brexian's cove

What Type of Stemware is Right for You?
There are a gazillion different types of wine glasses out on the market. So, what should you buy?

Look at me! … stars’ outrageous attention-grabbing antics

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4939545/shameless-celebs-who-strip-off-to-steal-the-limelight.html#ixzz2UDemBvNy

Στις 20 Μαΐου 2013, στις 2 το μεσημέρι ώρα Λονδίνου, με τη γνωστή βρετανική ακρίβεια, στην Διεθνή Έκθεση Οίνου του Λονδίνου ανακοινώθηκαν από τον πρόεδρο της επιτροπής του διαγωνισμού Steven Spurrier τα αποτελέσματα του Διαγωνισμού Οίνου (Decanter World Wine Awards 2013) του περιοδικού Decanter για το 2013. Είναι ίσως ο πιό έγκυρος αλλά και σημαντικός διαγωνισμός οίνου της Ευρώπης και ένας από τους σημαντικότερους του κόσμου! Είναι τα αποτελέσματα για τα οποία όλοι οι οινοποιοί σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο κρατούσαν σήμερα την ανάσα τους.

Οι συμμετοχές ξεπέρασαν εφέτος κάθε προσδοκία: 14,362 συμμετοχές από όλο τον κόσμο (πέρυσι 14,119), από 52 συνολικά χώρες.

219 ειδικοί στο κρασί από 27 χώρες, συμπεριλαμβανομένων 75 Masters of Wine και 13 Master Sommeliers έκριναν το διαγωνισμό. Ήταν ασφαλώς ένα από τα καλύτερα panels στον κόσμο!

Συνολικά σε 9.873 κρασιά απονεμήθηκε μετάλλιο Decanter: 156 Περιφερειακά Τρόπαια (Regional Trophies), 229 χρυσά μετάλλια, 1.665 ασημένια μετάλλια, 4.165 χάλκινο μετάλλιο και 3.658 συνιστώμενα (Commended).

What Different Wine Colors Mean

Many“buttery” Chardonnays are more extracted, which means they’re usually a rich gold color.

A wine’s color can also help you if you’re interested in collecting wine. You can use wine color cues to determine its potential to cellar. For instance, a syrah that tinges blue on the rim has lower acidity. Acidity is one of the primary traits of wines that age well.

Expert blind tasters take serious note of the color of wine. Amongst these experts are advanced sommeliers who must be able to accurately blind taste 6 wines to earn their credentials.

Whether or not you’re aiming for a life in the restaurant industry, you can still use wine colors to better define favorites.

Stani is located behind historic Omonia Square, once the center of Athens’ commercial district but today a somewhat forlorn area that has been in a downward spiral for the last 15 years. The economic crisis hasn’t helped, with hotels and shops closing right, left and center. A three-minute walk from the Omonia metro station down (not so pretty) Marika Kotopouli Street, Stani appears suddenly, like a culinary oasis in the midst of a commercial desert. The neighborhood may have lost its appeal, but the quality of the products Stani sells is so superb that the place remains popular with Athenians of all generations (although, being an old-fashioned place, the dairy bar is usually full of pensioners, which is part of the charm here).

The store is small and the waiters are dressed in the traditional combo of black trousers and white shirt that is the standard uniform in old-school Greek eateries. You can either sit down (there are a couple of tables inside and more in a shaded area outside) or do takeaway. Right behind the giant fryer where the house specialty,loukoumades – deep-fried pastries doused in honey – are made, there are industrial-size refrigerators with glass-lined doors through which you can see what’s on offer.

Among the must-try items here is the moustalevria, a thick, brown pudding made from grape must (unfiltered and unfermented juice from freshly pressed grapes) that is a seasonal delicacy offered in Greece in the fall. The taste and texture are unique: picture a sweet and fragrant concoction that hovers somewhere between pudding and an earthy Jell-O. Stani also serves the whole range of old-fashioned Greek desserts – including the “little mouse dessert” (a chocolate dessert shaped like a mouse), walnut pie and galaktoboureko (custard and semolina in phyllo) – from a menu has been the same for more than 30 years and that remains popular with customers who were raised on these dishes.

But the whole reason to go to Stani is for the outstanding house yogurt, which is made with sheep’s milk that comes from small farms near Athens. The yogurt is served the traditional Greek way, on a plate with honey and walnuts. Few words do justice to the taste of the yogurt, which is so thick that at points it is almost solid. The honey and walnuts are the perfect accompaniment, and the portions are so generous that the yogurt is practically a full meal.

It’s also worth noting that, in a city that definitely doesn’t specialize in breakfast (most Athenians tend to eat something on the go), Stani is one place where you can actually eat a full-on breakfast: warm fresh milk, fresh butter, fried eggs (they fry them with full-fat, old-fashioned butter), bread, orange juice and Greek coffee are on offer.

Stani has belonged to the same family for years and there is an extreme amount of pride here. Adorning the walls in gilded frames are awards of excellence from the 1953 Thessaloniki International Fair. The awards may have been earned 59 years ago, but the truth is that little has changed at Stani since.

