I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the creativity, the colors and the clothes. Look at these beautiful rich colors, shapes and exquisite workmanship in the Gianfranco Ferre show - more couture than pret a porter - the collection was inspired by the midday sun of Mexico and Guatemala, a sparking vision of Latin-American women, hermosas y preciosas.... "Please, Gianfranco, I want them all!"

www.gianfrancoferre.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

I'm out every night. Backstage at Gianfranco Ferre, models grab a nap before hair and make-up, after the weeks hectic schedule. This is the last "Big" show of the week, a week of: 241 collections - split up in 95 shows - 147 presentations - 10.000 industry operators - 1900 media representatives!!!! Sergio Salerni Y Silvana Armani Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: sooner or later they can go home and sleep!!!

www.gianfrancoferre.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of my favorite dress designer. Backstage, Gianfranco Ferre is looking incredibly calm, before his first show, while he waits for the models to arrive. L'architetto is so chic in his grey flannel suit with grosgrain binding, his black onyx cuff links and signature gold safety pin on his tie. I can tell that it's going to be another FANTASTIC collection just by looking at the clothes hanging on the racks. Gianfranco Ferre Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: "I Love my work."

www.gianfrancoferre.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the restaurants. I have discovered a new restaurant! It's called Coffee Design and it is inside La Triennale the design and architecture museum of Milan. I was there to see the vast and superb Keith Haring Exhibition (open till 29 January, 2006), as I am collector and an old friend of Keith's, as well as " his" Milan photographer and though I say so myself, do have a look at my photos inside the catalogue and inside the book " Keith Haring a Milano" (Johan & Levi Editore)*. Let's get back to the food which was abundant, creative and rather delicious - like tuna covered in ginger and sesame seeds with lots of grilled vegetables. And, though the restaurant looks a bit like a cafeteria, it's light and airy and looks onto the park. I did appreciate the design objects scattered around as well as the designer chairs that are all different, one from the other. I can't wait to go back, maybe on a Sunday for Brunch and a show. THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: "No more Truffles!" Suzy Menkes Y " I Love the food and the restaurants." Hamish Bowles.

www.coffeedesign.it www.triennale.it

*available from the Triennale bookshop

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

the city becomes more international. New York Times Style Magazine editor Stefano Tonchi photographed here with photographer, Robert Maxwell whose extravagant show The Originals, portraits of unique personalities, famous and otherwise, not invented by "trained" professionals and for whom the rules don't apply were the inspiration for these beautiful photographs published in the magazine and shown at the Galleria Gio' Marconi.

Inge Feltrinelli Y Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti Y Albertina Marzotto Y Gio' Moretti YPierfilippo Pieri Y Katherine Mondadori Y Allegra Bossi Pucci Y Carla Sozzani Y Laurence Steele Y Afef Maria Carolina Zanetti Y Marva Griffin Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: The city becomes International and full of energy!!!

www.nytimes.com

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photograph courtesy giorgio armani press office
I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:
of Giorgio. Giorgio Armani has always been very nice to me and I'm fond of him and admire his work. He is scrupulous in every detail and nothing escapes his eye. Here is the classic photo of the gran finale of "Re" Giorgio surrounded by his "courtesans".

THE ARMANIS Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: Giorgio "My fashion show." Y Silvana "I can't wait till it's all over so I can go and relax in the country." Y Roberta "I'm more relaxed after the fashion show."

www.giorgioarmani.com

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photograph courtesy giorgio armani press office
I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:
of the glamour and the VIPs. And when you are looking for glamour or VIPs you turn to Armani, photographed here surrounded by his faithful Sofia Lorena and Tina Turner, Fifty Cents and Olivia. Today was the title of another quintessential Armani red carpet collection, the maestro has done it again reinterpreting his timeless style in the "language" of ....Today!

THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: "We Y Armani and want absolutely everything" Y Sofia Loren Y Tina Turner Y "I like to wear his clothes - that's what" Y Fifty Cents Y "Watch the Armani fashion shows" Y Lady Helen Taylor.

www.giorgioarmani.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of beautiful real women. Armani's British ambassador, Lady Helen Taylor and Armani's niece, Roberta Armani wear the same chalk stripes perfectly - showing us how to mix and match to achieve day to evening looks with the "same" jacket.

Robert Maxwell Y Susanna Colleoni Y Gity Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: of all the beautiful women!!!

www.giorgioarmani.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:
it reminds me of swinging London. The magnificent Zandra Rhodes retrospective at the Galleria Carla Sozzani (until October 30th) soooooooo reminded me of swinging London, of Barbara Hulanicki and Abingdon Road, the first Biba shop, of John, Paul, George and Ringo, of Mick and his "I can't get no....", of Sir Peter Blake and his colorful Babe Rainbow and of the swimming pools of David Hockney. Zandra is renowned for her brilliantly colorful screen-printed and hand-decorated textiles, her bizarre garments shown here include the celebrated Dinosaur coat and a punk wedding dress. It's fantasy in abundance, it's fashion inspiration for all and it's out of this world! In 1997 in recognition of her contribution to the fashion and textile industry she was made Commander of the British Empire. She is as colorful in her person as her textiles.

