The American Issue 724 August 2013

August 2013

THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE ARTS CHOICE MUSIC • REVIEWS EATING OUT • SPORT

Katrina Leskanich Interviewed: American chanteuse, long-term expat and quirky-London hunter Cornwall – Summer sun and American connections Win Tickets to see US teams at the World Club 7s Rugby PLUS: OUR EXCLUSIVE US/UK ORGANIZATIONS GUIDE

Are you a U.S. Citizen living in the UK or Europe and looking for employment?

Unitek Technical Services, a global provider of supplier management, development, and related technical services to aerospace corporations around the world is currently looking for: Supplier Quality Engineer – West of London, UK The candidate must be experienced in managing the quality performance of suppliers supporting a variety of aircraft structures, systems and components manufacture.

• Must be highly knowledgeable in Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA).

• Background managing AS9100/AS9120/ISO Aerospace Sub-Tier Suppliers, Evaluating AS9102 First Article Inspection Reports, Lean Processes, QMS Auditing, Supplier Assessments and Supplier Improvement Activities.

• Travel is required within region.

Quality Inspector – Rome, Genoa and Saronno – Italy • Must have experience performing first article inspections per AS9102, in-process and final inspections.

• The ability to read and understand complex engineering drawings, specifications, geometric dimensioning and tolerances per ANSI/ASME Y 14.5.

• The ability to perform mechanical measurement for verifying the compliance of complex machined, formed, cast, forged, and assembled aircraft structure.

• Preferred candidate will be fluent in English and Italian.

Please forward CV’s to carol.grela@nts.com or laura.brown@nts.com To learn more about Unitek Technical Services visit www.nqa-uts.com

QUALITY PEOPLE, QUALITY RESULTS | NQA-UTS.COM

unitek

The American ®

Issue 724 – August 2013 PUBLISHED BY SP MEDIA FOR

Blue Edge Publishing Ltd.

Old Byre House, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1747 830520 Publisher and Editor in Chief: Michael Burland michael@theamerican.co.uk Editor: Richard L Gale editor@theamerican.co.uk Advertising & Promotions: Sabrina Sully, Commercial Director advertising@theamerican.co.uk Subscriptions: theamerican@blueedge.co.uk Editorial contacts: Virginia E Schultz, Food & Drink (USA) virginia@theamerican.co.uk Michael M Sandwick, Food mms@theamerican.co.uk Sabrina Sully, Community Contact sabrina@theamerican.co.uk Mary Bailey, Social mary@theamerican.co.uk Richard L Gale, Arts richard@theamerican.co.uk Alison Holmes, Politics alison@theamerican.co.uk Jarlath O’Connell, Theater jarlath@theamerican.co.uk

Please contact us with your news or article ideas ©2013 Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Printed by Advent Colour Ltd., Portway Ind. Estate, Andover SP10 3LU www.advent-colour.co.uk ISSN 2045-5968 Main Cover Image: Katrina Leskanich (photo: Mike Inns); Circular Inset: USA Rugby 7s (photo © Gary Baker); Square Inset: Boats at Falmouth (photo © Sabrina Sully)

@TheAmericanMag

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here are Americans to be found all over the British Isles, sometimes in large numbers, sometimes in obscure little pockets, but you’re out there. This month we’re out and about finding fascinating, exciting and wonderful places to visit wherever you are across the UK. We scoured Cornwall for the best hotels, restaurants and attractions in our travel feature. In Scotland it’s Edinburgh Festival time, and we’ve listed the cream of the crop from the Fringe and the Edinburgh Art Festival too. We have a great article on activities for those with kids – as well as the young at heart.

And our cover star, the singer Katrina Leskanich, chats to The American about her long-term expat life in Britain and introduces Peggy Lee, the toy poodle who knows the quirky side of London.

Enjoy your magazine,

Michael Burland, Publisher michael@theamerican.co.uk

Among this month’s contributors

American Darren Kilfara formerly worked for Golf Digest and is author of A Golfer’s Education, a memoir of his junior year as a student-golfer at the University of St Andrews

Dr. Alison Holmes The American’s political ‘Transatlantic Columnist’ is an international relations scholar, and a lecturer on politics in American Universities

James Carroll Jordan is an American actor living and working in London who shares with us his amusing stories of life behind the scenes in ‘Actor’s Corner’

Don’t forget The American online: www.theamerican.co.uk The entire contents of The American and www.theamerican.co.uk are protected by copyright and no part of it may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information in The American is accurate, the editor and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or any loss arising from reliance on it. The views and comments of contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers.

August 2013 1

The American • Issue 724 • August 2013

In This Issue...

Regular Sections 4 News 8 Diary Dates 23 Coffee Break 28 Wining & Dining 32 Music 34 Arts Choice

38 45 46 47 57 65

Theater Reviews Books DriveTime Sports American Organizations The A-List

32 Blues Brothers PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

12 Edinburgh Fringe 2013 US, UK and Irish comedians, wits and music at the month-long annual festival

16 Young at Heart Mary Bailey offers some alternatives to the usual tourist trail with some different days out in London and elsewhere in the UK

18 Katrina She’s American, she’s won the Eurovision Song Contest for Britain, and now her dog has written London’s quirkiest guidebook!

“Lou and I looked at each other and said: This is too much fun, we’ve got to keep doing it” 21 Outside Looking In Alison Holmes tackles cycles, cigarettes and offensive language (or at least offensive accents) on her return to London

24 Escapes: Ker-now!

The American seeks out the beaches, history and fine food of the Atlantic coast county PHOTO © JOHAN PERSSON

The Original Blues Brothers Band are still touring, and we tracked them down

34 Arts in Edinburgh Arts Choice focuses on exhibitions at the National Galleries of Scotland

47 Eagle-Eyed Darren Kilfara begins his summer tour of Scotland’s golf courses ...with silverware!

48 Next Best or Next Bust?

The headlines from this year’s NBA Draft

50 USA Rugby 7s We chat to USA Club Rugby’s Director Jim Snyder. PLUS WIN TICKETS to the World Club 7s tournament

52 NHL Draft 2013 Jeremy Lanaway reviews the big picks

53 America’s Cup 2013 Catastrophy and controversy as the America’s Cup applies the new Protocol

42 Stephen Campbell Moore The actor currently winning plaudits for his role in Chimerica talks to The American about being an Englishman playing an American in a play about China

54 Give me one good reason...

In the second part of our NFL 2013 season build-up, we look at 2012’s near misses and ask ‘Which way now?’

4 New Ambassador 24 Escapes: Cornwall

After long speculation, President Obama’s choice has been revealed!

PHOTO ABOVE © SABRINA SULLY PHOTO BELOW: MIKE INNS

PHOTO: GEOPICTURES.NET

16 Young at Heart

50 Rugby 7s

PHOTO: USA RUGBY

“It was always my mother’s dream to move to the UK. When we were growing up we had Welsh Corgis, Manx cats and all the Beatrix Potter stuff ”

18 Katrina Leskanich

12 Edinburgh Fringe

The American

NEWS White House: Barzun chosen as next

ACA Residency-Based Taxation proposal update

© MICHAEL BURLAND

American Citizens Abroad (ACA) report that its campaign to gain Congressional support for its Residency-Based Taxation proposal (RBT) is gaining ‘significant traction’ in Congress. RBT has been included as a recommendation in the bi-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation’s Report to the House Ways & Means Committee.

