since we are running out of products. So, I guess it has been a successful week.


BT: How do you get started in this business (Gifting Lounges)?

ND: It’s a long story. I was producing special events for 10 years: anywhere from fashion shows like Donna Karan all the way to unknown designers. I worked for the Royal Family of Japan and for the [Michael] Jackson family.


I was traveling one day to Bora Bora, and I met this jewelry company that was amazing and they pressured me to do their public relations, which I didn’t do at the time. And finally, I decided to put this (the jewelry line) on the red carpet of the Golden Globes. We had so many presents around the necklace we were [displaying] for the celebrity (gifting) that we decided to take a suite and put all the products in it. It was a concept that was already done – we didn’t invent anything.


BT: How long have you been doing Gifting Lounges?

ND: We started in Januray 2005 with Golden Globes and we basically took it world wide.


BT: How are you different from the other gifting suites?

ND: We decided to do it (our gifting suites) the French way, putting it upscale. We do it very differently than anybody else. We don’t let people loose in the suite. We escort them. We carry their bags. We print invites and deliver them. All the little pluses. We are also the only company doing (gifting suites) world-wide. We partner with the biggest film festivals in the world: The Dubai Film Festival for four years, Hong Kong Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival for three years. We were in Cannes for four years. That’s what also brought us to a different level. We are very international and very upscale.


BT: How do you decide the products to be gifted?

ND: In every event we have a big name brand and new brands. For this event (Toronto International Film Festival), we decided to go full blast in Canadian brands. So, we approached many Canadian companies.


BT: How do you decide on which vendors to use?

ND: It’s basically everything I like. A lot of times, I just go shopping and find products. Then I pursue the products. We have a lot of companies that approach us. We screen a lot of products. I have to say that I am proud of everything I have this suite. I will either use or wear or recommend to people and I think that also what makes a difference. I am friends with so many celebrities in Hollywood and I go to their house. I see a lot of the gifts (from other company suites) recycled as Christmas gifts (for example). And I know that a lot of my gifts are worn by the celebrities. They get shot (by photographers) in the streets with bracelets (etc) and I guess it’s pretty much coming from my taste. Things I like. I don’t compromise for money. I just choose things that I will love.


BT: Have you ever had an experience where you invited a vendor and they were not what you expected?

ND: Yes! It happened in Venice. And it was so embarrassing! It was a plate with Swarovski crystals and it just looked cheap and so 15-years-old. And that year we had Charlize Theron and Richard Gere and there was no way I could have gone to them (with these), so I hid the plates and sent them back.


BT: Have you noticed that the vendors, particularly those that are new to their industries, take off in popularity after the exposure from your suites?

ND: It’s huge! It’s in fact very interesting, because we have a base of companies that follow us world-wide. Recently we had a client since 2007 that just got huge after Monte Carlo in June, because they did three years of events with us and they just signed a deal with a hotel to sell their products world-wide. It’s a lot of success stories. People like designer of pearls worn by Sharon Stone on the red carpet. And she (Stone) is one of the top images for fashion and glamour. She puts a lot of our products on the red carpet or in the streets (for photo-ops) and a lot of companies get pushed to the next level. It (being a part of a gift lounge) accounts for about 6 months of public relations when you do a suite like this. Even if a suite had only two stars. The amount of press and promotion and the network of people is incredible. We invite only the biggest celebrities. And if the celebrities don’t come, still the network people come, big agents, and it will grow the network for these people (vendors).


BT: Have you ever had a moment (not naming names) where a celebrity visited and you had to intervene between a celebrity and a vendor?

ND: We had the case one time where a very big celebrity entered the suite and I think she was not comfortable with her image. She wore her sunglasses and said, “Where are the diamonds!” All she wanted were the diamonds and she walked in and out. It was disappointing for the other vendors. We very rarely have problems with celebrities. (Although) we have funny stories with celebrities, like after being gifted so much (some celebrities) will call again to ask for more. Recently a huge A-List (celebrity) did that (call and asked for more), which was surprise. Normally the A-list[ers] don’t do it. It’s more like a B-list, (since) we don’t invite C-list. The bigger the stars the easier it (the gifting suite) is.