Adelaide Acerbi Astori Y Vicky Ceschi a Santa Croce Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: of the new colors and their inspiration!!!

www.galleriacarlasozzani.org www.ftmlondon.org

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

I stay in a beautiful apartment. No, I haven't gone back to the country. I'm still in the center of Milan and this is the view I wake up to. If you squint you can just about see the Morning Glory that has come out to wish me Good Morning. I enjoy staying there with Chiara and Martino because we have leisurely breakfasts, over looking the green garden, with pots and pots of tea and other good things and we talk and talk and it's very difficult to break away and go to work. It's like being home away from home!!!

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the Missonis. There she is the beautiful ambassador of Missoni or as the New York Times calls her "the new improved 'it' girl - with manners", Margherita Missoni sits on the floor and concentrates on her mother, Angela's new collection. This feminine and pretty collection seems destined for Margherita's closet as well as the stars of Hollywood.

THE MISSONIS Y MILAN DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: Angela "I don't know what's happening outside, I'm always in here with the collection." Y Rosita "I'm glad when the show is over, then I can relax." Y Tai "We have to try and give the city a bit of vivacity and movement." Y Vittorio "My fashion show." Y Margherita " As I live in New York, it' a chance to see La Mamma."Y Luca "It's an opportunity to see old friends."

www.missoni.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the parties. So does Michael Roberts especially when the party is given by Tod's at the PAC for his book The Snippy World of New Yorker Fashion Artist*! The Padiglione di d'Arte Contemporanea was filled with over one thousand people and it was impossible to move and admire the collages and videos of the New Yorker's illustrator and style director, luckily the walls were papered with his geometric, bold yet naif and stunning designs that one got an overall feeling for the show. The artist gave Diego Della Valle a special collage featuring Tod's Gommino driving shoe, which the CEO loved so much he asked for the print to be made into their signature logo for fabrics and bags.

Maria Pezzi Y Maurice Y Lisa Van Goinga Y Carlo Ducci Y Carlo Giovanelli Y Marta Brivio Sforza Y Inge Feltrinelli Y THEYY MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: of the parties!!!

* www.amazon.com www.newyorker.com www.todsgroup.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the espresso coffee. I like to go to the Pasticceria Sissi and have a decaffeinated espresso coffee as well as snack on their mini-panini or in the mornings, their baby croissants which have far less calories than the big ones. It also has a lovely garden and a wide selection of newspapers, some in English and French. The pasticceria is best known for it's Sachertortes -chocolate cakes - hence it takes it's name from the notorious Austrian Empress Sissi. My old and dear friend Franco Moschino amusingly used to send Easter eggs at Christmas time to his friends from this fashionable and luckily not to well know pastry shop.

Pasticceria e Caffetteria Sissi - Piazza Risorgimento 6 - Milano - tel. 02 76014664

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of Prada and the Italian tradition of craftsmanship. Here are the two most powerful women of Italian fashion. Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of Italian Vogue and Miuccia Prada the only woman designer to be chosen worldwide as one of The Magnificent Seven by American Vogue. I was a customer of Prada over thirty years ago when they sold mostly bags and occasionally some jewelry designed by Miuccia. And, my great grandfather before me, as well as the Italian Royal House all used to shop at Prada at the beginning of the last century. I think it's the oldest Italian fashion brand and certainly the most sort after on the market today. Brava Miuccia and congratulations. Need I add that the collection was wonderful!

Francesco Vezzoli Y Sonia Raule Y Diego della Valle Y Sergio Loro Piana Y Cathy Horyn Y Hilary Alexander Y Ingrid Sischy Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: of Prada, the Italian craftsmanship and the Italians themselves!!!

www.prada.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the atmosphere. Seen here in the garden of the Hotel Diana Majestic, Alberto Biani with Katherine Mondadori and Marta Marzotto who is here to watch her beautiful granddaughter, la contessina Beatrice Borromeo model the Biani line. Biani's collection is always refined and true to itself - clean lines and excellent fabrics. And, it is always a pleasure to go and watch his show because he takes over the conservatory and the garden of the Hotel - as the shows are always late you can wonder in and out, drink champagne or diet Coke, eat, watch the models in the tent being made up or just hang out with friends in the garden, chat and be part of the 'behind the scenes'. The seating is also rather bizarre and wonderful....the hotel provides sofas and armchairs, chair and stools, it's a lot like being chez soi. And....the Biani trousers, let me tell you a secret, are the best cut pants on the market, you can get them at 10 Corso Como!