It was also cited in the Senate Finance Committee’s White Paper on International Competitiveness. If adopted as a replacement for Citizenship-Based Taxation (CBT), ACA hopes that RBT would lower administrative costs, increase tax revenue, and improve US competitiveness overseas.

There is a new YouTube video on RBT at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DKFEpAWjeu4

A Wiltshire Pow Wow Native Americans mingled with British enthusiasts at the 19th annual Pow Wow at Bush Farm Bison Centre in Wiltshire (bisonfarm.co.uk) July 13 & 14.

4 August 2013

US Ambassador to the Court of St James

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bama re-election campaign fundraiser Matthew Barzun has been selected by the President as the next US Ambassador to the UK, pending Senate approval, filling the position vacated by Louis Susman in spring of this year His appointment seems unlikely to be blocked, as Barzun served previously as US Ambassador to Sweden from 2009 until 2011, his term cut short by the call-up to President Obama’s campaign.

Born in New York City and raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, he was a student at St Paul’s School New Hampshire and acted as a summer intern to John Kerry in 1989 before receiving an A.B. in History and literature magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1993.

His arrival will see a generation shift in the position of Ambassador to the Court of St James, as Matthew is 33 years younger than his predecessor. An I.T. expert, Barzun was one of the earliest employees of tech media company CNET Networks. At a time when data capture and the use and misuse of the internet are ongoing news stories, the US Embassy in the UK gains one of the most tech-savvy young minds doing the diplomatic rounds.

Big on social networking, he wrote his own blog on clean energy initiatives – another of his noteworthy interests – during his time as US Ambassador to Sweden.

As well his online presence, US citizens in the UK can also look forward to the opportunity to access Barzun wherever they are in the

Matthew Barzun – in line as next US Ambassador to the UK

country if he repeats the outreach programs he operated during his time in Sweden, including US Embassy Road Shows to cities outside the capital.

He has been married to Brooke Brown Barzun (heiress to the Jack Daniels whiskey empire) for the past fourteen years, and they have three children together, Jacques, Eleanor and Charles. Matthew’s family are an accomplished crowd, his grandfather the renowned American cultural historian and former Columbia University professor, Jacques Martin Barzun, while Matthew’s siblings include film producer Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Emmy and Golden Globe winner for HBO’s Grey Gardens; Charles, a tenured professor of law at the University of Virginia; and Mariana Mensch, Director of Parent Giving and Assistant Campaign Director at Vassar College. Matthew is also a descendent of early Massachusetts leader John Winthrop, and women’s rights activist Lucretia Mott.

Sir Christopher Meyer:

Churchill and the Lessons of History Monday September 16th, 6–8pm The American Museum in Britain invites you to the Inaugural Sir Winston Churchill Memorial lecture

by Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, Britain’s former Ambassador to the United States.

Sir Christopher is the author of DC Confidential, a chronicle of his time in Washington. His lecture will draw on Churchill’s despatches on the 19th-century war raging on what is now the Pakistan/Afghanistan border.

Tickets: £25 per person / £20 Museum Members Please call 01225 823014 Free shuttle bus to the Museum from the centre of Bath www.americanmuseum.org

JAFFE & CO LLP AMERICAN TAX INTERNATIONAL US Expatriate Tax Services Established in 1981 and managed by Bruce L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US and UK tax services for US expatriates residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers.

Please contact us today to see how we can help you.

020 8346 5237 www.jaffeandco.com info@jaffeandco.com 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT

The American

New Fulbright Chair, Jeff Louis

Board Changes at Fulbright The US-UK Fulbright Commission has welcomed Toby Young to its board, while saying farewell to departing Chair of the Commission, Simon Lewis. Jeff Louis steps up to the role of Chair.

American Jeff Louis has a background in business and finance, is a non-executive director of S.C. Johnson, Gannett Company and The Olayan Group and an honorary trustee of Northwestern University, the founding trustee of the Lycée Français de Chicago and former President of the board of trustees of Deerfield Academy, Mass. Simon Lewis’ time with the Board saw the programme grow from 40 to 120 awards. A University of California at Berkeley and Fulbright alumnus, he has also held been first press secretary to the Queen and worked in Downing Street for Prime Minister Gordon Brown. A Fulbright alumnus, Toby Young studied at Harvard University, and was the founder of the first modern free school in England. An associate editor of The Spectator and a Telegraph blogger, his experiences as a journalist and screenwriter in New York are the basis of his two humorous memoirs, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and The Sound of No Hands Clapping.

6 August 2013

©CHRIS PEARSALL PHOTOGRAPHY

A few weeks later and they wouldn’t have needed the umbrellas... Nineteen US students recently visited the UK as part of the ACS International School British Summer Studies Programme, set up jointly with the British American Business Council to reward academic stand-outs with a chance to explore the lasting impact of British culture. The students spent two weeks visiting London sites such as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey (above). For the majority of them this was the first time they had traveled overseas.

Berklee in Valencia celebrates first Masters programmes graduates

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erklee College of Music – based in Boston – has witnessed 74 students from 27 different countries become the first-ever graduates from its inaugural master’s programmes in Valencia, Spain.

The new international campus was established as a hub for those wishing to pursue an international career in the music industry to further develop their skills and achieve their potential. Highlights of the programme included a twoweek trip to Los Angeles, where the Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games students recorded their original scores at Warner Brothers studios.

The graduates (22 of them Americans, including singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists) were

awarded degrees in one of three programmes: Contemporary Performance (including 5 US Students); Global Entertainment and Music Business (12); and Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games (5).

As well as four students who had previously studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduates from 16 other colleges were among the US students.

Berklee alumni and faculty have collectively won more than 270 Grammys and Latin Grammys. Visit www.berkleevalencia.org and www.berklee.edu for more. information.

24 year-old singercomposer Riley Hughes was one of three degree students from Columbia College, Chicago to graduate from Berklee in Valencia’s inaugural Masters class

The American

PHOTO BY SEAN RYAN

Over 150 US Universities to attend Fulbright College Day

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Uche Nwaneri and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams visited Wembley to promote NFL PLAY 60 and the forthcoming games

NFL offers $10k grant to help London school kids stay active Children from over 20 schools in Greater London will compete for a $10,000 grant from the National Football League and visits from pro teams as part of the NFL International Series PLAY 60 Challenge.

The NFL PLAY 60 programme hopes to tackle child obesity here as it has done in the US, getting kids involved in 60 minutes of physical activity per day. All participating schools will receive physical education equipment courtesy of the NFL. The two schools with the largest number of pupils reaching the 60 minutes per day target will win a visit from either the Minnesota Vikings or Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings play the Pittsburgh Steelers, September 29, and the Jaguars face San Francisco 49ers October 27, both at Wembley Stadium.

The school with the highest participation overall receives $10,000 towards health and wellness programming or equipment.

Since 2007, the NFL has committed more than $250 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants and related promotions, all under the NFL PLAY 60 banner. The NFL and its teams have built more than 120 NFL Youth Fitness Zones and organised more than 1,500 PLAY 60 youth events.

Registration for the UK’s largest US university fair opens in August.

The 2013 Fulbright College Day begins 4.30-7.30pm, Friday September 27 and continues Saturday September 28 from 9.30 to 3.30, and allows students, parents and advisors a chance to meet representatives from over 150 American universities and educational service providers. In its 36th year, the event is being held in partnership with the University of South Florida, i Newspaper and The Independent. The event at Kensington Town Hall (Hornton Street, London W8 7NX) is free to attend for anyone registering in advance through the form available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ CD2013reminder or by emailing collegeday@fulbright.org.uk.