BT: What have been some of your favorite moments doing this?

ND: Some really magical times! I had a very sweet moment with Richard Gere in Venice [at the Film Festival], where we gave him some gifts. He is a very special person. The night of his premiere, he crossed the whole room full of people with his wife (and it was high security), to come get me. My client introduced us as the people who gifted him all day. It was very special.


The first time I met Terrence Howard [Iron Man], he wanted to sign a check at the end, because he didn’t understand the concept. And he was very sweet and amazing. He is always doing something special. He comes to a lot of our suites. (Again) the first time he essentially took his checkbook out and I said, “No, no, no, it’s just gifts for you.”


The second time [Howard] came he was really amazing [again]. It was another Golden Globe one where we had the suite above the red carpet. He wrote a note in the mirror (by the gifting -suite guest book). So, nobody could read it and to read it you have to put it (the message in front of] a mirror. It was a very special note to me.


I think of big moments, like little kids growing up who are really big now: like Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men. We have been seeing her for three or four years. It really so exciting.


BT: Any strange moments you recall over the years?

ND: We have to have security when we do L.A. . We have lots of people impersonating people, like lying. Recently at the Emmy’s, we had this guy arriving, acting like he’s Aaron Paul [Breaking Bad] and he looks like him. It was really bad. We have stories like this a lot. We have thieves. We have prostitutes trying to come with bags saying they're actresses from whatever show. When we are in Cannes we were almost attacked. This guy, he was 7-ft. tall and he looked like a skin-head. He knocked at the door and said he had come to get the gifts. Also had a little old lady who was once walking by the suite. She wanted to get a gift bag. So she tried every single day until finally we were so tired of it we just gave her a gift bag. It was so sad.


BT: You’re traveling all over the world, is there any city that tends to be more difficult than the rest?

ND: The Middle East was very tough in the beginning, because we get a lot of Bollywood, a lot of U.S. that go to the Dubai Film Festival. And also we get a lot of Arabic stars. And imagine this concept, in America or even in Canada. They know the deal that you take pictures (with the products that are being gifted). But, in the Middle East a lot of women have the veil. So, they (Middle-Eastern women) want a dress when they are going to wear it behind walls, but they don’t want to be shot (photographed) with the dress. In the Middle East they will be in trouble (for having their picture taken with the product). I would say there are no events more difficult, just different. I love them all!

Dubois with Sharon Stone

Wednesday, September 22, 2010



Douglas & Brolin Choose
Same
Designer for
Wall Street 2 Premiere


Looking Good: Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan and Josh Brolin attend the premiere of their film'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 in New York.

Both Douglas & Brolin were wearing shirts by ANTO Beverly Hills.

Douglas, who attended with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta Jones, selected an Anto white on white Swiss cotton and silk dress shirt with white collar and white French cuffs.

Brolin wore a burgundy Italian cotton dress shirt by Anto.

Anto Distinctive Shirtmakers is a custom tailor who has been working with Hollywood for the past 50 years providing custom shirts to everyone from Frank Sinatra to Johnny Depp. Besides their celebrity clientele – they work closely with the film industry and have done shirts for many top films. This family owned business has had their flagship store in Beverly Hills since 1976 and they have just expanded to a second location in Sherman Oaks.
(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010


Ask About Don't Ask!

by Beth Zerilli
Contributing Editor
East Coast Correspondent


Don’t Ask! Says the new line for Micalla

Montreal based – Micalla introduced their newest line in jewelry at DBA’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Gifting lounge and BeansTalk was there to preview the line.

Don’t Ask! is versatile, affordable, and edgy line of jewelry. Many of the Don’t Ask! pieces transform from bracelet to hanging necklace to choker and dressed up or down depending upon the occasion and the wearer's mood.

In an interview with Camilla Jørgensen, Micalla’s founder/designer, she describes what she referred to as the company’s “humble beginnings.”