Allegra Bossi Pucci Y Carla Nani Mocenigo Y Marva Griffin Y Gity Y Carla Sozzani Y Laudomia Pucci Y Sibilla della Gherardesca Y Diego della Valle Y Sergio Loro Piana Y Roberto Menichetti Y Michel Norsa Y Andreina Longhi Y Marina Pignatelli Y ALL Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: Of the atmosphere, the energy and the bustle!!!

www.10corsocomo.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the press. There she is at the Emilio Pucci show with her signature Louise Brooks hair style and big dark glasses, the most powerful, loved and hated Anna Wintour, editor in chief of American Vogue. This year she isn't exactly welcomed in the capitol of Italian fashion after the Article in the bumper September issue, entitled The Magnificent Seven were Prada was the only Italian designer chosen!!! She has made many Italian designers unhappy and more than one has threatened to cut advertising....... But, let's get back to Pucci and the beautiful collection designed, unfortunately for the last time, by Christian Lacroix. It was like being in Capri in the '60s, very glamorous, very wearable and soooo chic..... the blues, the turquoises of the Mediterranean with all the bright and fresh colors of the Pucci prints and a touch of gold made this collection very special...let's see what the British, Matthew Williamson will design next season......

Franca Sozzani Y Carla Vanni Y Deirdre Costa Major Y THEY Y MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: they like to see their colleagues!!!

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

of the Pucci Ladies - not forgetting Laudomia Pucci herself! Not one show started on time, delays were frequently up to an hour or so - the traffic was horrific, the taxi's were impossible to find, the city was chaotic and a nightmare especially if you didn't take the subway or walk.......OIH what stress!!!! Waiting patiently outside the Pucci show are journalist, Marina Pignatelli, in a classic Pucci pajama palazzo, La Stampa's Chiara Beria di Argentine, jewelry designer, Osanna Visconti di Modrone and Murano glass designer, Marie Brandolini d'adda, they are here to cheer and support their friend Laudomoia.

Lucchino Visconti di Modrone Y Afef Y Marta Marzotto Y Alberto Biani Y Tidi Minghetti Y Maria Clara de Rosa r MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE: no parking, no restaurants, the traffic....but, they do get to see their friends from far away!!!

www.pucci.com

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

I see my friends. Here is my great, beautiful and very stylish friend Susanne Thun Hohenstein sipping a diet Coke from a glass etched with the words amour and bonheur in the new hot spot of Milan with Jackie her adorable Jack Russell Terrier and former owner of the space and superb and innovative florist, Raimondo Bianchi. Fioraio Bianchi Caffe'* is the latest trendy restaurant right in the heart of Brera, it serves sophisticated French influenced food at night and a selection of simple salads at lunchtime, you can also buy flowers (the is selection curated by Mr. Bianchi himself) or admire and buy the art work on the walls..........don't forget to book.

Luca MissoniYMarina PradaYMarina PignatelliYChiara Dal Canto BrandoliniYCarla Maria Orsi CarboniYOsanna Visconti di ModroneYMarie Brandolini d'addaYAli GuvenYMichela MoroYMargherita MissoniYNik Vinson LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE THEY see friends from out of town!!!

*Fioraio Bianchi Caffe' - Via Montebello 7 - Milan - tel 0229014390

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I LOVE MILANO DURING FASHION WEEK BECAUSE:

I like to see all my friends, see the shows and take lots of photographs and party pictures, basically - I Y MY WORK !!! Here is a small section of the 360 degree view from Katherine Mondadori's apartment high up into the grey Milanese sky. On the left, the 26 floor Torre Velasca built in 1957 by the Studio BBPR (Ludovico Belgioioso, Enrico Peressutti and Ernesto Nathan Rogers) it is one of the tallest, significant and unusual buildings of post-war and post-fascist architecture. On the right the highly recognizable and famous Duomo. In 1386 the archbishop of Milan, Antonio da Saluzzo, began the new project, in a rayonnant Late Gothic style and work has proceeded for generations and it still is unfinished. There is a famous Milanese saying that when something takes forever "... it takes as long as the Duomo factory"! It is best described in Mark Twain's book Innocents Abroad* "What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems......a delusion of frostwork that might vanish with a breath!..." The Duomo is the emblem of Milan and Milan is the home to Italian fashion and design...... so.........let's go see the fashion shows.

*available from www.amazon.com

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SUNNY INTERLUDE

It has been raining for four days and it's so miserable and damp that I felt like a bit of sunshine and a taste of summer before I start my Milan fashion blog. Here are the two "terrors" not terriers, Pixel with the ball - she is the fastest and Jay Peg who usually waits while Pixel gets the ball and then snatches it from Pixel's mouth, having fun in the Fusina's pool in Liguria this summer. It was so hot that after a walk Jay Peg would go and cool down on the first steps of the pool, whereas, Pixel would go under the olive tree and sit in the shade. We all had such great fun, especially playing ball with the inexhaustible duo.......I just can't live without a Jack Russell Terrier or two!!!!!

