Monday, 13 July 2015

Style Update: Stairs with heart in Silver Lake

There exists a magical set of stairs in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. These stairs have heart, literally. They are also stairs that are begging to be sought out, discovered if you will, in a creative mecca in Los Angeles. I'm not the first to photograph here, and I'll certainly not be the last. But, when you discover these stairs for the first time, your heart quite literally jumps from your chest. It's a beautiful sight and usually one that is completely empty. It's tranquil and uplifting and you'll find messages of love at both the top and bottom of the stairs. This is what I love about Los Angeles - you never know what you'll find around any given corner of the city. It's a place open for exploration and willing and ready with surprises. 

What I'm wearing:





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Sunday, 12 July 2015

Tech News Recap: UK WhatsApp BAN, Facebook takes a step towards gender equality



ALL THE biggest technology news from the past week, including – Apple places its’ biggest iPhone order to date, American adult entertainment firm releases its first interactive virtual reality film, Facebook takes a step towards gender equality and MUCH MORE.

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Star baker gives youngsters food for thought at ground-breaking school



TOP baker Amy-Beth Ellice left youngsters hungry for more when she visited their annual bake-off. 

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Why green-fingered fitness is better than hitting the gym this summer



FORGET sweating it out on a treadmill in a stuffy gym.

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Andrew and Chris Spriggs: Meet the men on a marathon mission



FOR Andrew Spriggs running began as a way of keeping fit in his 40s but became an obsession.

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Georg Elser: The lone wolf hero who nearly killed Hitler



HIS name means nothing to most people today, yet Georg Elser could easily have become one of the most famous men of modern times.

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'Running gave me a new lifeline after my husband's death'



THE last time Pherenice Worsey-Buck was at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, she was with husband Mark and sons Tyler and Isaac in the summer of 2012, cheering on Team GB along with thousands of others.

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Top 10 things you never knew about Wimbledon



AFTER a fortnight of some glorious sport, here are some facts about Wimbledon that do not mention tennis.

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Lobster Rolls at Knuckle & Claw, Silver Lake, Los Angeles

Having spent nearly every summer of my life in Maine, for going on 35 years, I like to think of myself as a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to lobster rolls. To be honest, I'm actually a bit of a snob about it. I once ended up telling the waitress at Burger & Lobster exactly how to make my lobster roll, changing the entire recipe in the process. Wasabi mayo was a no-no. Truly, the best lobster rolls are the most simple ones. Give me a grilled roll, a little bit of Hellman's and fresh chunky lobster and I'm on the better side of heaven. I mention all of this because of a good friend of mine suggested I stop into Knuckle & Claw while I was in Los Angeles. I rolled my eyes and said, "yeah, yeah... another lobster roll joint that thinks they know what they're doing." But, nonetheless I put it on the list of restaurants to visit.

So, I made the journey down Sunset Blvd. and found myself in Knuckle & Claw minutes after they had opened on a Friday afternoon. It wasn't crazy busy, but we were the first in the door so such a scenario was expected. I had heard it gets hot and heavy in here with traffic and wanted time alone to indulge in a taste of New England on the West Coast. Knuckle & Claw fly their lobster in fresh every day from Maine. Founded by two girls, who both have a passion for lobster, this place is for the purists amongst us. It's a restaurant geared toward those who know their red crustaceans. Even the name reflects their particular ways when it comes to creating their rolls - they stick with the sweetest meat from the lobster - knuckle and claws. And don't expect a lot of mayo and random veg mixed in with your seafood. This is all lobster and a pinch of a few vital ingredients added to keep things fresh and fantastic. The lobster rolls are perfectly grilled, overflowing with juicy meat and sized perfectly to suit your hunger levels - they come in regular and mini sized. My lunch guest went mini. I don't think I even have to explain I took things to the maxi level.

Now, all is good with the lobster roll. I was impressed - very impressed. Thus far, Knuckle & Claw have delivered the best lobster roll in Los Angeles - or at least the best one I've had thus far. But, the real treat at Knuckle & Claw in Silver Lake was discovered on my follow up visit, when I returned to test their menu special - the knuckle sandwich. Sadly, I went without a camera, and for this I will be kicking myself for some time to come. The knuckle sandwich is a more or less a grilled cheese with lobster. Simple, right? More like simply delicious. It's the ultimate in a traditional feel-good meal meets grown up luxury. My mom certainly never snuck such a sweet ingredient into our grilled cheese as a kid. I must say that if you're having a bad day in Los Angeles, or just recovering from June gloom, this little ditty will certainly turn things around.

If we're working on a star system here, I'd give Knuckle & Claw 10 out of 10 for everything from environment to customer service. I guess I don't really have to say any more about the food. It will be a must visit from here on out every time I'm in LA. 






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The Outcast's Hattie Morahan: There won't be any wedding bells this year



ENGLISH rose Hattie Morahan comes from acting royalty – and now she’s landed a stellar role in period drama The Outcast, as David Stephenson reports.

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Radley, Calvin Klein and Accessorize: The best things we want this week



THERE'S something for every budget in this week’s must-have selection.

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Walking on sunshine: Flat sandal fashion for this summer



STEP into summer with these chic flat sandals.

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Light fantastic: The best beauty products for your summer holiday



DON'T overload your holiday washbag – stick to a few carefully selected products instead.

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Spas, spray tans and hair styling: Beauty novelties of the summer



DISCOVER the best new beauty treatments and products.

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Rebecca Front: The bravest thing I’ve ever done is get into a lift – I’m claustrophobic



ACTRESS and writer Rebecca, 51, is married to screenwriter Phil Clymer. They live in London with their children Oliver, 16, and Tilly, 14.

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Actor Idris Elba: The bigger the challenge is, the better I am



ACTOR Idris Elba is back in the fast lane with a new adrenaline-fuelled show.

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TV presenter Carol Smillie: I get bored of clothes easily



THE TV presenter and entrepreneur mixes neutral shades with bold prints.

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Mouth cancer survivor Andrea Fearon: Dental check ups saved my life



MOTHER OF two Andrea Fearon survived life-threatening mouth cancer – thanks to her vigilant dentist.

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My partner took advantage of me: Agony aunt answers your questions



OUR agony aunt gets to the heart of your sex and relationship problems.

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Tesco, BHS and Oliver Bonas: The 10 best citrus home accessories



GIVE your home a sunny outlook with a pop of mellow yellow.

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