fête à fête

One of the best ways to pamper mommy dearest on Mother's Day is to send her to Miraval, the award-winning retreat. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, AZ, it's the perfect place to show your mom some TLC.

Miraval offers luxurious focus on a balanced body, mind and spirit. Guests are free to create agendas that suit their whims, goals and mood. Amidst mesquite trees, wild flowers and stunning cacti, this paradise features a yoga center, spa, swimming pools, healthy gourmet cuisine, and a Zen garden. There are also tons of meditation, fitness and nutrition classes, as well as adventure challenges, hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Miraval offers special all-inclusive packages, including the favorite "Bring a Friend Special" -perfect for you and mom! Rates begin at $535 per night and the package includes:

* Luxury accommodations & use of complete resort facilities
* Three gourmet meals daily, unlimited snacks, evening hors d'oeuvres and all non-alcoholic beverages
* One spa service, or one round of golf up to a $125 value per room/per night of stay
* Unlimited access to all scheduled programs and activities
* Round-trip transportation from Tucson International Airport

www.miravalresort.com

-Tami

Tagged as: entertainment, health, holiday, Luxury, spa, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are a few more film reviews for the upcoming San Francisco International Film Festival, which starts tomorrow through May 8:

Solitary Fragments (Spain) is a close examination of family dynamics within the circle of human relations. Director Jaime Rosales weaves a natural and unbiased study of people struggling with everyday challenges while Yasuhiro Ozu's creative use of the split screen pieces the intersecting stories together.

Single mother Adela (Sonia Almarcha) leaves her provincial town in search of a better life in Madrid with her infant son. Struggling with a bland job, she moves in with Carlos (Lluís Villanueva) and Inés (Miriam Correa). The roommates become friends and open up to each other about their personal lives over shared meals. Inés’s mother Antonia (Petra Martínez) soon becomes an indirect acquaintance. A widow with three daughters, Antonia is literally the rock in the family. Dealing with one daughter's cancer prognosis and manipulated by another to help supplement her selfish ambitions, the normalcy of daily life unexpectedly ends for these these women when tragic events occur. The survivors have to find the strength to carry on, and the viewer is strongly drawn to the well-being of each character. I liked how certain silent scenes reflected the inner strength of the main characters. Lonliness, grief, and isolation surround them like an invisible wall yet they manage to maintain their dignity as life goes on, with or without them.

Click here to watch the trailer (Click on "Watch" link on the lower right corner of the movie still).

Secret (Taiwan) is a beautifully shot teen romance. Taiwanese pop artist Jay Chou built some acting chops in Zhang Yimou’s "Curse of the Golden Flower" and he refined his skill with "Secret." Directing his own script, Chou plays Yeh Hsiang-Lun, an extremely gifted music student entering a prestigious academy. Innocent flirtations abound amongst students and the days are filled with lectures, sports, hi-jinks, and “piano battles”.

One day in an old music room, Lun encounters Lu Hsiao-Yu (Kwai Lun-mei) playing an alluring tune. This melody and the coquettish Yu begin to haunt Lun day and night. Eventually Lun discovers a photograph of Yu with his father (the matchless Anthony Wong), and the plot rises to a very dramatic and supernatural turn. Delicate and sweetly mysterious, Yu is the film’s emotional center as she and Lun performs their magical symphony for all time.

Click here to watch the trailer (Click on "Watch" link on the lower right corner of the movie still).

Just Like Home (Denmark) is a wry comedy about trust and community within a small Danish town. Filled with eccentrics, the characters share their angst and loneliness, including a woman on the lam (Ann Eleanora Jørgensen), an angry pill-popper dealing with his childhood (Peter Gantzler), a stuffy poet (Peter Hesse Overgaard), and an optimistic civil servant (Bodil Jørgensen) with a shaky hold on her job.

Director Lone Scherfig does a fine job of painting a tableau of a conservative society as the residents struggle with the rumor of a male streaker in their midst. A local pharmacist opens up an anonymous hotline to find the culprit and calamity ensues as the townsfolk use it to air their grievances. Despite their initial misgivings, the hotline volunteers learn to find their voice, help each other, and heal the community. If you've seen "Italian for Beginners," you will want to check this out.

For tickets and information: go to www.sffs.org or call 925.866.9559

See you at the film fest!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, film, Film Festival, Film Stars, movie, San Francisco, San Francisco event

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Film lovers will have a lot of wonderful screenings to explore at the upcoming 51st San Francisco International Film Festival. The 15-day extravaganza will not only present nearly 200 films from 49 countries, but it will also feature the work of 39 women directors. Opening on April 24 with Catherine Breillat's "The Last Mistress," the festival will close May 8 with the West Coast premiere of "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson." Award honorees include Maria Bello of "The Yellow Handkerchief" (Peter J. Owens Award), Jason Lee, and Rose McGowan (both for Midnight Awards).

