Elizabeth Lum, Fashionable Eye Lifestyle editor
February 2010 - A word from the editor
Hey - get excited! Welcome to Fashionable Eye Lifestyle! This is our very first edition of the lifestyle branch off Fashionable Eye fashion. After 2 years of writing fashion articles, we decided to diversify and cover even more areas that appeal to a wider audience. At this point I'd like to introduce my co-editor of Fashionable Eye Lifestyle, Elizabeth Lum, with this joint venture, Liz and I will tag team in 2009 to cover music, dining and recreation. We do hope that we can offer you with even more ideas to get out and experience something different.
How Fashionable Eye Lifestyle differs from other review and recommendation sites is that our writers are everyday people, just like you and me. With similar tastes and diverse interests. We hope you'll find something that interests you, so what are you waiting for? Go check out the mischief for yourself! Who knows you might find something that didn't interest you before. Of course we won't forget about fashion! A little style and trend is woven in every review- so if you want to know how to dress with style and have the appropriate gear for a day out- no problem.A five star rating system is used to let you easily compare one activity against another if you're having trouble deciding.
But seriously, just try them all haha. So over the next 12 months of 2009, every month you'll be introduced to another new music album, directed to another restaurant and pointed to a fun activity worth trying. So get in on the action this newest venture will offer, because I'm really doing it for you guys! Sighted or blind, this is the lifestyle of the 21st century.
Dawson Ko & Elizabeth Lum.
Fashionable Eye Lifestyle, Co-editors.
This is it, Michael Jackson DVD.
THIS IS IT, Michael Jackson (DVD)
Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT is neither a documentary, nor a movie.. it's a piece of history. THIS IS IT showcases MJ at his very best doing the very thing that the world admires him for.. no not his dodgy relationships with children, or constant plastic surgery, but rather 111 minutes of the singing, dancing, moon walking, numerous "ow's", crotch grabbing, and much more.
MJTII doesn't hold back from the minute it starts. Within 60 seconds of the movie we are blasted with the intro to 'Do You Wanna Be Starting Somethin' and keeps coming with song after song. MJ and his team of musicians and dancers run through all the songs that we know, from old school Michael Jackson with the Jackson 5 to the endless list of number iconic one hits such as Beat It, Billie Jean, you will not be left bored in this film.
Because the feature is actually rehearsal footage chopped up to make a full length film, there are moments where we are given an intimate glimpse into the thought process of a musical genius. MJ is a serial perfectionist and will stop a song if it doesn't sound 'right'. Although very demanding to his musicians and dancers, we see a very heart warming, gentle MJ who tells anyone within his sights that he 'loves them' although this free love does come across creepy at times.
This is no ordinary movie or DVD ... it's a piece of history. MJ at his best, doing the thing that he is most talented at. Watching an artist at his art. Your grand children will thank you when they find this stashed at the bottom of your DVD pile.
To be released on 3rd March, the box set retails for $49.98, Special Collector's Set includes: 24 Page Photographic Book, 4 Pack of Michael Jackson Memorial Cards and 3 Limited Edition Lenticular Backstage Passes.
The DVD contains special features:
* Meet the Dancers featurette (10-12 min)
* Meet the Band featurette (15 min)
* Meet the Singers featurette (10-12 min)
* Creating A Comeback Featurette (30 min)
* "This is It" Music Video (NEW)
* Theatrical Trailer
* The Gloved One - Costumes featurette (:20 min.)
* Memories of Michael featurette (:20 min.)
Sam recommends This Is It, and gives it 4/5 stars.
Dawson and pork knuckle at Hofbrauhaus
Dawson and pork knuckle at Hofbrauhaus
Hofbrauhaus
Platzl 9.80331 Munnchen
Phone: +49 (0)89 290136-10
hofbraeuhaus.de
Cuisine: Food (within Germany). German Food (outside Germany)
Food: 9
Ambience: 10
Service: 9
Value: 9
We're not advising you to fly all the way to Germany to experience this meal, however if in Munich, do like the Munchen's and visit the Hofbrauhaus. The largest bier hall in Germany, possibly the largest in the world, with a ground floor bier hall, an upstairs restaurant, a function room larger than the two previously mentioned locations and an outdoor bier garden, the Hofbrauhaus has a capacity of 3000 seated patrons.