New Visa Info and Appointment Service at US Embassy Visa Branch

Clements offers expanded insurance range for expats

The US Embassy in London and the Consulate General in Belfast are transitioning to a new visa information and appointment booking system, including a free online appointment booking service for non-immigrant visa applicants. This new system is being implemented worldwide, and the new service became available on July 26, 2013.

Visit http://london.usembassy.gov or http://usvisa-info.com for more.

Expat insurer Clements Worldwide and PIC Europe have joined forces to offer expat customers access to international motor, property, life, health, and special risks coverage. Clements and PIC Europe hope to address the need for better coverage and service for individuals and companies operating outside of their home country. https://piceurope.clementspartnernetwork.com

August 2013 7

The American

waters; entertainment and activities accompany a fantastic spectacle as over 1,000 boats compete.

Your Guide To The Month Ahead

See our full events listings online at www.theamerican.co.uk List your event FREE in The American – email editor@theamerican.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1747 830520 Camp Bestival Lulworth Castle, Dorset BH20 5QS www.campbestival.net August 1 to 4 A family fun festival of music, art, shows, food, activities, and camping.

American Museum in Britain Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD www.americanmuseum.org info@americanmuseum.org Telephone: 01225 460503 Throughout August Housed in Georgian splendor at Claverton Manor in Bath, the American Museum in Britain remains the only museum outside the US to showcase the nation’s decorative arts. There are exhibitions, workshops, Quilting Bees every Tuesday, kids’ activities and special events inc. August 1st, visiting historical researcher Francesc Albardaner Llorens takes a closer look at John Cabot and Christopher Columbus and their voyages across the Atlantic. Also, throughout the month, crafts activities linked to this year’s permanent exhibition Gangsters and Gunslingers, The Good, The Bad and The Memorabilia.

8 August 2013

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh EH1 2NG www.edintattoo.co.uk August 2 to 24 The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacle unlike any other, featuring massed pipes and drums, massed military bands, display teams, dancers and more against the famous backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

Kids Week in The West End Various, London www.kidsweek.co.uk August 1 to 31 During August, kids up to 16 can see a selection of West End shows for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Cowes Week Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 www.aamcowesweek.co.uk August 3 to 10 One of Britain’s longest running sporting events returns to the Solent

Wilton Classic and Supercar Wilton House, Wilton, Salisbury SP2 0BJ www.wiltonclassicandsupercars.co.uk August 4 Classic motors and supercars from Ringo Starr’s 1964 Facel Vega II to a Series 1 right hand drive “Periscopico” Lamborghini Countach 1979. Don’t miss out on 100 Aston Martins, the parade of 150 cars featuring Bugatti, McLaren and Ferrari, and fun fillers from acrobatic helicopter displays to Segways and simulators. For children, there are magic shows and an Austin J40 Roundabout.

Wilderness Festival Wilderness Festival, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire OX7 3DG www.wildernessfestival.com August 8 to 11 Wilderness is a long weekend of music, theater, food and family fun in the beautiful setting of Cornbury Park near Oxford. The festival celebrates the great outdoors, with camping a key part of the Wilderness experience.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Ashton Court, Bristol BS3 www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk August 8 to 11 The 35th annual festival is the largest event of its kind in Europe, with over 150 hot air balloons decorating the sky with a spectacular display.

Ballater Highland Games Monaltrie Park, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB35 5RZ www.ballaterhighlandgames.com August 8

The American

Brecon Jazz Festival 2013 Brecon, Powys, Wales LD3 www.breconjazz.com August 9 to 11 Big names from the world of Jazz including Courtney Pine, Zoe Rahman and Jools Holland. Special note for Jim Black, the NY jazz drummer who teams up with Huw Warren at the Castle Hotel, August 11th.

Falmouth Week Festival Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 www.falmouthweek.co.uk August 9 to 18 Top boat racing is combined with a host of activities on shore including carnival events, music and food.

Worthing Birdman 2013 Worthing Sea Front, West Sussex BN11 1EG www.worthingbirdman.co.uk August 10 to 11 Competitors throw themselves off the pier at Worthing using contraptions from wings and gliders to capes and balloons in this fun, quirky event.

Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival Kettlewell, North Yorkshire BD23 5QZ www.kettlewellscarecrowfestival.co.uk August 10 to 18

Three days of live jazz music, with a world class line up including American soul singer Carleen Anderson.

Isle of Wight Garlic Festival Fighting Cocks Crossroads, Bathingbourne Lane, Isle of Wight PO36 0LU www.garlic-festival.co.uk August 17 to 18 Huge garlic marquees with cooking demos, 100s of arts and crafts stalls, live music and local produce.

World Pipe Band Championships 2013 Glasgow Green, Glasgow, Scotland G1 www.theworlds.co.uk August 17 to 18 Top-flight competition in international piping and drumming is accompanied

by Highland dancing, the Glasgow World Highlander Competition, trader areas and bars.

Victorian Festival 2013 Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales LD1 5DG www.victorianfestival.co.uk August 17 to 25 Step back in time with exhibitions on Victorian history, costume parades and fancy dress.

Mustang and Anything American Day Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0QN www.brooklandsmuseum.com August 18

The village of Kettlewell has been home to creatively costumed scarecrows since 1994.

Brooklands flies the Stars and Stripes with magnificent Mustangs and American motors including Dodges, Chryslers, Hot Rods and Customs.

Canary Wharf Jazz Festival Canada Square Park, London E14 www.canarywharf.com August 16 to 18

Blair Castle Horse Trials Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland PH18 5TH www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk August 22 to 25

PHOTO: GABRIEL OLASENI-©UNIVERSITY OF IOWA - PHOTO SERVICE

Ballater’s highland games stretch back 139 years, today sporting heavy lift challenges as well as entertainment for the whole family.

International Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes v London Lions Copper Box Arena, Stratford, London E20 3HB www.londonlionsbasketball.com August 14 University of Iowa stars Aaron White, Eric May and Roy Devyn Marble visit London this summer, as the 7,000-seat Copper Box Arena – ‘The Box that Rocks’ – plays host to the first basketball game at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park since the 2012 Olympics.

Their opponents will be the British Basketball League’s London Lions – formerly the Milton Keynes Lions – one of the UK’s top-ranked basketball teams, who will be permanent residents at the Copper Box when the new BBL season starts this Autumn. The game will be a homecoming for Iowa’s Gabriel Olaseni, a native Londoner and member of last year’s resurgent 25-13 Hawkeyes NIT runner-up team, and much favored to make the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

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The American

Olympians and amateurs compete in four international event classes, alongside the Bruadar Country Fair.

with all the traditional features of a county show and much more.

SoSkan – Kent Military Odyssey, Kent County Showground, Detling, Kent ME14 3JF www.soskan.co.uk/index.html August 24 to 26

Egham Royal Show Nr Runnymede, Surrey TW20 www.eghamroyalshow.org.uk August 24 to 25

PHOTO: ROMAZUR

A short 40 minute train journey from London, the 155th Egham Royal Show brings the rural closer to the capital,

Notting Hill Carnival 2013 Notting Hill, West London W11 www.thenottinghillcarnival.com August 26 to 28 Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival.

Twenty miles of vibrant colorful costumes surround over 40 static reggae sound systems, floats hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million carnival revellers.