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LONDON

This is the view from Sebastian's office. While we were there we were lucky enough to watch the changing of the "The King's Troop - Royal Horse Artillery" from Wellington's office. The daily parade takes place in what is known as the Tilt Yard; on the site of Henry VIII's tournament ground or 'tiltyard'. The Tilt Yard is the nearest bit to the Horse Guards building, designed by William Kent, of the bigger space known as Horse Guards Parade - see above - on which the annual Queen's Birthday Parade (colloquially known as Trooping the Colour) takes place. The whole building is known as Horse Guards, because the original function was, and remains - the barracks for the The Household Cavalry guarding the monarch and the principal palace. It used to guard the mediaeval royal Palace of Whitehall, originally next to the even older royal Palace of Westminster, which became the palace of the Houses of Parliament in the early Middle Ages - - it still is today. After watching this grand parade it is time to dash to the airport!

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LONDON

Just before catching our plane home we went to Horse Guards to have coffee with our friend Sebastian and see his famous loft size office. Surrounded by the marble busts of his predecessors, the Dukes of Albemarle, Malborough, York and Wellington and the life-size portraits of King George II and Queen Caroline - Major General Sebastian Roberts, sits behind Wellington's desk. He has two jobs and two titles both commanded from the same Headquarters: General Officer Commanding London District - all Army units within Greater London and Major General Commanding the Household Division, all Guards regiments including the 2 Regiments of Household Cavalry, and the 5 Regiments of Foot Guards. The office used to be that of the Commander in Chief of the whole army and the Duke of Wellington was definitely the most famous occupier, he held the post twice, once briefly in 1820, and subsequently from 1842 - 1852. If you are wondering why Sebastian is not in uniform it is because it is an old habit that Army officers serving in London wear plain clothes to work - uniform being for the field or parades. In recent years it has also rendered them less obvious as targets for terrorists. This amazing, gigantic pale green and white stucco paneled office has also a terrific infinite view from it's windows first of Horse Guards Parade and further on of St James's Park! This really was a special treat - grazie mille!

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LONDON

What better way than to end the day than to see this glamorous and dazzling exhibition called DIAMONDS at the National History Museum - till 26th February, 2006 - Wow!!! After a very tight security check the exhibition started on a red carpet with photographs and clips of films starring movie stars and their rocks and then moved on to show lots and lots of the worlds most famous diamonds mounted in fabulous jewels. I especially enjoyed seeing all the coloured diamonds like the "Steinmetz Pink" (my favorite color) - 59.60 carats. "The Moussaieff Red" - 5.11 carats, the most expensive red diamond at over $900,000 per carat, the highest price ever paid per carat for any diamond. "The Incomparable Diamond" (golden brown) - 407.48 carats, the third largest cut diamond ever recorded. This exhibition tells a story of power, wealth and desire. I was day dreaming on my way out and as consolation I went a bought myself a giant size paperweight solitaire - as big as the Ritz - and the catalogue!

www.nhm.ac.uk

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LONDON

After a rather delicious lunch in Marco Pierre White's Belvedere Restaurant situated right in the middle of Holland Park in what used to be the summer ballroom to Holland House - it's back to the museums. I have decided that I'm going to have a favorite museum for each town and the National Portrait Gallery is going to be the one for London. It was so exciting to walk in and just about enjoy everything I saw. As a "Paparazzi" and, as I love to photograph real people I was in heaven here looking at all the portraits and photographs. I could have stayed in all day! The reason I went there was to see the exhibition The World's Most Photographed - till October 23rd - about one hundred photographs exploring the lives and legends of ten well-known figures from history - from Queen Victoria to Muhammad Ali and Adolf Hitler to Marilyn Monroe and more - the show consists of photographs which have previously been lost, suppressed or hidden, together with more familiar images going beyond the often carefully constructed public image of the VIPs to reveal much more about their personalities and their lives. It was such a good show that booking is a must and even so, it was rather difficult to really see the exhibition properly, but I'm not complaining!

http://www.belvedererestaurant.co.uk

www.npg.org.uk

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LONDON
As you get off the Millennium Bridge and walk towards Saint Paul's, you come across these wonderful steps, I like the way they "inter-play" with the sliding sections, it's so clever, but unfortunately I don't know who designed them - does anybody know? If so, please contact me.

This is urban architecture at it's best, it solves quite brilliantly the wheelchair access for the disabled which is a major issue today.