Camilla: In 2007, when a close friend in Montreal was diagnosed with cancer, I foresaw the uncomfortable and trying times that lay ahead and chose to engage my friend in making jewelry to distract her while she was a patient of the cancer ward. After my friend blessedly recovered, I found myself returning to my entrepreneurial ways by designing seasonal lines of handcrafted jewelry using carefully selected semi-precious stones, gems, pearls and sterling silver.

BeansTalk: What are some of the most challenging pieces of jewelry that you design?

Camilla: The most challenging pieces are always our Micalla gemstone pieces. Each stone is so beautiful, created perfectly by nature. I can't help but spend hours and days trying to make sure that the natural beauty is highlighted. Nature truly is a wonder!

BeansTalk: If you could design a dream piece of jewelry, what would it be and who would wear it?

Camilla: It would be for Audrey Hepburn...she was, and still is, such an inspiration of beauty and grace. I think she encompass all the attributes that we strive to achieve each day...honest beauty, compassion, and the love of life. A delicate piece of raw diamonds and pearls.

MICALLA has been showcased at Semaine de la Mode in Montreal, LG Fashion Week, and been a must-have for celebrities at the Toronto International Film Festival, Gemini Awards and the Golden Globes.

Micalla designer jewelry is available online at http://www.micalla.com/

Image: Mialla's Orchid Cuff

Monday, September 20, 2010















Nova's New Season


Looks at Cathedrals, Stonehenge, King Solomon's Mines, A Doomed Airliner, Elevator Fear and Dogs

NOVA airs Tuesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on PBS
www.pbs.org/nova

PBS's Nova's fall line-up features expeditions and investigations that reveal new research and findings in an array of fields, including engineering, forensics, aviation, archeology, climatology, genetics, and more. This season, NOVA examines elevator safety and reveals intriguing insights into people's overwhelming fears of becoming trapped. The series also soars to new heights to unlock the mysteries of the magnificent Gothic cathedrals and to investigate the 2009 mid-ocean disappearance of a commercial airliner. NOVA then digs down to unravel new clues to Stonehenge, descends into what might be the fabled mines of King Solomon to hunt for hidden biblical treasures, and plunges viewers beneath the surface of Antarctica's ice to reveal the secrets frozen in time there. In a thoroughly engaging new documentary, NOVA also decodes "man's best friend" and offers surprising new science on the remarkable bond between humans and dogs.

Building the Great Cathedrals - Tuesday, October 19
How did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights using only hand tools to cre¬ate the great cathedrals? The filmmakers behind NOVA's award-winning documentary Secrets of the Parthenon take viewers on a dazzling new architectural journey, inside those majestic marvels and jewels of Gothic architecture. Carved from a 100 million pounds of stone and sometimes more than 100 years in the making, some now teeter on the brink of catastrophic collapse. To save them, an international team of engineers, architects, art historians, and computer scientists searches the naves, bays, and bell-towers for clues to how the dream of these temples of human achievement and artistry became a reality. NOVA teams perform hands-on experiments to learn the architectural secrets that the cathedral builders used to erect their towering, glass-filled walls and reveal the hidden formulas, drawn from the Bible that drove medieval builders ever upward.

Crash of Flight 447 - Tuesday, October 26
On June 1, 2009, Flight AF447, an Air France Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean, taking with it all 228 lives on board. How could a state-of-the-art airliner with elaborate electronic safety and navigation features and a faultless safety record simply drop out of the sky? NOVA assembles a team of sea¬soned pilots, engineers and safety experts to examine the evidence that emerged in the weeks following the tragedy. What led Flight 447's crew to fly straight into a raging thun¬derstorm? NOVA uses expert testimony, messages transmitted by the doomed plane's computer system, multi-layered CGI weather reconstructions, and an Airbus simulator with a veteran pilot at the controls to piece together the crucial events and reconstruct the final moments in the cockpit as the crisis over¬whelmed Flight 447's crew. The result is a forensic view presented from all angles to help us understand the crash.