10 August 2013

Battle displays, living history and camp tours at this large multi period event from the Southern Skirmish Association.

Twinwood Festival 2013 Twinwood Arena, Nr Bedford MK41 www.twinwoodevents.com August 24 to 26 Incorporating the Glenn Miller Festival of Swing, Jazz, Jive and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Twinwood festival offers vintage fun with music, dance, air displays, classic vehicles, comedy and much more.

World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys LD5 www.green-events.co.uk August 24 If ordinary bogsnorkelling is too pedestrian, how about mountain bike bogsnorkelling? Cyclists ride along a 6 ft deep water filled trench through the Waen Rhydd bog.

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show The Showfield, Stock Lane, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SL www.grasmeresports.com August 25 This 161-year old festival boasts an impressive range of traditional events including Cumberland Wrestling, Fell Running and Hound Trails.

World Gravy Wrestling Championships Rose & Bowl Inn, Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 www.worldgravywrestling.com August 26 One of the world’s craziest culinary competitions as competitors wrestle in a pool of Lancashire gravy.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair Tarrant Hinton, Dorset DT11 8HX www.gdsf.co.uk August 28 to September 1 Widely recognised as the National Heritage Show, Dorset Steam Fair is the leading steam engine and agricultural pursuits show of its type in the world, covering over 600 acres. Showman’s and working steam engines, heavy horses, classic cars and motorbikes, a funfair and live music are just a few of the highlights in this massive country show.

Chatsworth Country Fair Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PP www.chatsworthcountryfair.co.uk August 30 to September 1 Set in the elegant surroundings of the historic Chatsworth House, the Country Fair offers showground events and displays (including the JCB Dancing Diggers and Red Arrows), food and other activities throughout the weekend.

Faversham Hop Festival www.favershamhopfestival.org August 31 to September 1 The annual two day event commemorates the hay-day of hoppicking, when families came to Kent and would pass the evenings with music and stories.

The American

Choice cuts from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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cotland’s capital is the destination for music, mirth and magic this August as wits and raconteurs compete for your laughter, applause and occasional awards. Here’s just a few of the thousands of acts headed to the world’s biggest arts festival, some famous, some aspiring ... and some free! Visit www. edfringe.com for dates, venues and age suitability. For other festivals – the art festival (see page 20), book festival, and Edinburgh Military Tattoo (see page 9) – amongst them, visit www. edinburghfestivals.co.uk

Want to locate fellow Americans this month? They may be at the Fringe.

Shane Mauss: Mating Season sees the star of Conan, and Jimmy Kimmel tackle evolution and S-E-X (AGS, Jul 31-Aug 25); Another Kimmel and Conan escapee is Rob Delaney, a mustfollow tweeter already a hit Stateside (UBBS, Aug 20-21); Adam Strauss: The Mushroom Cure supplies a comic tale of vigilante psychopharmacology (‘The audience is mesmerized by his every word’. – EdFestMag.com) (UBC, Aug 1-25); Laura Levites (‘Jewish chutzpah with a sharp eye for British foibles’ – The

Venue Abbreviations AC – Assembly Checkpoint; AGS – Assembly George Square; AH – The Assembly Hall; AMC – Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s; AR – The Assembly Rooms; CVC – C venues - C; GBT – Gilded Balloon Teviot; HST – Hill Street Theatre; JB – The Jazz Bar; JTT – Just The Tonic at The Tron; PC – Pleasance Courtyard; PH – Point Hotel; SCC – The Stand Comedy Club; SGM – Sweet Grassmarket; QH – The Queen’s Hall; UBBS – Underbelly, Bristo Square; UBC – Underbelly, Cowgate; V150 – Venue150 @ EICC

12 August 2013

Two Americans gals visiting the UK... and not for the first time! Lisa Faith Phillips stars in the ‘All-Nude College-Girl Revue’ (appearances may be deceptive) while Cynthia Levin is ‘Unprepared For Life’.

American) is Selfhelpless at the Gilded Balloon Teviot, where Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Caroline Rhea is also grabbing the mic between July 31 and August 26; Shelby Bond: People Pleaser brings warmth, positivity, humor, and his trail of fivestar reviews to the subject of self-harm and depression (other people’s, not his) (JTT, Aug 1-25); while Saturday Night Live writer Michael Che supplies Cartoon Violence (AR, Jul 31-Aug 25); and Toby Muresianu Explains The Universe with wit and a political edge at The Dram House Upstairs (Aug 3-24).

Some US-born comedians have been here so long they’re actually listed as UK acts these days. Amongst them: humorist David Sedaris, whose latest book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, debuted at number one on the New York Times best-seller list (V150, Aug 17-24); improv hero Greg Proops logs his 39th Fringe (GBT, Jul 31Aug 14); controversial former interviewee of

The American Reginald D Hunter is In the Midst of Crackers (PC, Aug 9-24); while Rich Hall brings his straightfaced swig of acerb to both a stand up show and a music-comedy mix, Rich Hall’s Hoedown (AGS, Aug 1-25) ‘Immaculate wordplay imbued with a genuine passion for the songwriter’s craft.’ (Times).

All-Nude College Girl Revue

....or How I Made It Through the LSE American Lisa Faith Phillips is an erstwhile digital strategist. She also does stand up. And she used to be a stripper to pay for her time at the London School of Economics. Her hilarious fivestar one-woman show was declared Best of the DC Fringe. (SpaceCabaret @54, Aug 19-24).

Unprepared For Life

Another American with a UK tale to tell, Cynthia Levin lived an entire life unprepared for everything, until an epiphany to move to London changed everything. She was never more excited, motivated or inspired to do anything in her life. As it turned out, the Queen Mum was all she needed to get her stuff together! (Venue: Whynot?, Aug 3-24).

The American

Do you like your comedy British? As you’d expect, there’s hundreds of UK and Irish comics to choose from including slick, seasoned and recommended fringe veterans Ed Byrne, Kevin Bridges, Stewart Lee, David Baddiel, Marcus Brigstocke, Sarah Millican, Vikki Stone, Richard Herring, Ardal O’Hanlon, Paul Merton, Sean Hughes, Al Murray (‘The Pub Landlord’), and Fred MacAuley. A few of particular note: punster Milton Jones (top) brings his tousled hair, bewildered expression and unbridled barrage of one-liners to bear in Milton Jones On The High Road (AH, Aug 2-14); the knitted brow and sunken eyes of deadpanner Simon Evans – too rarely seen on TV – are unleashed (oh, make that ‘Leashed’) with his distinctive careworn cynism (SCC, Jul 31-Aug 25); once-anarchic ‘godfather of alternative comedy’ Alexei Sayle returns with his first full-length Fringe show in 17 years (SCC, Aug 13-25) ‘Still gobby and engagingly self-deprecating’ (Standard); while former Hollywood shiftyArab-for-hire Omid Djalili (right, The Mummy, Gladiator) not only presents his well-honed stand-up show (AR, Aug 13-25), but is in acting mode in The Shawshank Redemption (AR, Aug 1-25).

