A powerful female force NOT for the faint of heart!

Temperatures will rise and passions will stir with the sounds of sultry sirens when the all-female singing sensation, Celtic Woman, returns to North Florida this month.

Their exciting new show – BELIEVE – features a mesmerizing performance of classic ballads, hymns and beloved Irish songs.

Timeless masterpieces like Bridge Over Troubled Water, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Ave Maria sung by these soothing songstresses will leave you emotionally charged and forever changed!

An explosive evening of world-class music and dance awaits! If the amazing vocal talent of these divine diva songbirds doesn’t wow you…the dazzling six-piece band, master violinist, choir and fancy footwork of a championship Irish dancer will!

A Diva Top Pick Gift for Valentine’s Day!

The perfect way to say I love you!

Share this momentous and magical evening of artistry and melody with someone special. Act fast…this show is sure to be a sellout!

Spotlight: The Moran Theater/Times Union Center – Jacksonville, Florida

Date: Wednesday; February 15, 2012

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $48+

Group Discounts Available.

For more information, visit the Artist Series Box Office online.

Or, call 904-632-3373/800-860-BWAY.

Not in Jacksonville…no worries.

Rolling hills speckled with vineyards, sprawling country estates, horse farms and historic homes make up the scenic backdrop of lovely Charlottesville, Virginia.

Offering an abundance of natural beauty, history and urban sophistication, Charlottesville is truly a special place. Ranked consistently as one of the best small cities to live in America, Charlottesville has been hailed as “a little piece of heaven” by locals and visitors alike.

The unique and welcoming charm of the city is rooted in Charlottesville’s masterful integration of historic architecture and traditions with contemporary style and modern conveniences.

Past and present creatively coexist.

Add in the stunning countryside, spectacular mountain views and a dynamic arts/entertainment scene and you have the makings for a world-class destination.

Fast Fact: The Best time to visit is NOW! Historic Charlottesville turns the big 250 in 2012. The year-long birthday celebration will feature a series of special events and festivals. For more info visit: www.celebrate250.com

Nestled on a pristine 100 acre estate just minutes from the downtown center, you will discover a tranquil garden retreat offering exceptional service, fine dining and upscale amenities. The Clifton Inn, once the site of a bustling commercial trading post, is an authentic and elegant extension of Charlottesville’s rich past and refined southern hospitality. This gracious historic manor has been beautifully restored to a AAA Four-Diamond Relais & Châteaux luxury resort hotel.

A private road leads to a circular driveway surrounded by lush landscaping, walking trails and colorful flower beds. A lake, tennis courts and a dazzling infinity pool are in the distance.

The period architecture and rustic design touches – antiques, white-washed walls, pine floors, exposed brick and rough-hewn ceiling beams – are among the remnants of the home’s humble beginnings. Today, The Clifton Inn, skillfully transformed, offers a standard of excellence that far exceeds the expectations of even the most discerning clientele.

* Forbes (formerly Mobil) Four Star -Award Winner

* Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine

Guests are greeted by the towering white columns and grand front porch entrance of the main house. The Clifton Inn features a total of eighteen distinct rooms, suites and cottage residences. A renovated carriage house, converted stable suites and a spacious country farmhouse are popular lodging options for those who prefer more intimate accommodations away from the main home. Wood-burning fireplaces, soaking claw-foot tubs, private view terraces, and sitting parlors add a touch of classic old world comfort to the overall hotel experience. Madeira, a favorite spirit of the forefathers, is the signature suggested night-cap; guests are treated to a complimentary carafe in their room.

Indulgence is no longer a wish but a right on these hallowed grounds. Croquet on the lawn, cocktails by the pool, wine tastings and tours of the area’s 24+ vineyards and VIP seats at the local polo match become priorities over email and returning voicemail messages.

Privileged Pleasures Prevail.

The Clifton Inn’s appeal and accolades extend beyond its guest rooms and prime location to its cuisine.

The innovative and farm-fresh menus of the Clifton Inn’s famed dining room will not disappoint. Chef Tucker Yoder taps into Virginia’s bounty of local ingredients and the region’s award-winning wines for a tantalizing culinary experience that is hard to forget. Guests are invited to sample a variety of delectable dishes with a custom three to five course tasting dinner menu. Classic heritage creations like Poached Oysters Salsify, inspired by Thomas Jefferson, are showcased in the mix. Other favorites include a Celery Root and Black Truffle Soup, Braised Pork Trotter, and Chef Tucker’s notorious Honey-lacquered Duck Breast served on a fluffy bed of stone-ground grits. Dinner reservations are highly recommended. Expect one dinner seating nightly, given the staff’s attention to detail with every serving. Dining guests are so immersed in the cuisine that sitting and savoring Tucker’s sweet southern fare for hours is easily done and accepted. You won’t find waiters rushing to turn tables. You will only find a professional international team of hospitality experts eager to serve and inspire.