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LONDON

When Sir Christopher Wren 1710 meets Sir Norman Foster 2001 it's spectacular!! From the Tate Modern we walked across the Millennium Bridge on our way to Saint Paul's Cathedral. As we crossed the Thames the view of the cupola of the cathedral as well as the City is so stunning that we took millions of photos. The steel structure was designed by Foster & Partners with sculptor Sir Anthony Caro and engineers Ove Arup, the shallow suspension bridge is the first completely new pedestrian bridge to be constructed over the Thames for a hundred years. The innovative structure is formed by a single sweeping arc designed to appear as a thin ribbon of steel by day and, illuminated at night, as a shining blade of light across the river. In 2001 a few days after its inauguration, it developed an 'unexpected wobble', and the structure was closed to the public until a 'passive dampening solution' was installed to cure the problem. It re-opened to the public in 2002.

You can also get to the Tate Modern by boat (see above) which runs every forty minutes along the Thames between Tate Britain, the London Eye and Tate Modern.

http://www.londonvisions.com/am_milleniumbridge.htm

www.tate.org.uk

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LONDON

A short taxi ride takes us to Bankside and the Tate Modern which is the national gallery of international modern art. Created in the year 2000 from a disused power station designed in 1933 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott - who was also responsible for the famous red British telephone box, we so associate with London - the building has been converted by the leading Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, whose plans have respected the integrity of the original design. The most noticeable change to the exterior of the building is a new two-storey glass structure spanning the length of the roof which not only provides natural light into the galleries on the top floors, but also houses a stunning café offering outstanding views across London. A remarkable combination of the old and the new. The vast space is very impressive and in the short time we had we particularly wanted to see the Open Systems: Rethinking Art c.1970 (till 18th September), this remarkable exhibition brings together the works of international artists who radically rethought the object of art in the late 1960s and 1970s. They sought to connect with the increasingly urgent political developments of the decade and make their work more responsive to the world around them. There is Andy Warhol's portrait of Mao-Tse-Tung that dates from 1972, to commemorate President Nixon's historic visit to Beijing! This is very interesting exhibition though rather "highbrow" for me, and a little difficult to understand without the aid of the catalogue! We have to dash now as time is running out......quick quick let's cross THE BRIDGE.

www.tate.org.uk

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LONDON

Tuesday was my sight seeing and museum day. I wanted to catch up with the latest shows and see all the new buildings that have "sprouted" up in the East End of London these past ten years. I just had to see the London headquarters of the reinsurers, The Swiss Re Building, locally called the Gerkin or nicknamed the "suppository" by my husband!!! Isn't it wonderful the way it blends in with the old buildings of the city? I love it! This forty storey landmark building was designed by Sir Norman Foster and Partners and opened in 2004. The tower has a circular plan that widens as it rises from the ground and then tapers towards its apex. The windows open too and whenever possible, recycled and recyclable materials have been used as well as innovative ways of reducing energy consumption. Brilliant!

http://www.swissre.com/

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LONDON

Yes, we are at it again, more bubbly, this time to celebrate the birth of my old school friend Gabrielle and her husband Oliver Leigh Wood's first grand daughter and third grandchild! Alice Elisabeth Marie Gould was born while we were having dinner with the happy grandparents on the 8th of August (8th month) at 8.06 p.m. and she weighted 8 pounds 8 ounces - should we play the lottery? And within an hour they had received photographs of the new born, through the internet and on their mobile phones - isn't it amazing? Oliver buys and repairs old buildings and is also chairman of The Spitalfields Trust which over the last twenty seven years has repaired in excess of sixty buildings in the East End of London and has just completed an outstanding medieval building in Monmouthshire which will be featured in Country Life magazine - www.countrylife.co.uk or email him at Oliverleighwood@hotmail.com - Gabrielle, who was the top of our class of seven at school and one of the only pupils to take Latin, specializes in taking tourist round unknown London and she is also a certified Blue Badge Guide. http://www.blue-badge-guides.com.somewhere/ or email her at mausilw@hotmail.com.

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LONDON

Today is the first working day we are in London and as I pass the newsagent on Knightsbridge Green, on my way to a business appointment, I notice that only the rack on the left has English newspapers - a true sign of how multi-ethnic it has become since I lived there. Are there any true Brits left? I heard all sorts of languages on public transport, mostly Italian and a little Spanish and some of the other lanuages I just couldn't distinguish. There is a radio station in London broadcasting programmes, for the last 13 years, to 25 ethnic and special-interest groups: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Tamil, Jewish, Islamic, Irish, Italian, Australian and (North) American - this is how multi-ethnic London has become and.... there's no going back!

www.spectrumradio.net

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LONDON
I love this photo and think it is so chic to have the old fashioned laundry box blend in with the turquoise walls while it is sitting on an antique chair in the hall waiting to be picked up. After lunch in the garden we are back in London for a light supper with Meredith and Jeremy. We saw Christie's Magazine, editor in chief, Meredith Etherington Smith in Venice for the Biennale but it was "yonks" since we saw her husband Jeremy Pilcher and had never met Bingo, the Norwich Terrier before. Everybody was in a lazy and relaxed Sunday p.m. mood and it was nice and cozy just to sit and sip champagne and reminiscence about people, place and the past before a delicious chicken salad in the kitchen.