Trapped in an Elevator - Tuesday, November 2
How do elevators work? Are they safe? Why are so many people afraid of them? Across North America, elevators move 325 million passengers every day, and most of the time, people don't give them a second thought. In Trapped in an Elevator, NOVA reveals the secret life of these ubiquitous machines and inves¬tigates personal stories of those who have been caught inside when they do fail. NOVA cameras ride the world's fastest elevator to the top of the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, and test whether the Burj's elevator system is ready for the task of moving people to unprecedented heights. On the other side of the world, NOVA follows one of the thousands of elevator maintenance crews in Manhattan that keep New Yorkers moving up and down every day. Then, at the Otis Test Tower--a 28-story high-rise that's the most over-elevatored building in the world--viewers experience a few heart-pumping moments as a test elevator is sent into free fall. Once brawny but simple machines, elevators are getting a brainy make¬over. Computer controls, like those in the elevators at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square, are getting passengers to their destinations faster and more safely than ever before. But will the elevator-wary be comfortable handing over the reins to computers?

Dogs Decoded - Tuesday, November 9
Dogs have been domesticated for longer than any other animal on the planet, and humans have devel¬oped a unique relationship with these furry friends. We treat our pets like a part of the family, and we feel that they can understand us in a way other animals cannot. Now, new research is revealing what dog lovers have suspected all along: Dogs have an uncanny ability to read and respond to human emo¬tions. What is surprising, however, is new research showing that humans, in turn, respond to dogs with the same hormone responsible for bonding mothers to their babies. How did this incredible relationship between humans and dogs come to be? And how can dogs, so closely related to fearsome wild wolves, behave so differently? It's all in the genes. Dogs Decoded investigates new discoveries in genetics that are illuminating the origin of dogs--with revealing implications for the evolution of human culture as well. NOVA also travels to Siberia, where the mystery of dogs' domestication is being repeated--in foxes. A 50-year-old breeding program is creating an entirely new kind of creature, a tame fox with some surprising similarities to man's best friend. Dogs Decoded reveals the science behind the remarkable bond between humans and their dogs and spurs new questions about what this could mean for our rela¬tionships with other animal species.

Secrets of Stonehenge - Tuesday, November 16
Dated to the late Stone Age, Stonehenge may be the best-known and most mysterious relic of prehistory. Every year, a million visitors are drawn to England to gaze upon the famous circle of stones, but the monument's meaning has continued to elude us. Now investigations inside and around Stonehenge have kicked off a dramatic new era of discovery and debate over who built Stonehenge and for what purpose. How did prehistoric people quarry, transport, sculpt, and erect these giant stones? Granted exclusive access to the dig site at Bluestonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle monument recently discovered about a mile from Stonehenge, NOVA cameras join a new generation of researchers finding important clues to this enduring mystery.

Quest for Solomon's Mines - Tuesday, November 23
Countless treasure-seekers have set off in search of King Solomon's mines, trekking through burning deserts and scaling the forbidding mountains of Africa and the Levant, inspired by the Bible's account of splendid temples and palaces adorned in glittering gold and copper. Yet to date, the evidence that has claimed to support the existence of Solomon and other early kings in the Bible has been highly contro¬versial. In fact, so little physical evidence of the kings who ruled Israel and Edom has been found that many contend that they are no more real than King Arthur. In the summer of 2010, NOVA and National Geographic embarked on two cutting-edge field investigations that illuminate the legend of Solomon and reveal the source of the great wealth that powered the first mighty biblical kingdoms. These ground¬breaking expeditions expose important new clues buried in the pockmarked desert of Jordan, includ¬ing ancient remnants of an industrial-scale copper mine and a 3,000-year-old message with the words "slave," "king," and "judge."

Secrets Beneath the Ice - Tuesday, December 28
Almost three miles of ice buries most of Antarctica, cloaking a continent one-and-a-half times the size of the United States. If all that ice melted, seas around the world would rise high enough to flood 12-story skyscrapers in places like New York City. Even a ten percent loss of Antarctica's ice would cause cata-strophic flooding of coastal cities unlike any seen before in human history.