Rest, Romance and Refinement are all within reach when visiting this elegant retreat.

The Clifton Inn works to make every moment of your stay … history in the making!

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia – Albemarle County

Address: 1296 Clifton Inn Drive

Charlottesville, VA 

434-971-1800

Route 250 East approximately 15 minutes from downtown Charlottesville and the University of Virginia.

Airports:

Richmond Airport: 1 hour

Washington-Dulles & Reagan Washington International Airports: 2-3 hours

Drive Times:

From Washington D.C. (2.5 to 3 hours)     

From Richmond (1.5 hours)

For special promotions and packages, visit The Clifton Inn Website online.

Total Accommodations: 18 private units

Garden Rooms: $170-$375

Suites: $200-$695

Carriage House & Honeymoon Cottage: $395-$785

Select rooms are pet friendly – $75 per night fee.

Standard Room Features & Amenities:

• EarlyAmerican Antique Furniture & Accents
• Quality Masconi linens & robes
• Molton Brown Bath Products
• Spa Jet Showers
• Flat Screen TVs
• High Speed Wireless Internet
• Bose Sound Systems & Clocks
• Complimentary Parking
• Complimentary Continental Breakfast & Afternoon Tea
• Evening Turn-Down Service
• 24 hour Concierge/Guest Service
• Complimentary Carafe of Madiera Wine

Diva Top Pick for Romance: The Blue Ridge Suite

This beautiful and bright suite features floor to ceiling windows for optimal sunshine; a private entrance and porch facing the pool; a living room with a full sofa bed and desk; and a cozy bedroom with a queen size plush bed. The bathroom is updated with a modern glass door shower.

Recommended Activities:

Explore Wine Country – The Monticello Wine Trail features over 24 boutique Central Virginia award-winning vineyards. Not to Miss: Blenheim Vineyards boasts the best in wine and ambience, especially with celebrity musician, Dave Matthews at the helm. And, the King Family Vineyards annual fundraiser benefiting the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation in June – The Pink Ribbon Polo Classic. A true classic “Polo & Pearls” event!

A Triple Play History Lesson – Tour the country’s most celebrated Presidential homes: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Monroe’s Ashlawn-Highland and James Madison’s Montpelier.

Main Steet Market – 416 West Main Street. Over nine specialty gourmet shops under one roof. From an organic butcher, fresh seafood market, an artisan bakery, a cheese shop and more.

Diva Spotlight: Sustain, Inc. - a green boutique specializing in unique environmentally keen apparel, accessories and furnishings (just steps from the market entrance)

Shopping Extraordinaire – Uncover fabulous finds at the countless boutiques on the mall, Charlottesville’s pedestrian friendly downtown retail mecca.

Diva Delights:

• Vintage Vixen – 300 East Market. Eclectic, Upscale and Couture Fashion Consignment Boutique.
• Charlottesville Arts Cooperative Gallery -118 East Main Street. Featured works by 60+ local artists.
• Circa – 1700 Allied Street. Voted the region’s top Antique/Collectible/Vintage Furniture store.
• Caspari -100 West Main Street. Flagship store featuring exclusive Caspari line of quality tableware, decorative accents, invitations, gifts and more!
• Yves Delorme of Paris ” Outlet Store”- 311 East Main Street. High Quality Linens and Bedding at a Super Savings!

Good Eats:

Downtown lunch and Sunday Brunch hotspot: Petit Pois Restaurant – 201 East Main Street. A quaint french bistro with an affordable farm-fresh menu and a gracious staff.

Check out The Scout Guide to Charlottesville online for the inside scoop on local best bets.

It’s Garden Party Time – April 2012:

The Clifton Inn is kicking off Virginia Historic Garden Week with a special garden party book signing with Southern Living contributor, James Farmer, author of A Time to Plant: Southern-Style Garden Living on April 22, 2012.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with book signing and cocktails, followed by a garden inspired dinner created by Chef Tucker Yoder using produce and ingredients from local Charlottesville farmers and purveyors.

Take Advantage of The Clifton Inn’s Special Spring Savings Package:

Available: Garden Week, April 21-28

Everything is Rosy

Garden Room – $295 per night

 * Garden Room accommodations

* Official Garden Week Guidebook

* Spring floral arrangement welcome amenity

* Made-to-order breakfast

* Afternoon tea for two

Travel Divas… now it is easy to keep your precious pearly whites healthy and picture perfect! 