Here are a few select reviews from the festival:

"Shadows in the Palace" (Korea) is part lavish historical drama, part murder mystery set during Korea’s Chosun era. Totally entertaining with non-stop plot twists (for the squeamish folks, there will be a few gory torture scenes), the film is a solid rendition of Korean palace intrigue and the complex power struggles amongst the court maids, imperial concubine and the empress.

The smell of constant fear permeates the palace in everyone's effort to win the emperor's favor. Rigid court rules strip off the spirit of the maids as they work within the thick confines of the palace. After one of the maids is found dead, female court doctor Chun-ryung suspects foul play and decides to expose the murderer. Risking her position and her life, she soon digs up an ugly mess of deception as the battle for ultimate power unfolds. The acting is well done, as well as the costume research and set design, but the special effects are a bit too dramatic for Western viewers.

"In the City of Sylvia" (Spain) presents the idea of possible romance as a young romantic (Xavier Lafitte) searches for Sylvia, the would-be lover he met from several years before. Beautifully set in Strasbourg with gorgeous-looking stars, Lafitte resembles a version of Gael Garcia Bernal, while gamine Pilar López de Ayala steals the limelight. The film is a simple pleasure to gaze at. Director José Luis Guerín encourages the viewer to engage themselves to sound and light, paring down the dialogue significantly. The sense of city life is heightened, with the everyday sound of locals strolling, students chatting, and the sound of a tram ambling around the winding streets.

"Glasses" (Japan) is a zen jewel of a story, about an uptight teacher visiting an idyllic island retreat. Upon arrival at the Hamada Inn, Taeko (Satomo Kobayashi) is subjected to the peculiar business habits of the owner (Ken Mitsuishi) because he doesn't want too many guests. Fellow guest Sakura (Masako Motai) leads the townspeople through daily “merci exercises” and all the guests practice 'twilighting' in the evenings.

Through the seemingly strange practices of the local inhabitants, Taeko learns to let go literally and figuratively, changing in small degrees with each passing day at the beach. Western audiences might not be used to the quiet pace of Naoko Ogigami's direction, but this is a great example of how in slowing down one's life, one might actually see the gems within.

More film reviews to come - stay tuned!

For tickets and information: go to www.sffs.org or call 925.866.9559

See you at the film fest!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, Film, Film Festival, Film Stars, international, movie, San Francisco, San Francisco event

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wong Kar Wai is one of my favorite directors, and with good reason. The visionary is a regular on the Cannes circuit, and his "In the Mood for Love" has set a new standard in international cinema. He has an inimitable gift of letting each frame ooze with glamorous sensuality. It's a luxe quality that isn't found in many films today, and I can't get enough of it.

Shifting his focus to a Western landscape, he returns with "My Blueberry Nights." It's a debut for Wong in many ways. It's his first English language feature, and the lead actress (singer Norah Jones) is a fresh visage on the silver screen. It's also one of the rare instances that Christopher Doyle isn't present for this project, welcoming instead cinematographer Darius Khondji. The result is a beautifully tailored dance of color, light, music, and passion that lingers within you long after you leave the theatre.

The story opens up with Elizabeth (Jones), a heartbroken young woman drowning in the sorrows of her recent breakup. She befriends cafe owner Jeremy (Jude Law), eating blueberry pie and taking refuge in his romantic outlook. With the pain so close to home, she takes off on a long journey across America, trying to forget her past.

Along the way she witnesses other troubled souls battling their own relationship demons. In Memphis she gets caught up with a forlorn alcoholic cop (David Strathairn) and his hot-headed estranged wife (Rachel Weisz), then ends up with a flirty, fast-talkin', double-your-money-back-or-bust gambler (Natalie Portman) in Nevada. These characters are somewhat of a mirror image to her loneliness within her long inner journey.

For a first timer, Jones is valiant in her attempt to convey her emotional range, but it comes off a bit awkward. Portman's spunky performance provided the sizzle the film needed, and it's a darn shame she didn't have more screen time.

The soundtrack, as usual, is a work of art in itself with Wong at the helm. His extremely deliberate choice in music heightens the entire experience, and sometimes the tracks themselves do enough emoting for everyone and beyond. With Ry Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club) scoring, you get to cozy up to sultry croons from Norah Jones, Cat Power, Otis Redding, and the like. For "In the Mood for Love" fans, you will find a treat here - a harmonica version of "Yumeji's Theme."

www.weinsteinco.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, Film, Film Stars, movie, movie soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Since the launch of Emerson Hart's solo debut Cigarettes & Gasoline, the pop-rock album is still making waves with his stirring lyrics. The former lead singer of Tonic mines his painful past for inspiration and it shows. A couple songs I like are the accoustic "Green Hills Race for California," "Friend to a Stranger," and the title track "Cigarettes and Gasoline." Great lyrics in his work - all Tonic fans need to add this to their collection.

www.emersonhart.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another lush and ethereal release by glam electonica duo Goldfrapp, the fourth release Seventh Tree is quite a departure from the signature synth beats. Nevertheless, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory show off their music chops by reinventing themselves with slower, sensual, and accoustic melodies.

