Swapping is the new shopping! Even Hollywood A-listers are at it! Lindsay Lohan was the guest of honour at a clothes swapping event held by Visa, the credit card people, in London this summer. But us Northern Irish gals have got in on the act too.
The Blick folk, who work out of a shared space for creative types on Belfast's Malone Road, held a skills swapping party recently, and a few weeks back I held my own book and clothes swap party at home.
The idea is to get a group of mates together and bring all your old books and clothes along - anything that still has some life left in it, but that you no longer need or want. Then put all the items down and let everyone be free to take their pick. It's also known as 'swishing' and it's all the rage in London these days. Try it yourself - me and my friends had a great girly night, a few drinks and a lot of laughs. You'll have a fab night and could even bag a new wardrobe without spending any money - how's that for credit crunch shopping!
You could even get everyone to donate some money and then give it to charity - and with Breast Cancer Awareness Month taking place this October, what better excuse do you need to get swapping!
Talking of books, a big event in the local publishing calendar takes place mid-month with the launch of Gerry Kelly's autobiography. The talented UTV talk show veteran hosted The Kelly Show, live on Friday nights on UTV, for no less than 17 years - so he's got some great stories to tell!
Known both locally and nationally as Northern Ireland's own 'Mr Chat', he's had a fascinating life - I had the pleasure of working for him on the Kelly Show a few years back and I know what a great man he is. And boy, he can tell a great story too! This is one book I can't wait to get my hands on. I'm not even going to wait until Christmas (or for a book swap party!) - I'll rush out to buy it as soon as it comes out!
October is certainly shaping up to be a busy month as Belfast Fashionweek also takes place mid-month. I love seeing the latest styles on local models and I know that I'm not alone - ticket sales keep rising every year that it runs and tickets for most of the shows usually sell out soon after they go on sale. I love the 1970s-style boho fashion looks that are filling the rails this season so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for some hot style tips during Fashionweek too.
Besides all the fab launches and social occasions taking place over the coming weeks there's another reason to celebrate autumn too - great telly! I'm currently glued to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evenings and have shouted myself hoarse cheering on local girl Christine Bleakley, the talented and extremely glamorous co-presenter of BBC1's flagship The One Show. As cheerful and friendly in real life as she is on TV, our girl Christine deserves to win - so get voting!
With Ugly Betty on Fridays, the airing of Little Britain USA, also on Fridays, and Strictly on Saturdays, that's my weekend viewing sorted. I'm also a big movie fan too, and I was lucky enough to catch a preview of How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, recently. Starring Simon Pegg as an inept British journalist who lands a job at a fashionable New York-based magazine, it's based around the real-life experiences of gaffe-prone British writer, Toby Young. It's also one of those British movies you wish they'd make more of - funny, clever and fast-paced with lots of laughs, snappy dialogue and great acting.
Thursday 2 October 2008
Blog by Andrea McVeigh
Some guys have all the luck - Belfast’s metrosexual males have a fabulous new place to hang out and be pampered.
It’s the Man at Partners male grooming salon adjoining the fab Partners Hair salon on Castlereagh Street in the east of the city - and it has local ladies green with grooming envy! Its owner, Paul Meekin, spotted a gap in the market and realised that there was a huge potential for a new, exclusive male grooming salon, offering everything from massages and facials to hot shaves and haircuts.
Paul says it has already proved to be a hit with shy guys who prefer the atmosphere in traditional male barbers, where there are no women around, as well as with blokes of all ages who are keen to try out some of the new pampering treatments on offer. One of the most talked about treatment on the Man menu is the Mankini wax - also called a ‘Boyzilian’ and it’s the male equivalent of the female Brazilian or bikini wax. And despite what you may think, it turns out that several local guys are keen to try it out and have already booked in for their Boyzilian - but I'm naming no names!
The salon itself has been gorgeously designed with style-conscious males in mind and features lots of masculine dark woods and chrome fittings. But if you’re one of the female of the species, don’t worry, just pop next door into Partners for an equally luxurious time. I nipped in recently for a wash and blow dry and was treated to a manicure while I was getting my new look from the salon’s owner and master cutter, Paul Meekin, himself. Next time I go I plan to try a massage in one of the calm treatment rooms.
I'm not long back from my Alaska cruise and I'd thoroughly recommend it! We breezed through Terminal 5 at Heathrow on the way there and back and enjoyed really comfortable flights with British Airways to and from Vancouver, where the cruise departed from, even bagging seats with extra legroom, which made the flight even better. The food was top-notch, the cabin crew were friendly and when we weren't eating we watched back-to-back movies - bliss! Usually I dread long-haul flights but these were comfy and quick - we'll definitely be flying BA again!