The Slim Sonic by Violight is the ultimate “must-have” functional and fashionable travel accessory. Available in a palette of brilliant colors, animal prints and classics silver, black and white, this brush is a true trendsetter.

Say “bye-bye “to nostalgic bristles… and hello to clean technology!

This compact and portable toothbrush, roughly the size of a mascara tube, may be small but it delivers BIG results with its revolutionary sonic cleaning power! With the simple press of a button, the SLIM comes alive. Your teeth are treated to a VIP treatment – 22,000 rotating brush strokes per minute that clean and sanitize.

Get ready to be noticed with an “Electric” Smile every time!

Suggested Retail: $14.95

Best Bet ”Beneficial” Accessory: A Sonic Sanitizer Extraordinaire!

Oral Care extends beyond the brush. It is important to focus on maintenance and safety. A simple water rinse leaves residue, germs and  other frightening finds too scary to even mention. But rest-assured! Violight’s Zapi Sonic Sanitizer will keep your toothbrush 99% germ free. 

Now available in fun, fanciful & cuddly creature designs, The Zapi Sonic Sanitizer is sure to be an instant hit with the entire family!

Suggested Retail: $34.95

For more information on the Slim Sonic, the Zapi Sanitizer and the full product line, visit Violight online.

MBT's high-tech Ari

MBTs: Walking shoes and workouts

Ideally, I’d be at the gym every morning. But that’s not going to happen. I can barely get enough time to take a shower. I got a pair of MBT Ari’s. these shoe make you use your core muscles just by wearing them. They have a patented structure that make you use your bum, tummy, and leg muscles to keep balanced and moving. Just walking is a workout. I can throw on my MBTs, head to the grocery store and by the time I’m back home I can feel the burn in my lower body. It is truly amazing.

Graco Pack and Play

Graco Pack and Play: Traveling Bed and Playpen

We live in a small apartment in San Francisco, so we don’t have room for a beautiful crib with matching furniture. What we have is the Graco Pack and Play and it is a lifesaver. My baby sleeps in it at night and she plays in it during the day. Then, we I send her off to grandma’s house, the system easily breaks down into a carry bag. It comes with a rod where you can hang toys and mobiles as well, which is great for little curious minds.

Orbit Baby Strollers

Orbit Baby: Stroller and Car Seat in One

This stroller is not only a stroller, it’s its own verb. I can Orbit with my baby, not just walk. The stroller seat is also a car seat that snaps into an orbit base in the car. The Orbit system offers a bassinet on a rocker – which my baby slept in for the first 4 months. The bassinet clips into the stroller base as well. So, with a few pieces from Orbit, you have a stroller, car seat, and bassinet. For you fashionistas, you will be happy to know that the stroll comes in a variety of hip colors.

Lululemon

Lululemon: Workout to a Night Out

OK, I spend my day nursing, burping, and keeping a new human alive while juggling client calls and writing. I can’t fit into any of my pre-pregnancy clothes and I want something that feels sexy, but still lets me move with my not-so-hot body. Lululemon has some great clothes that firm and lift while looking tres chic. Kinda like body Spanx but way sexier. Some of the pants are reversible, so I can wear them a few days in a row! What is great about many of their designs is that I can throw on one of their darling sweaters over an outfit along with a cute pair of flats and I am good to go.

Netflix mobile

Netflix Mobile: Breaking the Breastfeeding Boredom

I’ve had Netflix for years. I enjoy getting movies in the mail and having movie night. Well, then I started breastfeeding and I was bored out of my skull. I can’t just stare at my beautiful baby for 45 minutes straight 8 times a day. So, I downloaded Netflix onto my iPhone. Now, I can put in my earplugs (a must) and watch movies to my heart’s content. Now, breastfeeding is not boring at all, actually I look forward to it!

These are a few items that have made my life much easier and have helped me be the best mom I can be. No, I’m not supermom, and I need all the help that I can get. I’m not too sure what I would do without these few treasured items, luckily I don’t need to find out!

Waves at Fort Bragg

Mallard duck at MacKerricher State Park

Great Blue Heron

While in the Fort Bragg/Mendocino area, you just can’t skip going to Glass Beach. As an avid sea glasser, there’s no place like it in California (If there is, please let me know!). I loved how this piece of bottle green found a perch on a rock. Way to stand apart from the crowd!

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg

For some delicious food to keep you going, check out Eggheads, right on North Main Street in the heart of town. Despite the somewhat odd decor (a tribute to the Wizard of Oz) you can definitely get some good home cookin’.

