We wondered why anyone today would want to see a silent film in black and white, until we saw The Artist, French writer-director Michel Hazanavicius’ delightful Hollywood fable that’s resonating with audiences and critics alike and is already on most Oscar shortlists.
Most of us recognize Judy Greer, 36, for her roles as the funny friend or quirky co-worker in movies like 27 Dresses, 13 Going on 30 and The Wedding Planner. She’s also had more guest, recurring and regular TV appearances than we can count, including her latest turn on Two and a Half Men as Bridget, the ex of Ashton Kutcher’s character. This week, Greer gets serious in another memorable supporting role in Sideways director Alexander Payne’s The Descendants and is earning accolades for her scenes with George Clooney.
We recently learned that one in six Americans is affected by a brain or nervous system disorder — an estimated 50 million — according to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). We personally know people affected by the most well-known disorders: Alzheimer’s, migraines, autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, ALS and stroke. The annual Neuro Film Festival, a short-film competition to raise awareness about neurological disorders and the importance of research, is an inspiring call to action.
Celebs putting on the dog for awards shows is nothing new in Hollywood, but we attended one recently where it was particularly appropriate: the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards, which will be broadcast on Hallmark Channel tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The event, hosted by Carson Kressley, honored very special canines in eight categories, awarding the overall American Hero Dog title posthumously to Roselle, a guide dog who led her blind master, Michael Hingson, to safety from the 78th floor of Tower One at the World Trade Center on 9/11 minutes before it crumbled. Other top dogs range from those who worked dangerous search and rescue missions in the military to therapy and caregiving companions for the elderly and disabled.
Tired of our iPod’s shuffle mode, we decided to listen to our songs alphabetically, A-Z. For this undertaking, we need just the right headphones that provide both great sound and comfort, with earbuds that stay nicely in place. (We don’t want one falling out on an inopportune track, lest the stray strains of Winger or the Spice Girls suddenly embarrass us on the train.) Thankfully, we discovered HerPhones ($24.99), petite earphones designed to stay securely in place. And 10 lucky winners will receive HerPhones of their own!
Throughout the month of November, men are cultivating mustaches for Movember, a campaign to bring awareness to men’s health — specifically prostate cancer. We’re not hirsute enough to participate in the mustache initiative, thankfully, but it got us to thinking about what we could do, and it inspired us to donate our growing locks to charity.
As the holidays approach, we’re keeping our eyes open for just the right hostess gifts. At Kusmi Tea’s shiny, red-floored shop on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, we discovered a pretty, healthful and tasty choice: the colorful, five-tin Wellness Tea Assortment ($29.95) — Detox, Be Cool, Sweet Love, Boost and Algotea. We’re also giving away the wellness assortment to 10 lucky winners. Simply fill out this form. (You don’t even have to have us over for dinner!)
Not so long ago, most women on television existed to be the perfect mom or to meekly offer support to male characters. So how did we get from June Cleaver to female characters who are complex, flawed and refreshingly real in shows like Murphy Brown, Nurse Jackie and Desperate Housewives? “The Independent Woman,” the first in a four-part PBS series called America in Primetime, aims to answer that question as it examines how the role of women in television has changed for the better when it premieres Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
We knew “the talk” was coming when our mothers determinedly entered our rooms, clutching a copy of a certain book. As we leafed recently through the updated version of Our Bodies, Ourselves (Touchstone, 2011), first published in 1971, we no longer saw it as a bellwether of impending adolescent embarrassment but now as a rich, reliable, multi-layered resource, helpful to women no matter where they are on the reproductive spectrum.
We’re not big drinkers, but when we recently found ourselves visiting Kettner’s during London Cocktail Week, we sampled the offerings of new and inventive cocktails inspired by the Soho restaurant and Champagne bar’s past famous patrons.
© 2012, VIV Publishing, LLC., Zinio, LLC. - San Francisco - New York - London - Barcelona - Taipei - Sydney - All rights reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.