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LONDON

The weather was so sunny and warm and so was the mood because England beat Australia by just two runs in the cricket match at Lord's and we were also able to have Sunday lunch outside in the well kept and beautiful English garden at Rudy and Mary's - my brother and sister in law. She is such a wonderful cook and is famous for her abundant and delicious meals which always end with three puddings, yes THREE PUDDINGS, as you can see: white chocolate mousse with berries, strawberries and ice cream and then the yummy chocolate eclairs or profiteroles as we call them in Italy. What a treat!!!

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Photograph by Manfredi Bellati
LONDON

Here is handsome Puma our "host" in Notting Hill, he kept us company while we had breakfast and had we let him he would have enjoyed having some cereal too - he was also happy to sit on the edge of the bath tub or play with my beauty creams on the shelf over the sink. And, another place he loved to sit was on the stairs and soak up the sun that filtered through the big window.

MOMENTS
FLYING

FASTER THAN

THOUGHT -

SIT

AND CATCH

NOW

is the poem that Betsy wrote on the stairs going up to the first floor to induce friends and family (and Puma) to stop, sit on the comfortable kilim covered sofa and contemplate..........

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LONDON - Totally Lond0n

I hadn't been to London in about ten years and it was nice to go back though it felt like a deja vu film that you couldn't quite remember the script. It was very "empty", maybe I should use the word - not crowded - probably because most people were on holiday and the tourist stayed away because of the terrorist attacks of July. However, I found that it was business as usual, with no fuss and lots of policemen all over the place which was comforting and best of all hardly any traffic.

Totally London is a very interesting marketing initiative which promotes the numerous free festivals taking place in London during the autumn.

www.visitlondon.com

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HOSTESS GIFT!

I am proud to show you my latest "hostess gift"... I have started taking to lunches and dinner parties products from my own garden be they flowers, vegetables or herbs! Though I say so myself, they are most appreciated and good as well. Pin It

photograph by Manfredi Bellati
BOLOGNA - Il Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica
We couldn't leave Bologna without going to visit The International Museum and Library of Music, this beautiful jewel of a museum is the legacy that Marina Deserti left behind after she was deputy mayor for culture. Situated in the prestigious sixteenth-century Palazzo Aldrini Sanguinetti restored not only to state of the arts technology but also to it's former splendor. The displays interweave elements of five centuries of European musical history and each room is painted in the color of the period, i.e. Framboise for Rossini (1800) or turquoise for Farinelli (1700). Besides the many portraits, like Thomas Gainsborough's of Johann Christian Bach there are more than seventy musical instruments like the fascinating, absolutely unique polyphonic flute "armonia di flauti" or the grand piano that belonged to Gioachino Rossini, as well as, a wide selection of historical documents of tremendous value, like treaties, librettos, letters and autographed scores. In a room on the ground floor a violin maker's workshop has been restructured, a tribute to Otello Bignami - in Bolgona the art or violin making has been active since the fifteenth century. This museum is really worth a visit not only for it's fascinating contents but also for the modern yet classical restoration and for the palazzo itself with it's frescoes painted at the turn of the 19th century during the Napoleonic and Neoclassical period. Bravissima Marina!

www.museomusicabologna.it

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BOLOGNA - Basilica di Santo Stefano

Sunday morning we went for a walk and just happened on this beautiful Basilica di Santo Stefano, which isn't one church but, originally it was seven interlinked churches built right next to each other. Today only four of the original seven are still around, and situated around them are a few courtyards, a cloister, and a crypt and it's quite fascinating to move from one into the other. They are quite spectacular in their understated beauty and you won't find great works of art, instead an aura of silence and tranquility. What struck me most, and had never seen before, was the elevated altar which set the sacred part of the church higher than the secular one. The site dates back to pre-Christ times, when it was used as a pagan site of worship and the churches you see today were constructed between the 5th and 12th centuries. . . On display are the bones of San Petronio, Bologna's patron saint. When we walked out again into the bright sunlight, we felt so good, refreshed of body and soul, that we were ready for more sight-seeing.