As they take us through another euphoric adventure, the listener finds him/herself dancing through Alison's dreamily hushed vocals. Dashed with hints of electronica, the mood is upbeat, to the point where you wonder if you should be frolicking through some meadows as you listen to "Caravan Girl." "Happiness" rocks with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the hypnotic "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" is a nice reminder of earlier work in Felt Mountain.

Some fans might dismiss this album as it's clearly not Supernature Part II. But it will grow on you, as this is another brilliant evolution from a group that refuses to conform to commercial pop formulas.

www.goldfrapp.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Academy Award winner Frances McDormand and Academy Award nominee Amy Adams are on a mission to find true love - all in one day! In "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," the charming comedy promises lots of glamour, elegant fun, and snappy dialogue between the two leading ladies.

Set in 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Ms. McDormand) is a middle aged governess who finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. Seizing an opportunity, she intercepts an assignment as “social secretary.” Miss Pettigrew is soon thrown into the glamorous and chaotic life of American actress Delysia Lafosse (Ms. Adams). Swept into a heady dream world of high-society, Mrs. Pettigrew helps Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia’s orbit.

Opens Friday, March 7th, 2008 (in select cities); Starring Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong

www.focusfeatures.com

See you at the movies!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, film, Film Stars, movie, movie soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Seriously sassy and full of glam, The Puppini Sisters' brand new CD The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo is pure toe-tapping fun with their famous retro harmonies, pop, and swing. These gorgeous ladies sure know how to put on a show, and what a blast this sophomore release is from Verve Records.

Named after their favorite lipstick, this album includes amazing versions of The Bangles' “Walk Like and Egyptian” and Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love”. The lovely trio (Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins, and Stephanie O’Brien) also wrote some original tracks as well, including “I Can’t Believe I’m Not A Millionaire” and “Jilted". I just loved their rendition of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)". I wanted to pop up and jitterbug across my hallway.

Listen to: “Crazy in Love” verve.edgeboss.net/qtime/verve/puppini/ruby_woo/audio/10_crazy_in_love.mov

www.thepuppinisisters.com

See ya on the dance floor,

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If chocolates are not your thing, try making your own Valentine presents with the new Crown Heart Cupcake Pan from Williams-Sonoma. Producing six large cupcakes with big heart-shaped tops, it's a lavish way to say 'I love you'. The pan’s steady carbon-steel construction results in uniform baking, with a fantastic nonstick release.

No time to bake? You can also send some lovely Parisian Macarons. Two delicate and chewy cookies are combined with an airy buttercream (chocolate, vanilla and espresso). Made by pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon, they are guaranteed to be the real thing. Ooh la la...

www.williams-sonoma.com

-Tami

Tagged as: baking, cupcakes, dessert, entertaining, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friends have raved about The Kin for a while, and I finally got to listen to their recent album release 'Rise & Fall'. Not only are the Koren brothers (Isaac and Thorry) enticing eye candy, their gorgeous vocals blend rather perfectly within each song. I especially liked the catchy 'Romeo', along with the lovely storytelling behind 'Abraham'. I tend to be drawn towards the non-epic songs, since they really highlight the beautiful songwriting and amazing melodies. In a world filled with overplayed commecial acts, this is an indie group to keep an eye on.

Check out their upcoming tour dates below:

Feb 11 – Club Infinity in Buffalo, NY
Feb 12 – Harper’s Ferry in Boston, MA
Feb 13 – Highline Ballroom in New York, NY
Feb 14 – State Theatre in Falls Church, VA
Feb 15 – The Khyber in Philadelphia, PA
Feb 16 – 8 x 10 Club in Baltimore, MD

www.thekin.com
www.myspace.com/thekin

-Tami

Tagged as: album, concert, music, music review, performance

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a fun sneak preview from the new movie Mad Money, opening this Friday the 18th. Starring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, it's a madcap caper involving three sassy women, money and the law. A comedy about ordinary women who decide to do something extraordinary (rob one of the most secure banks in the world), this is a guaranteed fun ride.

See you at the movies!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, film, movie

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Get the latest updates on the Golden Globe Awards coverage from TV Guide! The 65th annual awards show will be abuzz with celebrity fashion, gossip, and much more, so check out the video below...

See you at the awards show,

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, fashion, film, Film Stars, show, Television

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jane Austen fans will get a weekly treat from PBS' Masterpiece Theatre this season. Hosted by the lovely Gillian Anderson, “The Complete Jane Austen” will feature all-new productions of Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility.

The stellar lineup will also include the acclaimed Emma (starring Kate Beckinsale), and the Emmy award-winning Pride and Prejudice. Start swooning ladies - Colin Firth will soon grace your TV screen. As a bonus, viewers will be treated to a new drama, Miss Austen Regrets, based on Austen’s own love life.

Airing Sundays at 9pm (check local listings), starting January 13, 2008.

For more info: www.pbs.org/masterpiece

-Tami

Tagged as: entertainment, Television, TV show

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)