Our trip took in a cruise around Alaska’s Inside Passage with the brilliant cruise company Holland America Line, onboard its elegant and superbly-equipped ship, the MS Ryndam. The ship offered all the facilities you’d find in a five-star hotel, including a gym, several high-class restaurants, a library, a coffee shop, several bars, a shopping gallery and a spa, where I treated myself to a pampering facial.
All the stops along the route were amazing too and I really fell for the wide open spaces, fresh air, friendly locals and awe-inspiring scenery of Alaskan towns and cities such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. The tour excursions were awesome too - my hubby and I went on a helicopter ride and walked across a glacier, hired a Harley Davidson and went on a motorcycle tour around Ketchikan, winding between sea and forest on Alaska State Highway 7. Ray, our leader on the Harley tour, told us all about the history of the area and we made new friends in the form of the other riders in our multi-cultural tour group - Peter from Yorkshire and seasoned American bikers, Doug and V. My other half and I were the only Irish people to take the tour that summer, so at least we’ll be remembered.
I was tempted to stow away and stay onboard for another week but duty called back home, in the form of work. One treat to look forward to though - and it’s all in the name of research, of course! - is the Marks & Spencer autumn/winter fashion show that’s taking place in Dublin at the end of September. A group of Northern Irish fashion writers will be heading down with the chic PR girls from Anderson Spratt to check out the hottest looks for the coming season - and stylishly showing those Dublin gals what fashion is all about!
It’s the Man at Partners male grooming salon adjoining the fab Partners Hair salon on Castlereagh Street in the east of the city - and it has local ladies green with grooming envy! Its owner, Paul Meekin, spotted a gap in the market and realised that there was a huge potential for a new, exclusive male grooming salon, offering everything from massages and facials to hot shaves and haircuts.
Paul says it has already proved to be a hit with shy guys who prefer the atmosphere in traditional male barbers, where there are no women around, as well as with blokes of all ages who are keen to try out some of the new pampering treatments on offer. One of the most talked about treatment on the Man menu is the Mankini wax - also called a ‘Boyzilian’ and it’s the male equivalent of the female Brazilian or bikini wax. And despite what you may think, it turns out that several local guys are keen to try it out and have already booked in for their Boyzilian - but I'm naming no names!
The salon itself has been gorgeously designed with style-conscious males in mind and features lots of masculine dark woods and chrome fittings. But if you’re one of the female of the species, don’t worry, just pop next door into Partners for an equally luxurious time. I nipped in recently for a wash and blow dry and was treated to a manicure while I was getting my new look from the salon’s owner and master cutter, Paul Meekin, himself. Next time I go I plan to try a massage in one of the calm treatment rooms.
I'm not long back from my Alaska cruise and I'd thoroughly recommend it! We breezed through Terminal 5 at Heathrow on the way there and back and enjoyed really comfortable flights with British Airways to and from Vancouver, where the cruise departed from, even bagging seats with extra legroom, which made the flight even better. The food was top-notch, the cabin crew were friendly and when we weren't eating we watched back-to-back movies - bliss! Usually I dread long-haul flights but these were comfy and quick - we'll definitely be flying BA again!
Our trip took in a cruise around Alaska’s Inside Passage with the brilliant cruise company Holland America Line, onboard its elegant and superbly-equipped ship, the MS Ryndam. The ship offered all the facilities you’d find in a five-star hotel, including a gym, several high-class restaurants, a library, a coffee shop, several bars, a shopping gallery and a spa, where I treated myself to a pampering facial.
All the stops along the route were amazing too and I really fell for the wide open spaces, fresh air, friendly locals and awe-inspiring scenery of Alaskan towns and cities such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. The tour excursions were awesome too - my hubby and I went on a helicopter ride and walked across a glacier, hired a Harley Davidson and went on a motorcycle tour around Ketchikan, winding between sea and forest on Alaska State Highway 7. Ray, our leader on the Harley tour, told us all about the history of the area and we made new friends in the form of the other riders in our multi-cultural tour group - Peter from Yorkshire and seasoned American bikers, Doug and V. My other half and I were the only Irish people to take the tour that summer, so at least we’ll be remembered.
I was tempted to stow away and stay onboard for another week but duty called back home, in the form of work. One treat to look forward to though - and it’s all in the name of research, of course! - is the Marks & Spencer autumn/winter fashion show that’s taking place in Dublin at the end of September. A group of Northern Irish fashion writers will be heading down with the chic PR girls from Anderson Spratt to check out the hottest looks for the coming season - and stylishly showing those Dublin gals what fashion is all about!
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