Janeane Garofalo

After serenading Edinburgh last year with his a capella group The Blanks, Sam Lloyd (Ted from Scrubs) plays 37 roles in oneman comedy Fully Committed (GBT, July 31-Aug 25); Chris Harcum tackles US gun culture in the ‘unexpectedly poignant’ (New York Times) American Gun Show (PH, Aug 2-24); a series of accidents threatens to unravel the plot in The Play That Goes Wrong (PC, July 31-Aug 26); a roleplay group is rocked when one of its members defects to the Marines in the Edinburgh debut of US success Of Dice and Men (AMC, Aug 21 only); five-star 2012 Fringe hit Made for Each Other offers gay marriage with an Alzheimer’s twist (SGM, Aug 1-25); Benjamin Franklin admits all under cross-examination by the audience in The Rogue Who Invented America (HST, Aug 1-25); and why not seat yourself in the midst of the loosely scripted mayhem of the B’est Restaurant for Faulty Towers The Dining Experience?

(Aug 1-27)

Star of The Truth About Cats And Dogs, The Larry Sanders Show, Mystery Men and Ratatouille, amongst others, returns to Ediburgh for the first time since her sell-out 2009 run with an hour of charming, quirky, self-deprecating, and quick witted New York stand-up.

(Assembly Rooms, Aug 20-23). You can also catch her at the Soho Theatre, London, August 25-27, and at the Róisín Dubh, Galway, Ireland August 18.

While most stand-up is also ‘spoken word’, of course, not all spoken word shows at the Fringe mean gags; here’s some options to give your mind a work-out alongside the laughs. Witty British raconteurs are in abundance in Edinburgh, including the English charm and Champagne sparkle of Gyles Brandreth: Looking For Happiness (PC, Jul 31-Aug 26); the adopted Englishness of News Quiz host and erstwhile Dane Sandi Toksvig: My Valentine (PC, Aug 3-11); revel in the cerebral humor of Douglas Adams collaborator and QI producer John Lloyd: Liff of QI (UBBS, Jul 31-Aug 24); there’s further intelligent wit with Infnite Monkey Cage’s Robin Ince – The Importance of Being Interested (AR, Aug 6); Leave the Landing Light On sees Wil Hodgson at his storytelling zenith, recalling fears and phobias of a childhood filled with old horror movies and terrifying fairy tales (SCC, Aug 1-25); and David Schneider (The Day Today) asks Is the Internet Making Us More Stupider?

(AR, Aug 19). Active and retired British politicians and commentators abound, including former minister Chris Mullin; tabloid-tackling MP Tom Watson; the bullish alternative viewpoints of Respect Party MP George Galloway; and socialist icon Tony Benn. PLUS audiences with gardening superstar Monty Don, adventurer Ben Fogle, plus authors Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats) and crime writer Val McDermid.

New York’s Janeane Garofalo

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Starting with the US end of things, catch the Stephen Gordon Group for some New Orleans Jazz both at their own show (JB, Aug 14 & 19) and in theatre show Miles & Coltrane Blue (CVC, Aug 3-26); lauded Fringe regular Movin’ Melvin Brown brings the soul in two shows, The Ray Charles Experience (CVC, Jul 31-Aug 26) and Soul to Soul (I Have a Dream) (CVC, Aug 18, 22-25); and singer/songwriter Dean Friedman – Words and Music is back for a seventh Fringe, where he annually sells out, so book quickly (SGM, Aug 7-11, 14-18, 21-25).

Kenny Young and the Eggplants

The award-winning New York-based indie folk-rockers are back in the UK with their humorous and catchy lyrics. (‘Gentle insanity with irresistible tunes’ – Herald) (AMC, Aug 22-25).

Martha Reeves

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

A chance to catch the Motown superstars famous for Dancing in the Street, Nowhere to Run, Heat Wave and more, in their first Festival appearance (The Assembly Rooms, Aug 6-7).

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Left to right: Kenny Young and the Eggplants, Christine Rutledge, Wolfgang David and David Gompper

David Gompper

St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George Street plays host to several concerts featuring award-winning American composer David Gompper, as he joins Wolfgang David for Violin and Piano (Aug 10-11), US baritone John Muriello for Beyond the Great American Songbook (Aug 7-8), and the Strad-endorsed American violist Christine Rutledge for Blissful Viola (Aug 5-6).

Amongst Scottish musical highlights there’s Gaelic folk stalwarts Capercaillie (AR, Aug 5), Scottish Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean (AR, Aug 10), and traditional Celtic fiddle and flute maestros Ross Couper and Tom Oakes (ACM, Aug 24). Among English highlights, there’s legendary fingerstyle guitarist John Renbourn (ACM, Aug 13); Jazz a cappella group Oxford Gargoyles (CVC, Jul 31-Aug 17), who claimed multiple five-star reviews last year; and folk chanteuse Bella Hardy and the Midnight Watch (‘enduringly seductive and original’ – Telegraph) (QH, Aug 15).

For human beatboxing and crazy live sound mixing, both Shlomo (UBBS, Aug 12-14) and the astonishing Beardyman (GBT, Aug 15-21) are highly recommended.

Visit YouTube and then www.edfringe. com for more. And don’t miss Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, a tobacco pipewielding Edwardian English gent who dons banjolele to accoustically reinvent hip hop as ‘chap hop’.

Two cabaret stars with The American cabaret fan Jarlath O’Connell’s seal of approval: from the US side, Lady Rizo (‘An elegant and sassy glamor puss, her command of an audience is total’ – The American) (AC, Aug 1-25), and with equal vivaciousness and aplomb, the UK’s own Barb Jungr (‘A forensic skill at unpacking the poetry married to great musicianship’ – The American) in Stockport to Memphis (QH, Aug 21). For a third, check out Amy Abler: PianoDivalicious for traces of Liberace glamor and Victor Borge humor (JB, Aug 11, 14, 18-19, 21). Finally, Fascinating Aida’s Sarah-Louise Young stars in Julie Andrews homage Julie Madly Deeply (GBT, Jul 31-Aug 26).

There’s great magic to be experienced in Edinburgh, including the kid-friendly I Hate Children Children’s Show, the narratively driven Devil in the Deck by the same people, Piff the Magic Dragon Show, as pictured below (‘Hugely entertaining’ – Time Out); and finally, and certainly NOT for kids there’s Jerry Sadowitz: Card Tricks and Close Up Magic, combining offensive humor with staggering sleight of hand.

Piff the Magic Dragon © FRAZER VISSER

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The American

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here’s a great deal to see and do around London and much of it enjoyable for children as well as grown-ups. However, for those who’ve been here a while and tired of the obvious tourist trail, here are some further thoughts for the capital and beyond.

BAT WALKS. One of the best places to do this around London is the Wetlands Centre in Barnes (London SW13 9WT). Walks are arranged from July to September, with start times varying with the sunset. Before the walk begins, an expert gives a talk on bats, and bat detectors are issued so participants may hear the bats chatting and perhaps tell which breed they are. The Wetlands walks are for children of 8 and over accompanied by an adult. The bats themselves are nice, insect eating and harmless to us. www.wwt.org.uk SEA LIFE LONDON AQUARIUM is next to the London Eye on the South Bank, so easy to overlook as you photograph the big wheel and Westminster. The aquarium is excellent, and fine for a wet day! Other Sealife Centres of varying scope are located from Cornwall to the shores of Scottish lochs. Tickets are best bought

Geocaching

The showcaves at Danyr-Ogof, South Wales PHOTO: GEOPICTURES.NET

For the Young and Young at Heart Mary Bailey offers alternatives to the usual tourist trail online to make sure you get the best bargains for the day you wish to go. www.visitsealife.com SEARCH FOR A GHOST. If your kids are a little older, and perhaps of the gothic persuasion, the UK is packed with ghosts (or at least ghost stories). Enjoy a guided tour through Haunted Hampstead, or Sweeney Todd’s Fleet Street alleyways. For even more ghoulishness (and perhaps even less for the kids), there’s a Jack The Ripper walk. Find out more at London Discovery Tours

If you’ve got a GPS device and your children enjoy treasure hunts, try ‘geocaching’ for a cheap way to put a smile on kids’ faces. It’s a great way to learn about places and have fun at the same time searching for goodies. This real world outdoor ‘treasure’ hunt (plastic tubs containing hidden toy stashes) hides ‘geocaches’ at specific locations. To get started, sign up for a free membership on the Geocaching website, then enter your postcode to find geocaches near you. Enter the co-ordinates of your chosen site on your GPS, and off you go!