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BOLOGNA - Alfred and Alice's Pre-Nuptial Party

Strawberries were de rigueur as centre pieces and decoration at Alfred and Alice's party. It was a clever idea of bringing the garden under the tent, instead of the usual and "expected" flower arrangements. Here are a few ideas of what you can do with strawberries - SWEET: strawberry sorbet, strawberry ice cream, strawberry granita, strawberries and cream, strawberry Pavlova, strawberry and rhubarb pie, strawberry and rhubarb crumble, strawberry pie, strawberry jelly, strawberry rice pudding, strawberry shortcakes, strawberry pizza, strawberry baked Alaska, Eton Mess, strawberry trifle, strawberry mousse, chocolate dipped strawberries, strawberry strudel, strawberry snow, strawberry fool, summer pudding, strawberry omelette, strawberry sundae, strawberry shortcakes, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry tart, strawberry kebabs, strawberry jam, strawberry compote, strawberry champagne soup, strawberry panna cotta, strawberry souffle, strawberry and mascarpone quesadillas, strawberries warmed in Grand Marnier with black pepper. SAVORY: strawberry and tomato salad, strawberry salsa, strawberry salad with olives and balsamic vinegar, strawberry, tomato and fennel gazpacho, avocados with strawberry salsa and crispy tortilla strips, strawberry dressing, spinach and strawberry salad, strawberry chutney, strawberry relish, creamy strawberry soup, strawberry summer salad, strawberry chicken salad, strawberry turkey salad, strawberry sourdough bread. DRINKS: strawberry smoothie, strawberry milkshake, strawberry Kir royale, sparkling strawberry Mimosa, strawberry iced tea, strawberry fizz, strawberry Pimms cocktail, strawberries and Prosecco. AND, strawberry fruit mask!!!! Can you think of any other uses for STRAWBERRIES???

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BOLOGNA - Alfred and Alice's Pre-nuptial Party

In her neoclassical villa, built after Napoleon's stay in Bologna, the mother of the bride, Marina Deserti Stori gave a spectacular pre-nuptial party for 500 international guests for the wedding of her daughter Alice to Alfred, Prince v.u.z. Liechtenstein. The party was mostly for friends of the parents. And, for that reason many had not met the bride or the groom, therefore they both amusingly wore the the insignia "I am the Groom" for Alfred on the back of his black tie - and - for Alice "I am the Bride", embroidered with multicolored silks, in the main European languages, on the skirt of her halter-neck ballerina-inspired beautiful white dress. Everything was perfect to the last detail; the food, the garden with it's gigantic tent, the tables and the chairs, especially monogrammed with double AA, the band and all the guests had a really great time, some dancing till breakfast at dawn.

As so many people came from out of town and from other European countries a whole weekend of parties was organized by friends of Marina: a Pre-pre-nuptial dinner in Palazzo Angelelli by Patrizia Medail Occioni Bonaffons - a Formal lunch by Nicoletta Maresca di Serracapriola - a Garden Party by the tennis court in Villa Impero by Maria Cristina Faccioli - a Picnic by Luca and Pupi Visconti di Modrone. It was such a great way to see and appreciate Bologna.

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BOLOGNA - Palazzo Angelelli

The Water Tray: It was so hot that all I wanted to do was drink liters of water. I find the water tray very chic and particularly liked the simple hand written ink label, tied with raffia, that says frizzante (sparkling)! Patrizia is very good at creating an atmosphere, this is seen not only in the details of the interior decoration of the palazzo but also in her sculpture-paintings enchanting us to a land of fantasy and dreams.

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photograph by Manfredi Bellati
BOLOGNA - Palazzo Angelelli

Dinner in artist Patrizia Medail's workshop/home, in palazzo Angelelli, is a feast not only for the food, but most of all for the eye. Her studio, which is also the ballroom, has lots of gilt, mirrors and stuccoes, it also doubles-up as the dining-room, where tables covered in grey satin and topped with old carpets are ardorned with luscious and dramatic center pieces. To reach the ballroom/dining room one has to go through a series of palatal rooms where her plush art blends in beautifully with the frescos, marble, silver and antique furniture of the palazzo itself. Patrizia Medail's art or "collages" depict exotic animals like polar bears, tigers, lions, royal eagles or elegant vases of flowers which are made from old braids, antique damasks, fringes, velvets and lace, they are as rich and stunning as their surrounding.

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BOLOGNA - I Portici

When you visit Bologna one of the things that strikes you most are the twenty-four miles of arcades - the longest in the world. You can enjoy strolling in town during all seasons and are protected from the sun and sheltered from the rain....it is also quite magical to saunter in the early evening, when the sun begins to set, on the way to a dinner party in one of the many beautiful palazzi in the center of town. It was in Bologna that in 1088 the first university in Europe was born and the portici (as they are known) were built to house the growing number of students by extending the upper storeys of the buildings, leaving a covered space for pedestrians and for trading at street level.

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photograph by Manfredi Bellati

POOR JAY PEG!

Punta Sabbioni - Venezia: J.peg is still feeling sorry for herself as she says goodbye to the seaside after being home sick in 'bed" for four day with a really strong coup de soleil! She missed out on all the fun, but don't worry "ciccia" we'll come back with a beach umbrella next time......!