Acropolis Museum RestaurantAddress: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, PlakaTelephone: +30 210 900 0915Web: www.theacropolismuseum.grHours: Tues.-Thurs. & Sat.-Sun. 8am-8pm; Fri. 8am-midnight (hot dishes served starting at noon every day); closed Monday                                                                                                                      Benaki Museum RestaurantAddress: 1 Koumbari and Vasilissis Sofias, KolonakiTelephone: +30 210 367 1000Web: www.benaki.grHours: Wed. & Fri. 9am-5pm; Thurs. & Sat. 9am-midnight; closed Sun.-Tues. Aethrion at CycladicAddress: Neophytou Douka 4, KolonakiTelephone: +30 210 722 8321Web: www.cycladic.grHours: Mon.-Wed. & Fri.-Sat. 10am-5pm; Thurs. 10am-8pm; Sun. 11am-5pm; closed Tuesday National Archeological MuseumAddress: 28 Oktovriou (Patission) 44Telephone: +30 213 214 4800Web: www.namuseum.grHours: Mon. 1-8pm; Tues.-Sun. 8am-3pm

 
Q: Why doesn’t wine have nutrition facts on the label?
One of the reasons nutrition facts are not listed on a wine label is to stipulate that booze is not part of a daily diet. Unfortunately, wine is not calorie free! It’s time to understand what’s in your wine and how different types of wine affect calories and nutrients.
 

Who doesn’t want a domain that can take his business to extreme high level? Who doesn’t want to invest in online business where the returns are expected to be more than 200% of what you get offline. Ofcourse everyone does, i believe, and its the fact that most people are getting success over the online industry.

the polyurethane pillar’s signature piece—clearly indicating its architectural references—is ‘capitello’, or the ‘capital’ of the column, 
which acts as a chaise lounge and is complete with gestural volutes. ‘attica’, the transversal section, is a cozy seat with a dotted black and white cushion insert.
the ‘base’ or ‘attica TL’ of the slightly tapered design, functions as a table with a bifacial glass surface, opaque on one side and mirror shiny on the other.

more icons 

1: http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/capitello03.jpg

2: http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/capitello01.jpg

3: http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/capitello04.jpg

Galifianakis’ career began on television, when he played the recurring role of a stoner named Deuce in the short-lived sitcom “Boston Common.” Then he joined “Saturday Night Live” as a writer but lasted only two weeks. Galifianakis co-starred in the film “Out Cold” and had small roles in “Corky Romano,” “Below,” “Bubble Boy,” “Heartbreakers,” “Into the Wild,” “Super High Me,” “Little Fish Strange Pond,” and “Largo.” He had his own episode of Comedy Central Presents, which first aired in September 2001. Galifianakis gained stardom when he co-starred as Alan Garner in the hit comedy “The Hangover” and earned the MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance. Following “The Hangover”‘s release, Galifianakis was prominently advertised in subsequent films that featured him in supporting roles. These included “G-Force,” “Youth in Revolt,” and the Oscar-nominated film “Up in the Air.”

esse and Celine rode through Vienna in 1995′s “Before Sunrise.” Then, they walked the streets of Paris nine years later in “Before Sunset.” Now, the couple find themselves strolling through the ruins of Greece in “Before Midnight.”

“Before Midnight,” which hits theaters May 24, begins with Jesse (Ethan Hawke) dropping his son, Hank, off at the airport in Kalamata. As Hank heads home to Chicago to be with his mother (and Jesse’s now ex-wife), Jesse struggles with finding a way to maintain a relationship with his teenage son. Meanwhile, Jesse and Celine (Julie Delpy), who are parents to twins, are also dealing with their own feelings and emotions towards each other.

Aside from Greece setting the stage for the continuation of the 18-year love story, “Before Midnight” also has a predominantly Greek cast and crew. Athina Rachel Tsangari, whose credits include many well-respected titles (“Attenberg,” “Alps,” “Dogtooth,” to name a few), produced and appears in the film, and she is just one of many Greeks who contributed to the making of “Before Midnight.”

The Island of Santorini: Impressions and Rituals

Santorini, also known as Thira (Thera or Theira– this gets confusing when booking hotels and flights), is a volcanic island. Her appearance today is the result of a massive eruption 3500 years ago which literally, blew her top off. This led to the collapse of the volcanic mouth into a caldera (aka crater) to be filled in by the sea, leaving a ring of cliffs upon which the villages are now built.  The resulting scenery draws thousands of tourists, but isn’t necessarily stable, asrecent seismic tremors indicate.  This same volcano is blamed for destroying the Minoan civilization on Crete (the same ones who made the foot press!).

Our 5:15 am, 45-minute flight out of Athens touched down on the outer edge of the isle, just as the sun began to glow, slowly hoisting itself out of the eastern stretch of sea.  We would be staying on the caldera side, not far from bustling Fira town, the capital. After a short cab ride from the airport, we arrived at our hotel the Heliotopos, and were greeted with our first glimpse of the famous view, from our private balcony.