After you’ve found one, put it back as you found it. The rules of the game state you can take an item from it if you wish. If you do, leave something of equal or greater value for the next person. Discuss your finds in the Geocaching tips forum discussion. www.geocaching.com

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(www.discovery-walks.com), while Edinburgh answers with its own ghost tours of vaults and prisons (for options, search ‘ghost tours’ on www.visitscotland.com).

GREENWICH. This area of London has so much to see, including the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum, The 17th-century Queen’s House with its collection of paintings... and don’t forget the Fan Museum which is charming and has very good coffee!

Why not take the boat from Westminster Pier, and rather than coming back by river, try walking actually under the Thames – the entrance is near the Cutty Sark – then take the light railway back to the city.

Royal Museums Greenwich: www1.rmg.co.uk and Fans Museum: www.thefanmuseum.org.uk OTHER LESSER KNOWN LONDON MUSEUMS. The Museum of London itself, near the Barbican (EC2Y 5HN, www.museumoflondon.org.uk) is free, gives a perfect and concise history of London from the Stone

PHOTOS © THE FAN MUSEUM, LONDON

The American

marble runs, including ‘Snookie’, the longest in the UK. A games garden outside the cafe includes skittles, chess, and, naturally, marbles. Free entry. Located at Bovey Tracey, Devon. www.houseofmarbles.com DAN-YR-OGOF. There are many interesting and impressive caves in Britain, but the huge chambers and passages of Dan-yr-Ogof are the jewels in the crown of the National Showcaves Centre in Wales. For the £13.75 entry fee for adults (£8 for ages 3-16), there is also a museum, farmyard, dinosaur park, Iron Age village, shire horse center and more, so this one really is a ‘day out’. www.showcaves.co.uk

The Puzzling Place, Keswick PHOTO COURTESY: PUZZLING PLACE

JORVIK VIKING CENTRE. The Vikings didn’t just turn up on Britain’s shores for a bit of pillaging – they stayed and they settled, with Jorvik (York) a major city of their new kingdom.

This attraction is full of things Viking, including displays of artifacts, a ride through an animatronic Viking village, a view of Viking-era foundations below the building, and the inevitable gift shop. One of the country’s top out-of-London attractions. www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

PHOTO: YORK ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST

THE PUZZLING PLACE. The gorgeously relaxed Cumbrian market town of The Fan Museum, Keswick, in the Lake DisLondon trict, has a pencil museum Age onwards, and is recommended and a beautiful location for its Theafor the young as a starter museum. tre by the Lake, but don’t skip The Also don’t miss out on Pollocks Toy Puzzling Place, a house of optical Museum. Originally located near illusions and strangeness includCovent Garden, it is now spread over ing a hologram gallery, ‘antigravity’ two houses on Scala Street, London room and forced perspective room.

W1T 2HL and features antique toys www.puzzlingplace.co.uk from dolls to board games to pupGLANDFORD SHELL MUSEUM. If pets to teddy bears you’ve been to the Norfolk coast (www.pollockstoymuseum.com). collecting shells on the beach, you BEYOND LONDON might like to compare your efforts TAKE A LLAMA FOR A STROLL. against the treasures at Glandford. A The llamas walk alongside you on a small but perfectly packed museum lead looking very bored... but then awaits, while the local King’s Head they look bored all the time. I think pub is a former Family Pub of the they really enjoy it. For those in the Year. www.shellmuseum.org.uk South East, Ashdown Llama Farm THE HOUSE OF MARBLES. Not just (www.llamapark.co.uk) is 5 miles a marble factory, but a museum of south of East Grinstead, East Sussex glass, pottery, marbles, and games, on the A22, and has a lovely coffee plus shops, and a good number of shop, and clothes for sale that are both chic and warm. Also in East Sussex is Bluecaps Farm (www.

The Woodland Trust has bluecapsllamas.co.uk). Here, in some great ‘spotter’ sheets to glorious countryside, they arrange download on leaves, butterflies, llama treks with their handsome caterpillars, flowers, fruits and Mapleton llamas. For those in the seeds, and a lot more, ‘summer Midlands, check out National Forest play’ and ‘adventure’ logbooks.

Llama Treks just off the A38N in www.naturedetectives.org.uk Staffordshire (www.nationalforestllamatreks.co.uk).

August 2013 17

The American

The American Interview:

Katrina Leskanich She’s American, she’s won the Eurovision Song Contest for Britain, and now her dog has written undiscovered London’s quirkiest guidebook!

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Katrina, “she’s very glamorous, very ’50s, and very rock ’n’ roll! I’d never really had a pet of my own, even though I grew up in a menagerie.

Finally I got my own little dog. I was going round London taking pictures of things and she kept getting in the way. She’s a real ham, she loves to be photographed, so I thought, she may as well stay in the pictures. Coming back on the Eurostar from a concert in Belgium, over a couple of glasses of wine, I thought, there’s a book in this. By the time we got from Brussels to London we had the whole idea hashed out. And six years later, here’s Peggy Lee Loves London.

“People always say don’t work with children and animals, and it was

PHOTO: © KATRINA LESKANICH

atrina Leskanich, perhaps best known for her music career with her band Katrina and the Waves, has lived in the UK for a long time, but the idea for an alternative guide book to the capital only came about when a little white toy poodle came into Katrina’s life.

In fact, she says she only really started to discover London when she got Peggy Lee, who, incidentally, was named after the singer. “She has a very similar hairstyle,” explains

18 August 2013

difficult. Peggy Lee was wonderful, but people kept coming up and going, ‘Oh, isn’t she cute!’ and it was very hard getting her to focus on the task! We had to go out early in the mornings. If it was too hot or bright she would pant and squint. If it was too cold she would shiver. When people ask why it took six years, well, try it yourself! I take Peggy Lee to these cool places, get her in frame, call out ‘chicken!’ so she looks into the lens... actually, chicken may have been the wrong word to choose as there’s a lot of licking of chops going on!”

Wouldn’t it be easier to Photoshop Peggy Lee into the pictures?

Apparently, Katrina says, there is one Photoshopped image in the book, done to make a joke work, which readers have to find.

Peggy Lee goes everywhere Katrina does. “Even restaurants,” says the singer, “Have bag, will travel! She goes in there with a toy and she’s happy as Larry. Even though I’m a vegetarian we order a little chicken something to drop into the bag and keep her happy. And she sits on my lap at the movies.“ Peggy Lee’s recommendations are as varied as street art locations, classy restaurants, a tattoo parlour, an oyster bar, a biker hangout and the Blind Beggar pub, scene of a notorious gangland murder. How did she (and Katrina) choose them? “They are genuinely places we visited and thought, ‘This place is a treasure, but it’s not talked about. I’m sure Ameri-

The American

of place that is not dog friendly isn’t our style anyway. One of the coolest animal-friendly places I’ve discovered, it’s not in the book, is the Spaniard’s Inn on Hampstead Heath.