And if you have time left in the day, enjoy a lovely, easy hike along Big River. The aqua water, countless kayakers checking their crab traps, and the general foliage provide perfect shots no matter where you look!

Big River State Park Mendocino

If you have the time, you love the beach, love photography, and love the outdoors (or any of those items singularly), then hop in your car and head north from the San Francisco Bay Area! I guarantee that you’ll have a wonderful time.

Bloomsbury opened in London on October, 2011, and has since gained a loyal neighborhood following. Owners Karl Geyer and Hannah Smith have lived in the Bloomsbury neighborhood for 10 years and saw a need for a neighborhood coffee house and meeting place.

“If we wanted good coffee, we’d just have to do it ourselves,” says Smith.

Smith has enjoyed building relationships with customers over the past few months.

“I’ve just enjoyed meeting different people every day. There are so many interesting stories to be told,” she says.

People gather around the old wooden tables to work, chat with friends, or to simply enjoy a good meal. The walls are decked out with hip paintings and vintage mirrors. It’s a quirky place that will never go out of style.

Bloomsbury Coffee House’s menu is small yet concise. Everything is homemade and all ingredients are locally sourced. Sandwiches, soups, and pastries are menu regulars, but there’s always room to experiment with the food at Bloomsbury.

“There’s no formula, the menu is different every day, and we literally do what we feel like day to day, depending on what’s available seasonly,” says Smith.

Bloomsbury is the kind of place to linger over breakfast (their granola and yogurt comes is a generous serving) or to spend an afternoon, with its relaxed, informal atmosphere. And seriously, the coffee is exquisite.

Photos by Katie Palmer

Remember the Sleeping Beauty story of your childhood? You know, that family friendly, romantic fantasy musical? Ok, now take out everything but the beautiful girl and the fantasy, add a lot of soft core and inexplicable behavior.

The 2012 Sleeping Beauty is a complete enigma. I suppose it’s about a young student exploring her sexuality, or maybe exploiting her body for financial gain. Ultimately I arrived at the conclusion that our lovely Lucy was searching for her true self. In the classic modern single gal mode she signed up for any and all experiences offered to her. All those drugs, unexplained relationships, just plain weird habits, and random sexual encounters added up to a modern upside down fairy tail. Instead of getting the prince, Lucy is searching for a genuine feeling. We don’t have a clue what makes her tick and neither does she.

For about an hour and a half you will be completely baffled by our lead character. Clearly she is working her way through college by taking odd jobs such as a test rat in white walled labs and office drudgery in a perpetual paper pushing office. Who could blame Lucy for jumping at the chance of making some big bucks when she hooks up with a kinky temp agency.

Initially she is hired to serve rich people food in some fancy private club. The catch? All the waitresses wear racy lingerie and allowed themselves to be admired/leered at by old men. But wait, there’s more.
Lucy keeps getting promoted to more challenging and lucrative assignments.
Finally the audience gets to see the sleeping beauty reference. Not to spoil things for you, let me just say she drinks a potion, she sleeps, and old men do mysterious things to her. Yes, human sexuality can be perverse. You will see many examples of this, some full frontal, and behavior including random acts of unexpected kindness and disturbing brutality.
This isn’t your granny’s Sleeping Beauty. Or if it is, she didn’t write a book about it so you’ll never know.
Sleeping Beauty (2012) opens Friday, Jan 26,at brave independent theaters near you.

Shop Amazon Movies – Valentine’s Day – Romance Movies

Following in the old world’s footsteps, California’s very own Sonoma Valley celebrates the lesser known olive market and season through their Eleventh Annual Feast of the Olive Dinner.

Standing as one of the season’s main events, this occasion boasts a multi-course, olive inspired dinner prepares by 18 of the area’s best chefs.

This year’s festivities takes place on Saturday, January 28, starting at 6 p.m. and hosted by the Ramekins Culinary School, with an goal of highlighting the valley’s bountiful food and wine offerings.

The meal is served family style, where guests dine at one of three tables, each boasting five dedicated chefs, and will be paired with award-winning Sonoma Valley wines.

Tickets are $150 a person and are available for purchase by calling (707) 996-1090 ext 108. Learn more about the Sonoma Valley Olive Season and the dinner by visiting their website.

Imagine your delight when you gain entrance to the super secret private art gallery located down an unmarked walkway along San Francisco’s Embarcadero. Tango Diva takes you on a sneak preview of the Pilara Foundation’s current show titled HERE, showcasing 34 photographers interpreting San Francisco. One highlight is the pairing of Eadweard Muybridge’s famed city panorama with a follow up 100 years later. Mark Klett’s panorama of the identical view fast forwards us through time. More info @ www.pier24.org