The azure expanse of sea stretched as though to another galaxy, silent and shimmering, only broken by the occasional boat skimming across its deep waters, ribbons traced across the placid surface.  Steep, stark cliffs stretched starward, nearly 1000 feet above the ocean, with apparently as much descending into the depths below.  As the rim curves, one can see specks of whitewashed villages, perched along the precipice; cubic homes built in jumbled stacks, as though rows of teeth in the mouth of a sleeping shark, swallowing the sea below.

During our four days on the island, we fell into an easy routine. Wine tasting during the day, followed by a sunset vigil on our balcony. Each evening we rambled down the hill to the nearest mart to collect fresh cheeses, local bread and cured meats before our evening celestial worship.  We supplemented our offerings with the very local rose (I think the shopkeeper made it at home) or one of the many Assyrtikos we had amassed during our circadian wine tastings.  Four days felt like one on Santorini, and after discovering there were multiple wineries producing high-quality vino strewn throughout the island, I quickly wished I had booked a week.

Here is what 56 years of hurricane tracks all look like all at once. Brightness is tied to F-Scale. Couple of charts. That’s it. P.S. Tornadoes hate mountains.

Infographic about global statistics on women’s rights.
Music: Ketto Revisited feat. Bonobo - Kidkanevil
For more info visit onebillionrising.org

Nana Mouskouri sera de passage au Québec le 28 mai prochain, afin de recevoir l’insigne d’officière de l’Ordre national du Québec. Elle obtiendra la distinction honorifique des mains de la première ministre Pauline Marois.
L’Université McGill remettra aussi à la militante un doctorat honoris causa deux jours plus tard.
Sa venue sera également l’occasion d’annoncer une tournée « anniversaire » mondiale en 2014 et de promouvoir son dernier album « Rendez Vous » (paru en 2011).

Nana Mouskouri fera son grand retour sur scène pour sa tournée anniversaire « Happy Birthday Tour ». Cette tournée débutera le 13 octobre 2013, jour de son anniversaire, à Athènes, où elle jouera plusieurs spectacles sur la scène d’un cabaret en souvenir du lieu où tout a commencé il y a 55 ans et qui la mèneront, une fois de plus, dans les salles du monde entier.

Elle sera de retour au Canada en 2014 :
24 mars 2014, Regina – Casino Regina Show Loung
25 mars 2014, Calgary – Southern Jubilee Auditorium
26 mars 2014, Edmonton – Northern Jubilee Auditorium
28 mars 2014, Richmond – River Rock Show Theatre
01 avril 2014, Ottawa – National Arts Center
02 avril 2014, Toronto – Roy Thompson Hall
04 avril 2014, Québec – City Grand Theatre de Quebec
05 avril 2014, Montréal – Place Des Arts
07 avril 2014, Sherbrooke – Centre Culturel
08 avril 2014, Saguenay – Théâtre de Palais Municipal
10 avril 2014, Moncton – Casino New Brunswick

La tournée anniversaire se terminera en Europe, en octobre 2014.

Déclaration de Nana Mouskouri :
« La musique était mon premier amour, chanter m’a aidé à respirer et m’a donné l’espoir de chercher si l’amour et la paix existent ?!
Après avoir célébré les 50 ans de « Weisse Rosen aus Athen » il y a deux ans à Berlin, j’ai réalisé que 2012 marquait les 50 ans depuis ma rencontre avec Quincy Jones qui a produit mon premier album à New York ; 2013 marque les 50 ans depuis les Parapluies de Cherbourg de Michel Legrand et les 50 ans depuis le concours Eurovision de la chanson organisé à Londres par la BBC ; 2014 marquera les 50 ans depuis Harry Belafonte et ma première tournée aux USA et Canada.
Étant donné que j’ai eu la chance d’aller aussi loin dans ma vie grâce à mes chansons, aux auteurs-compositeurs et à l’amour du public, je me suis dit que cela valait la peine d’être fêté.
À tous mes amis, mes chers auteurs-compositeurs qui ont nourri et enrichi mon âme de chanteuse, je vous souhaite un « Joyeux anniversaire » !
Un joyeux anniversaire au temps qu’il nous reste. À ce lien entre le public, la musique et les chansons. Cette musique que nous pouvons découvrir pour le plaisir et par amour.
Un « Joyeux anniversaire » à tous ceux qui m’ont démontré que : L’AMOUR EXISTE ! »

Sources :

http://tvanouvelles.ca/lcn/artsetspectacles/general/archives/2013/05/20130517-160922.html

http://fr-ca.actualites.yahoo.com/nana-mouskouri-honor%C3%A9e-qu%C3%A9bec-200030813.html

http://www.journaldequebec.com/2013/05/17/honoree-par-le-quebec

http://info-culture.biz/2013/05/17/nana-mouskouri-au-quebec-fin-mai/

http://www.quebecspot.com/2013/05/nana-mouskouri-sera-au-quebec-a-la-fin-du-mois-de-mai-05172013/