However its size is not the only feature which makes the Hofbrauhaus unique, but add in history (over 400 years old, also the infamous location where Adolf Hitler made his first rousing speech), include culture (where regulars to the Hofbrauhaus has life-long every day reserved seating where their family shield is emblazon on the table), add character (a locker room where regulars can store their porcelain or metal bier stines), add a touch of entertainment (Oom pah pah band), mix in authenticity (classically dressed waiters and waitresses), and include the food, and you have an awesome night out.
But we can't just breeze over the food, let's take a moment to saver it all. Pork Knuckle...... Picture a chicken drumstick, but in pork and its almost double the size of a grown man's fist, a crunchy crackling on the top and the most softest meat you'll ever find underneath, or try the pork belly with succulent crackling, and many more German dishes. And the price! A dish of pork knuckle was only 9.90 Euro. Convert that to Aussie dollars that is approx $15, which is not bad at all, as meals across Europe are usually a lot more than this (almost double).And you might be wondering about the bier? The Hofbrauhaus brews its own bier, so choose from their personal range, in either a one litre stein or 0.5 litre glasses. Or the German favorite, Lemonade mixed into bier (Radler).
My first impressions of the Hofbrauhaus was like Wow! Walking out of the snow into a 25 degree open hall I was hit by the heat and atmosphere, perhaps that is the result of hundreds of people packed into one roof. For you Aussies picture Circular Quay's Lowenbrau Keller, and then multiply that at least 30 times and you have the downstairs bier hall at the Hofbrauhaus. I have to admit, I felt a little intimidated by all the people and magnitude of the place. We took a quick walk around the hall just to feel the place, visit the bier lockers and see the conveyer belt where a staff member's single job was to fill up each bier stine with a litre of bier. However going upstairs is a much quieter (in comparison) restaurant where they serve the same food and same bier, patrons are also seated on benches, however it was more suited for families and tourists, compared to the bier hall which was more for the locals.
The food seriously brings a smile to any face when it is plonked in front of you. This is the same reaction when the bier stein is placed at your side. So a mouth full of meat, then a mouth full of bier, and multiply that by 60 minutes, equals bliss!
Dawson recommends Hofbrauhaus Munich Germany and gives it 4.5/5 stars.
Dawson in Munich, finally finding snow!
White Christmas: In search of Snow
Growing up in Australia one's experience of Christmas may be very different from the global norm. Hot sunny days, family BBQs and a cold beer are the usual Aussie Christmas day. But this year I was in search for a white Christmas in continental Europe.
A White Christmas should be experienced by all, at least once in a life-time. Watching the snow fall, gathered around a fireplace, sipping on hot egg nog and really getting into the Christmas carols to keep warm, does make the festive season more festive.
We started our search for snow in Seoul South Korea (temp -5 degrees), however it was only bone numbingly cold but dry, so no snow! Next stop London, England (temps between 3 & -2 degrees) day 2 we actually experienced snow in the heart of London, however it only fell for 30 minutes and left a thin powder of snow over night. Stop 3 the Loire Valley, France where we spent Christmas Eve and day, however a White Christmas did not eventuate as temps did not drop below zero, so no snow!!!! (temps 2-7 degrees). Stop 4 Vienna Austria once again, no snow! (temps around 4 degrees). Stop #5 Salzburg Austria where New years eve was spent, it was cold, reaching sub-zero temps however no snow fall (temps -1 degrees). And our final stop, the last chance for me to experience real snow, the anticipation was sky high and it was success!!!! Final stop Munich Germany (temps 3 to -5 degrees), once the train crossed the Austrian Germany border we knew we had finally found our White Christmas (though a week overdue), the whole country side was white as far as the eye could see. Walking along the main drag of Munich the snow was floating down to land gently on your nose and eyelashes and crunching under foot as you walked. And score! I had finally experienced snow for the first time in my life. After travelling across the globe, at a considerable financial cost, losing feeling in a few digits along the way (feeling did return eventually), was it worth it? Hell Yeah!!!
Aussie winters really do not prepare us for sub-zero temps in urban areas. Getting onto a plane in Australia when temps were in the 30s and to emerge from Seoul airport in -5 temps was a real shock to the system. My advice is to dress extremely warmly including thermal underwear (long-johns & long-sleeve under shirt), leather boots, thick woolen socks, winter jacket, scarf, gloves and beany. For once in your life, place practicality before style!
Dawson suggests experiencing a White Christmas and gives it 5/5 stars.