It’s the quintessential cosy pub with fireplaces and nooks and crannies and lot of history and I’d like to recommend it to Americans.”

Katrina was born in Topeka, Kansas, but did she miss home when she came to Britain? Where was home – indeed what was home to the young Katrina?

“It didn’t exist. I was only in Kansas for a matter of months. My Dad was a navigator in B-52s and he was stationed in California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico then Germany, Holland and finally Mildenhall.

“It was always my mother’s dream to move to the UK. When we were growing up we had Welsh Corgis, Manx cats and all the Beatrix Potter stuff. She was very theatrical so she really goosed it up, saying England’s going to be great, that’s where the Queen is, we’re going to Buckingham Palace, we’ll have English TV. We went with the flow.

When we arrived in 1976 they were in the middle of a gigantic heatwave.

My mother had bought us all little umbrellas to take to England and we needed parasols! We were washing the Corgis and the car, and even though we were on base the English police came by and told us there was a hosepipe ban because of the heatwave. We just thought this was a typical lovely English summer!

O: MIK PHOT E INN S

cans would love it!’” explains Katrina.

“When you have a dog you have to walk them, you can’t stay inside like a hermit. We walked everywhere, and discovered all these cool places that you don’t see when you’re driving.

When you’re a tourist you can sail on past them, and even people who live here may not be aware of some of them.”

What were the first photographs Katrina took? “My father went to Vietnam in 1971, and he sent me back a little Pentax camera. At the age of eleven I became the official family photographer. There were eight of us, six children and my parents, so there were a lot of things to photograph like birthdays. I dedicated myself to take the photographs and send the photographic albums to my dad and keep him in the loop. My love of photography perhaps came from there. But absolutely nothing technical – I’ve never been in a dark room, I don’t even know the name of the camera I use [it’s a Nikon! - ed].

“We loved making the book, and it’s useful and original. Most of the places we went just let us get on with it. The Hope & Anchor, a pub in Islington, where I performed in the ‘Dark Ages’ with Katrina and The Waves, were cool about letting us go down into the dressing room, which still looks as it did 25 years ago. Other places you’re just in among all the tourists and just wait for a moment when there’s a clean space.

“London, and the United Kingdom in general, are quite dogfriendly, but they could be more so.

It sometimes surprises us when we go into pubs where they’ve banned dogs because they’re worried about a bunch of bull terriers becoming regulars. Most pubs are good about it, especially with sweet little dogs like Peggy. Sometimes the sort

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“I didn’t understand the political scene, or what the music was all about. We were obsessed with [BBC music program] Top Of The Pops, with Hot Chocolate, Suzi Quatro and ABBA. And we watched the American shows – we’d had withdrawal symptoms in Europe, missing the Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.

“We liked our school on base at Lakenheath. I started a band and decided I wasn’t going to go to Kansas University as my parents wished.

I got jobs on base, bagging groceries at the Commissary on Lakenheath and washing dishes at the chow hall on Mildenhall. The first band we put together played The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, ZZ Top, all the stuff that GIs loved. I was our manager and I used to ring all the bases and get bookings at the NCO Clubs – the Officers’ Clubs wouldn’t touch us. We called it Momma’s Cookin’ ‘cos we thought that’s what all these guys would be missing. Then me and the American bass player, Vince de la Cruz, went on to meet some English guys and formed Katrina and the Waves.”

That band went on to have big chart success through the 1980s, notably with Walking on Sunshine, then in 1997 they won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom. How did it feel, being a ‘Yank’ and representing the UK in a European competition?

“A little bit weird, especially since I’d never seen the show before. Of course I’d heard of it. Jonathan King, who produced the BBC show that chose the UK’s entry, asked if we had a suitable song. We were a bit skeptical but said we had one that could do well. We had recorded Love Shine a Light four or five years before – it was written by our guitarist, Kimberley Rew, who’s English - but put it in

20 August 2013

PHOTO: ANDREAS TISCHLER

The American

the bottom drawer as we thought it was ‘too Eurovision’ for us. We thought they would hand it to some 16 year old blonde eye-candy singer, but they asked us to do it.

“When you do Eurovision, you turn up with a song that you think is really good. Then there’s a week in the build-up, rehearsing, going to lots of parties and doing millions of interviews (for which the BBC suggested I tone down my American accent!).

And you hear the other songs – they don’t start growing on you, they just start to lose their offensiveness. Then you get what Eurovision is about: other countries are putting forward the best of their pop culture, we put forward whatever we can scrape together. All it would take is for Simon Cowell to get involved and we could win it, easy! We had to take it seriously though, not just turn up and think it’s a bit of a laugh and a good way to get promotion. Then once

you’ve done it, it never goes away. My phone is always going to ring in May, to ask what I think about Engelbert Humperdinck or Bonnie Tyler. At least the band is not known only for Walking on Sunshine. We were happy about doing it... when we won!”

When Congresswoman Michele Bachmann used Walking on Sunshine in her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, the band banned her use of it. Why? “We don’t like to affiliate ourselves with any political party, it looks as though you’re endorsing their views. She was taking quite a strong stance against homosexuality, and you can’t win Eurovision then be homophobic, or be associated with somebody who represents a homophobic point of view. So we said no. We didn’t actually ban her, it was more a polite request.” But if the Obama campaign had asked, would Katrina have allowed them

to use it? “Yes!,” she blurts out, then laughs. “I would have, but the band might have said we shouldn’t set a precedent.”

There’s a link between Walking on Sunshine and Peggy Lee’s book – the video for the song showed the band walking round London landmarks like Tower Bridge and Hyde Park as well as various run-down buildings.

Did she always have an affinity with the capital?

“Yes, including those dilapidated Dockland warehouses that we’re jumping around in like fools, up on the fifth floor. I wish I’d bought one, they’re all luxury penthouses now! A lot of London was still like a ghost town back then. It’s changed so much – especially the restaurant scene, which is eclectic and diverse now. When we recorded Walking on Sunshine in Alaska Studios, under Waterloo Bridge, there was just one cafe that only served cheese and pickle sandwiches. Now you can get anything at any time of day, it’s more like the big hitters, New York or Los Angeles. I love it here.”

BUY THE BOOK: Peggy Lee Loves London is available from Katrina’s official site www.katrinasweb.com, www.peggyleeloveslondon.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk SEE KATRINA: check her upcoming UK & international tour dates at www.katrinasweb.com. For bookings contact management@ katrinasweb.com MORE PEGGY LEE DISCOVERIES: Starting September, Peggy Lee will be bringing more great ideas for offbeat places to discover in and around London to the pages of The American.

Outside Looking In

After Charles Dubow’s love letter to London last month, Alison Holmes, our Transatlantic Correspondent, is less enamored by a visit after three years Stateside

PHOTO: RAIN RABBIT

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t what point does objectivity blur opinion? What is the process by which perspective reinterprets fact? When does memory morph into nostalgia?