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SAND TOWEL

Punta sabbioni - Venezia: It was the second time Pixel and J.peg went to the seaside and while the more adventuress J.peg - who loves to go into the water to retrieve sticks and balls - was home getting over sun-stroke!!!! Shy Pixel got over her fear of the waves and was soon coming and going into the sea with nonchalance!!! AND THEN, she would roll all over into the sand to dry herself. The perfect sand towel!!! And, after a few shakes of her skinny body she would then be perfectly dry and "sandless". Brava Pixel.

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He's Done it again:

CONGRATULATIONS

LANCE

on your

7TH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY

of

TOUR de FRANCE

and

GOOD LUCK

For

THE FUTURE!

"VIVE LE TOUR. FOREVER."

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WHEN PROSECCO COUNTRY MEETS THE HIGHLANDS

Drinks - A good-bye drinks for our very distinguished miltary English (and Scottish) friends before their departure back home. Inspired by a Gordon tartan throw blanket on the back of an armchair, Lieutenant Colonel The Rt Hon Ian Chant Sempill, with the help of a belt improvised a kilt and treated us to superb highland dancing - a Strathspey Reel to the tune of The Gay Gordons. Ian was the last commanding officer of the Gordon Highlanders and marched them to the amalgamation with the Queen's own Highlanders. They are now known as just The Highlanders. It was a very entertaining evening, hopefully to be repeated next year. Grazie mille.

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ASOLO

Lunch - Hidden, down and up a dirt road on the hillsides of Monfumo just behind Asolo is La Sconta the Italian country farmhouse of Suomi and Nadia La Valle. Though both Italian they have made London their home for over a quarter of a century and are also often seen in Paris, Tangiers and most recently in Bombay where Nadia has a design studio. Nadia is a very talented fashion and embroidery designer not only for the Paris haute couture but also for her own company, Spaghetti (a reminder of "home"), established in 1976 with a mythical fashion show launch in Elio Fiorucci's restaurant in Milan where top model Donna Jordan modeled the exquisite and unusual embroidered couture creations that over the years have found a following with the jet set, royalty and an international in-crowd. Let's get back to lunch, which isn't really just lunch at the La Valle's but a whole leisurely day party which starts with lots of Prosecco and ends with a trip to the cellar for a taste of Suomi's home-made grappa. And, in between there is also lots of music, dancing, good food, great and interesting friends from all over the world and as one would expect every detail is beautifully planned and arranged by the hostess herself - like the fresh flowers from the garden as center piece for the table setting.

Spaghetti - 32 Beauchamp Place - London S.W.3 - spaghettiforever@aol.com

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VENICE - DISMANTLING THE REDENTORE BRIDGE

Get out your Blackberry and "Save the Date" - July 15th, 2006 - is the next Festa del Redentore - Christ the Redemeer. This is Venice at it's best and spectacular in a popular way....

Once upon a time, centuries ago in 1576, to thank God for the city's deliverance from the Plague the Venetian Republic built the Church of Il Rendentore on the Guidecca Island, it was designed by Andrea Palladio and Antonio Da Ponte. They also promised to make a yearly procession to the church on the third Sunday of July and since then a "boat-bridge" was built from gondolas strung together across the Lagoon from the Zattere to the Giudecca. Sadly, the bridge is now built by the military with metal beams. And, from three or four o'clock on the Saturday before any type of vessel that can float gathers in the basin of Saint Mark's to grab the best place to watch the spectacular firework display. There is not one square inch of water left, boats are 'back to back' people are feasting, drinking and partying waiting for the gran finale when the sky explodes illuminating the entire city from above. When the fireworks end at midnight the party proceeds to await dawn on the beaches of the Lido with more eating, drinking and partying. It is such an amazing experience, so..... don't forget to save the date.

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FOR SALE

VILLA VENETA IN PROSECCO COUNTRY

COL ZANIN is the name of the hill from which this VILLA VENETA takes it's name. It is situated in the Colli Trevigiani in the province of Treviso (Italy).

A nobleman's residence and property it is located on top of the hill Col Zanin and was built in the in 1600's by the order of the Camaldolesi monks.

The property consists of:

BUILDINGS
- well proportioned main building (see photo)
- private chapel
- stables
- rustic annex
all buildings need to be renovated

LAND
38.000 sq. Meters
of which
6.000 Sq. Meters Prosecco Vineyards
22.000 Sq. Meters sunny meadows on which vines can be planted
9.000 Sq. Meters of woodland
2 centuries old Mulberry trees

Col Zanin is situated northwest of Treviso - roughly an hour from Treviso and Venice airports and 20 minutes from Conegliano train station.

Price available on request.

For more information: please click on comments below and send us a message with your email address.

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MAKE HISTORY

BY

MAKING POVERTY HISTORY

bono

www.makepovertyhistory.org

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