"Secrets Beneath the Ice" explores whether Antarctica's climate past can offer clues to what may happen to our warming planet. Around 14 million years ago Antarctica was mostly ice-free. So when a massive ice shelf the size of Manhattan collapsed in less than one month in 2002, it shocked scientists and raised the alarming possibility that we may be heading toward an Antarctic meltdown.

To gather crucial evidence, NOVA follows an ambitious Antarctic investigation-a state-of-the-art drill-ing probe known as ANDRILL. Drilling deep beneath the Antarctic ice, down through the sea, and three fourths of a mile into the sea floor, ANDRILL recovers rock cores that reveal intimate details of climate and fauna from a time in the distant past when the Earth was just a few degrees warmer than it is today. As researchers grapple with the harshest conditions on the planet, they discover astonishing new clues-not only about Antarctica's past, but also Earth's future. These breakthrough discoveries carry ominous implications for coastal cities around the globe.

# # #

Now in its 37th season, NOVA is the most-watched primetime science series on American television, reaching an average of five million viewers weekly. The series remains committed to producing in-depth science programming in the form of hour-long (and occasionally longer) documentaries, from the latest breakthroughs in technology to the deepest mysteries of the natural world. NOVA airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on WGBH Boston and most PBS stations. The Director of the WGBH Science Unit and Senior Executive Producer of NOVA is Paula S. Apsell.

Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil, Pacific Life, David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers.

NOVA is closed-captioned for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers and described for people who are blind or visually impaired by the Media Access Group at WGBH. The descriptive narration is available on the SAP channel or stereo TV and VCRs. To order NOVA direct from WGBH Boston Video, visit shop.wgbh.org or call 800.949.8670.

Friday, September 17, 2010


Introducing Inca Boots

BeansTalk Visits With Inca Owner Evan Streusand


Uggs are so over! Ed Hardy suede boots use faux shearling. Inca Boot Company, of Austin, TX and owned by Evan Streusand and Matthew Holman, is a new company of women’s boots.

The boots are flat and versatile and designed to incorporate the Peruvian influence which comes from Streusand's 2004 life-changing trip to Peru. While walking the streets of Peru, Streusand encountered multiple craftsmen selling everything from jewelry to footwear. One man in particular was hand making a pair of boots that ultimately went home with Streusand which he still wears to this day. Impressed by the detail given to each pair of boots, Streusand returned to the states with a new appreciation for the Peruvian way of life.

Streusand planned a business idea to take his Peruvian inspiration to create a boot business in America. He returned to Peru in 2007 to further observe the culture and the process in which footwear is made. Each Inca pair is handmade and manufactured in Peru.

Inca Boots are made of suede with an interior made of lambskin. Each pair is designed with a Peruvian inspired pattern made of lamb’s wool seen on the top of the foot and around the upper part of the boot.

Our Interview

Streusand spoke with BeansTalk about the phenomena of Inca Boots:

What is your background Evan and what brought you to Peru?

I grew up more interested in the arts than anything else, mainly focusing on playing music and filmmaking, though in school I studied communications. After college I worked odd jobs and saved up enough money to go backpacking throughout various parts of South America. Cusco, Peru was actually the last stop on my trip and it was there that I found my inspiration for the boots.

Had you ever thought of starting a boot company or was your sole inspiration the trip and the boots?

I had never thought about starting a boot company until I first came across this particular style. Oddly enough, as a native Texan I had sort of rebelled against wearing boots in general. For the longest time I just didn’t see the appeal. That all changed of course.

What makes Inca Boots different than other boots out there now?

For one, Inca Boots simply look different than anything being sold currently. They’re the perfect mix of fashion and practicality. I’m not sure you could say the same thing about UGG’s, though I guess they’re practical in certain regions. Also, unlike UGG’s, our boots are made by hand in the specific region where the style was originated, and that authenticity is something that’s very important to us. The level of skill required by the artists that make our boots is very high. We could never turn these over to some factory in China and still maintain our standards of quality.

How durable are they?

I’ve had the same pair (of men’s boots) for 6 years.

