Can't believe this is the 3rd year in a row we've celebrated the Oscars in Chicago!
What a fun and vibrant city and we love the convenience of the train. The Amtrak, not the Southshore. I know, the SS is cheaper but it seems like a city bus to me and stops way too many times. If you're staying over, the Amtrak is a much better trip that leaves from St. Joe and is not that much more (only $17 one way) and how can you put a price on upholstered seats, clean bathrooms and the option of a decent Chardonnay and smoked almonds on the way home?
Our stay at the Hotel Intercontinental on Michigan Avenue was splendid from the reservation process to the checkout. Those people know service. Just across the street was the exciting "Meet the Oscars" exhibit. Last year, it was presented only in Hollywood and New York, but this year in Chicago! Hooray--you knew I'd be on my way! Who knows when my next chance may be to hold an actual Academy Award (they're made in Chicago) and smile for the camera? What fun to get all dressed up and have a taste of what the stars experience!
Thrilled and still glowing after our photo op, Dan & I braved the cold and walked to the Hard Rock Hotel for their Oscar celebration. Cabs for the rest of the night was the agreement as our eyeballs were frozen upon arrival. We warmed up with delicious "theme" drinks and a fun trivia contest as we watched the pre-show on "E!" and the opening number by Hugh Jackman, a true showman. Kudos and applause!
After a stop at City Scape Hotel midway, we took our formal-clad selves back to the Intercontinental for a nightcap and the final envelopes. Since my pick Mickey Rourke lost to Sean Pean, we ordered up his film "Milk" in the room before we checked out. Very well done.
Love Chicago, love the Oscars and the fact that the two combined this year made it better than ever. Check out the photos at http://www.thecoast.fm/. Next up? Something fun for ladies as we celebrate Girl's Night Out in 2009!
We'll see you very soon!
Cheers, Robin
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Grammy Awards better than expected!
Okay. I'm still not as dazzled as I was the year Ricky Martin tore it up from on high (sigh), but this year's awards seemed a bit better than in recent years, don't you think?
Admittedly, I didn't watch the entire show, as I am an accomplished alternate channel surfer. Sunday's fare: Rock of Love and Brother and Sisters. It really is possible to keep up with 2-3 shows at once! Just click out of the primary show (Grammys) when the boring parts come on. I heard that elder rock statesman Robert Plant was a mic hog and didn't allow poor Alison Krauss to speak. Missed it. Watching acceptance speeches for songs I've never heard falls into the "boring parts" category and I was off to scoff at scantily-clad tramps or marvel at the ability of Rob Lowe to look just like he did in St. Elmo's Fire. Sigh, again.
Justin Timberlake did a bang-up job with Al Green for a performance we learned was last minute. Did you hear they called the Rev. Green when he was in the shower? He just said, "Let me towel off and I'll be right over." A true showbiz pro.
Why was Dwayne Johnson there? Don't care. Me likee.
Katy Perry's fruit explosion was likely designed to distract us from the fact that the poor thing can't sing live. On the E! pre-show, Death Cab for Cutie were sporting blue ribbons to protest the abuse of "Autotone" or something that makes singers sound good when they really, um, don't. Thanks for the insight boys, I'm wearing a ribbon next awards show.
I cried when Jennifer Hudson sang/won. What a brave, dear girl who needs to fire her stylist but most likely is too polite to.
A big night for brits as the gum-chewing Adele beat out heavy hitting favorites like Leona Lewis, Pink and my girl Sara Bareilles for the trophy. Even though I heard she plans to display her hardware on the loo, she did say she locked herself in there and "cried for an hour" when she heard she was even nominated. Keep an eye on this one.
Next up? The Oscars! I'm trying on gowns to see which one I'll be wearing this year....
Admittedly, I didn't watch the entire show, as I am an accomplished alternate channel surfer. Sunday's fare: Rock of Love and Brother and Sisters. It really is possible to keep up with 2-3 shows at once! Just click out of the primary show (Grammys) when the boring parts come on. I heard that elder rock statesman Robert Plant was a mic hog and didn't allow poor Alison Krauss to speak. Missed it. Watching acceptance speeches for songs I've never heard falls into the "boring parts" category and I was off to scoff at scantily-clad tramps or marvel at the ability of Rob Lowe to look just like he did in St. Elmo's Fire. Sigh, again.
Justin Timberlake did a bang-up job with Al Green for a performance we learned was last minute. Did you hear they called the Rev. Green when he was in the shower? He just said, "Let me towel off and I'll be right over." A true showbiz pro.
Why was Dwayne Johnson there? Don't care. Me likee.
Katy Perry's fruit explosion was likely designed to distract us from the fact that the poor thing can't sing live. On the E! pre-show, Death Cab for Cutie were sporting blue ribbons to protest the abuse of "Autotone" or something that makes singers sound good when they really, um, don't. Thanks for the insight boys, I'm wearing a ribbon next awards show.
I cried when Jennifer Hudson sang/won. What a brave, dear girl who needs to fire her stylist but most likely is too polite to.
A big night for brits as the gum-chewing Adele beat out heavy hitting favorites like Leona Lewis, Pink and my girl Sara Bareilles for the trophy. Even though I heard she plans to display her hardware on the loo, she did say she locked herself in there and "cried for an hour" when she heard she was even nominated. Keep an eye on this one.
Next up? The Oscars! I'm trying on gowns to see which one I'll be wearing this year....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