So many boots now are made of faux suede and it seems like consumers don't understand how inferior a material that is for shoes and especially boots. Can you address that?

I can understand if a customer is looking to save a few bucks on their shoes, as a faux suede is typically cheaper to produce. At the same time, if you want something that will last and something that is inevitably softer and generally more pleasant to the touch then there’s really no debate to be had. In an ideal world a truly authentic suede would always win out.

That said, it seems like Uggs, which everyone and their mother seems to own, are on their way out -- why should Incas take their place in popularity?

As I said earlier, I don’t find UGG’s to be all that appealing in a purely aesthetic sense. I realize that they’re comfortable, but that seems to be about the limit of their appeal. They don’t really add to someone’s style. Not only are Inca Boots comfortable, but they can be the centerpiece of any girl’s ensemble – whether they’re being worn with a dress, a skirt, leggings or just an old pair of blue jeans. Our boots can “make the outfit,” so to speak, instead of taking away from it.

What are your most popular styles?

Currently our most popular style is the Tall Tan boot. The tan suede is gorgeous and the pattern we chose to go with it really pops.

What is the difference between the short and tall -- it's more subtle than just a bootie -- which type do you recommend for what kind of woman? (ie pants wearers should get short, etc…?)

It’s actually quite simple. Taller girls tend to prefer the taller boots and shorter girls the short.

Austin gets so hot in the summer -- what does Inca do -- ie what shoes/styles are popular in that season?

Austin is not a great market for us during the summertime, though our boots can still be worn in most climates as long as it’s not 100 degrees outside. Since we haven’t yet developed a spring line we’ll be focusing on other parts of the country during the summer season.

Do you have any celebs?

Not as of yet – do you know anybody? :)

www.incaboots.com

New Skincare Line Debuts at T.I.F.F.

by Beth Zerilli

Contributing Editor
East Coast Correspondent


SwissTEC skincare debuts at the 2010 DPA Gifting Lounge for the Toronto International Film Festival (T.I.F.F). From Express Refreshers (mini-facial treatments) to skincare filled totes, SwissTEC exfoliated and moisturized visiting stars who were in Toronto promoting films.

SwissTEC skincare line was formulated by Dr. Jacqueline Hill using certified organic ingredients -- and without paraben, alcohol and petroleum. Recommended by one of Canada’s leading dermatologists, Dr. Fred Weksberg, SwissTEC is currently available exclusively at physician’s offices across Canada (product prices range $38-$159).

As explained online:

SwissTEC™ is a line of skincare products that have been specially designed to help with problem skin, especially if acne, oiliness, dryness, enlarged pores, and the signs of aging are a problem. Products can also ease redness and discomfort while at the same time maintaining the appearance of elasticity following aesthetic medical treatments. In fact, SwissTEC™ has actually designed some products for the sole purpose of caring for the skin after cosmetic treatments.

The ingredients and formulations of SwissTEC™ products feature luxurious high quality ingredients, including certified organic ingredients, to achieve desirable results. All products are non-comedogenic and free of alcohols, parabens, and petroleum. The product line boasts unique cleansers, exfoliants, intensive creams and lightweight serums.

SwissTEC™ products are available at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic online, or visit their Toronto clinic at 5400 Yonge Street, Suite 110. They are also available at www.clarionmedical.com

SwissTEC explains how their products work:

* CIC 2: Slows the signs of aging, lightening the look of brown spots while enhancing skin renewal, resulting in an overall improvement in radiance.

* Ameliox: Reverses the signs of deterioration to the skin's elastic tissue to reduce the appearance of lines of expression and wrinkles.

* Sveltonyl®: This firming complex renews skin's appearance, enhancing the look of tighter, youthful skin.

* Aquarich™: Locks moisture into the skin ensuring a long lasting, revitalizing effect. Improvement can be seen within 24 hours.

* Neutrazen™: Offers soothing care for stress caused by cosmetic treatments while effectively offering daily protective care and revitalization for the skin.

* Pentavitin®: A highly effective moisture regulator under the driest of conditions. Where most moisturizing agents would cease action, Pentavitin continues to be active and effective.

* Vitamin C-PMG: Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and photodamage due to its free-radical scavenging effect.

* Aquaxyl™: This anti-oxidant rich cocktail containing Vitamins A, B2 and C remineralizes the skin enhancing its appearance upon application.

* Oleuropein: Improves the appearance of skin elasticity while absorbing oil and deep cleaning pores.

* Evermat™: Reduces the appearance of pores and improves the look of refined skin tone and texture.

* Algisium C2®: Restores the feel of moisture balance while soothing dehydrated skin.

Thursday, September 16, 2010



Anzie Adds Sparkle
to DPA Lounge at TIFF


by Beth Zerilli
BeansTalk Contributing Editor
East Coast Correspondent


TORONTO, ONT. -- The latest designs by Anzie jewelry were featured at DPA’s gifting lounge at Toronto’s International Film Festival. Anzie's delicately elegant and beautiful signature pieces drew quite a bit of celebrity interest at the TIFF/DPA lounge and begin with fine gemstones from around the world, and each piece is crafted by hand and fashioned from 14-karat or 18-karat gold, and sterling silver.

Started as a labor of love, Anzie Stein, began stringing beads and creating jewelry to raise money for cancer research in response to her own husband’s battle with the disease.

While accompanying her husband to New York and LA for treatment, Anzie spent her free time browsing through numerous boutiques and was inspired to create a line of jewelry to help raise funds for colorectal cancer awareness. She and Jaclyn sought out high quality colored gemstones that inspired the creation of the Lifesaver Bracelet. Each subsequent visit to New York and LA became both “healing and buying” trips. Each visit strengthened their motivation and their efforts finally led to the creation of Anzie.

Jaclyn went on to study business at McGill University and took courses in jewelry design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Today she is the lead designer for the brand. The brand’s building block, the Lifesaver Bracelet remains a best seller with proceeds going to research for Colorectal Cancer and many other nonprofit organizations.

In 1999, Montreal-based Stein and her daughter Jaclyn launched a full collection of designer jewelry that has received the attention of the fashion world, along with a celebrity following.

From Fleur Beaded Bracelets ($175) to Classique Bella Necklaces ($5,500), ANZIE was a favorite celebrity stop at DPA's Gifting Lounge, including Twilight’s and New Moon's Rachelle Lefevre (she's the film saga's original "Victoria").

Katy Perry wore the Bouquet Bracelet to the 2010 Much Music Video Awards. While performing for the show, she wore Anzie Blue Topaz Stud earrings.

This month, Anzie jewelry is featured as an Allure giveaway.

Anzie celebrity clients include:
Rachelle Lefevre – Twilight
Nicole Richie – The Simple Life
Tori Spelling – Beverly Hills 90210

Haylie Duff – Napoleon Dynamite

Paula Zahn – CNN

Vanessa Williams – Ugly Bett
y
Neve Campbell – Party of Five, Scream

Melissa Joan Hart – Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Melissa & Joey
Nikki Yanofsky – Canadian Singer

Dr Nancy Snyderman – The Today Show

Summer Altice – Wedding Crashers

Tia Carrere – Wayne’s World 

Deidre Hall – Days of Our Lives

Melissa George – In Treatment, Grey’s Anatomy

Jill Jones - Girlfriends
Sofia Vergara – Dirty Sexy Money

Nicole Eggert – Baywatch

Anzie jewelry collections can be found at Holt Renfrew, Saks Fifth Avenue and www.anzie.com. Their website features the line's 10 different collections which feature bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, and cuff links, as well as their Lifesaver Bracelets, which are not only beautiful and bejeweled, but notify what ails the wearers. They range in price from $95 to $1500.

Above Image: Lifesaver Bracelet for Diabetes: Clear White Topaz 6 mm round faceted gemstones are set in Sterling Silver. A Sterling Silver disk pendant is engraved with "JDRF" for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. This bracelet measures 7.5" long. For sizing please contact us. $5.00 from each bracelet will be donated to the JDRF in order to help prevent Diabetes and support patients. $275