When I arrive in London, it’s a sunny, close and sticky afternoon, and the Edgware Road is at a standstill. This, the taxi driver informs me again, is usual ever since they re-routed the traffic coming out of the station to the north – even if you want to go south. Though, he adds, the naked bike ride probably isn’t helping. Just coming from my long haul flight, I am sure I cannot have heard him correctly about a nude bicycle ride, (on such a hot and sticky day?? my mind refuses to go there!). I mutter something about cost and time and settle back to watch London and Londoners pass by. As we crawl along, I find myself pondering a thought that will become the refrain of the tour of my old stomping grounds: what’s happened to X and why don’t I remember it ‘this way’?

The first thing that strikes me is the number of bikes, not just along the side of the road, but literally surrounding the taxi. It reminds me of those pictures of cities where

bikes are the dominant form of transport and the cars are adrift in the sea of spokes and baskets.

Many are the ‘Boris bikes’ that were coming in as I left, but even more are personal bikes; riders represent the full range of London social demographics as well as ability, technical skill and crucially, level of safety equipment and concern for personal safety. Their apparent disregard for what is beside and behind them has me sinking in my seat; I’m convinced the taxi will arrive in south London with a new hood ornament. I did eventually arrive at my destination having added no new casualties to the rising figures of cyclist injuries. However, after only a few days, I am less surprised by the rise in pedestrian injuries involving cyclists given the number of times I have had to leap away from an oncoming swarm of yellow jackets or announce loudly at a pedestrian crossing that red lights DO apply to cyclists.

Having now been here several weeks and preparing for my return to the US, it’s not only the cycling I note as a trend of London life.

However, before starting what will inevitably look like a rant, it

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seems relevant to say that in the 21 years I lived in London, I was always a central London dweller. I developed the sharp elbows required for life in the big city and prided myself on the fact I had my own elbow sharpener.

There was no aspect of bus queuing, urban parking, fast shopping or train etiquette I didn’t know. I expected to be at least slightly discomfited now, but I was still not prepared for what seemed a case of Cinderella meets Kafka with an urban princess waking up a cockroach. Or perhaps a story more akin to a twisted version of the city mouse and country mouse in which the city mouse wakes up as the country mouse – with all the practical information, but all sense of familiarity stripped away. A consummate London insider was suddenly outside looking in.

Suits, sneakers and cigarettes

So what else seems out of place?

Well, rather than just the traditional handful of city women in suits and trainers, wave after wave of be-suited women and men are donning sporty footwear. Is this related to bikes?

A money saving measure? A post Olympics health kick? Looking at those taking to the street it is difficult to discern their objectives, but not their aggressive attitude. The utter self-absorption is profound: iPods, iPhones and ubiquitous coffee cups have occupied their attention to the exclusion of anyone or anything.

To my dismay, there has also been a return to the disgusting habit of smoking and walking. It didn’t take a formal report to become aware that the smoking rate in London has crept up – though most of the statistics are intriguingly posed as ‘fewer numbers seeking to quit’. Perhaps with the numbers comes entitlement as they are no longer content to be confined

to small huddles outside their office door or banished to a corner. Far from it! Smokers now wave their burning embers as a path-clearing device and puff away sitting at restaurants – albeit outside – blowing their smoke across the meals of fellow diners. When I muster the courage to suggest it might be more polite to let others eat in smokeless peace, I’m told loudly and firmly it’s their ‘right’ – whatever that means – and generally in something vaguely related to English as I knew it. In the US the British accent is nearly universally revered, to many Americans conveying a sense of sophistication and intelligence. Surely this attitude must now change as the London air reverberates with the grating, crashing sound of syllables and entire words being put through a linguistic mangle. Once upon a time it was a bit of a joke to say ‘saaf’ for ‘south’ or to ask ‘innit?’ of a mate. Now everyone – everyone – sounds like Alan Carr. Has television taken hold at such a deep level that the English language has lost its clarity and grace? Forget the Queen’s English or received pronunciation – move over Welsh: English is also in danger.

Perhaps it is also these new health/anti-health practices that explains the overuse of perfumes or body deodorants.

I know the ‘Lynx effect’ is supposed to make a woman swoon – but I don’t think even the manufacturer intended that the swooning be due to the

overwhelming smell… and everyone is at it. Perfumes, laundry detergents and fabric softeners are everywhere, enough to make any close bus ride positively noxious. Febreze must be making a fortune!

One aspect of the city that one doesn’t tend to think of as fastchanging, the skyline, has been altered beyond repair. By both tradition and design, London has always been a ‘low’ city, enabling its inhabitants and its visitors to enjoy the sight of some of the world’s most beautiful and historic buildings. A cursory glance today makes it clear that such notions are seen as quaint and antiquated. Dizzyingly tall buildings have slipped the tether of Canary Wharf and the boundaries of the City to spring up all along the south bank – and to the chagrin of the locals who must now cope with the unbearable stress on infrastructure, shops, schools, hospitals, etc.

If “What happened to ‘X’ and I don’t remember it ‘this way’” were the only recurring thoughts it might have been a very dreary visit. Happily, reunions of all kinds, new experiences and even a bike ride have colored the final impressions of a Londoner returned and the country mouse was re-invented once again if not into a city mouse at least to a semi-urban one. The spell of the cockroach was broken when the princess recovered her knowledge that London never really had much time for princesses – or nostalgia. What was the same will remain the same – and the rest will change and change again.

22 August 2013 PHOTO: OXFORDIAN.WORLD

The American It happened 50 years ago...

10 August 2: The College All-Stars win the then-annual

Chicago College All-Star Game over which NFL representative (the last time this would happen)?

11 August 8: ‘The Great Train Robbery’ takes place in

Buckingham, England. Amongst the robbers: Ronald Biggs and Ronald ‘Buster’ Edwards. But who played the part of ‘Buster’ in the film of the same name?

12 August 10: Singer Whitney Houston is born in NewThe 10th President of the United States. Name him and his nine predecessors (...and make your history teacher proud!)

Coffee Break QUIZ 1 The Strangers are the back-up band for which

American Country singer?

2 Harry Potter author JK Rowling has recently

released a book ‘secretly’ under an assumed name.

What is her new nom de plume?

ark, New Jersey. Her version of I Will Always Love You became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. Who originally wrote it?

It happened 100 years ago...

13 August 4: Born Asa Bundy Sheffey in Detroit,

Michigan this day, a poet who wrote The Whipping, Frederick Douglass and Those Winter Sundays. By what name is he usually known?

14 August 12: Name that cookie! Nabisco registers the

brand name for its best-selling sandwich biscuit.

15 August 29: Born this day, American composer and

lyricist Sylvia Fine, twice Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song (The Moon is Blue, The Five Pennies).

To which comedy actor was she married?

Quiz answers and Sudoku solution on inside back cover.

3 Name the game-theorist mathematician and

Nobel Memorial Prize winner on whom the film A Beautiful Mind is based.

4 Comedian Charles Fleischer voiced which titular

character in a 1988 part-animated movie directed

by Robert Zemeckis?

8 3 4 5

5 Name either of the British Overseas Territories that

8

use the US Dollar as their official currency.

6 Name the first five US Presidents, in order.

7 Very good... now name the next five!

2

9 Which of these was not crowned King of England

3 1

during the century leading up to the Norman Invasion of 1066? (a) Æthelred the Unready (b) Sweyn Forkbeard (c) William the Bastard (d) Edmund Ironside

8 7

5

2 5

6 8

6

6

7

6

8 Academic institution Miskatonic University is a

fiction of which American horror author?

9

9 7

6 9 6

7 3

8 7 5 2 1 August 2013 23

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

The American

ESCAPES

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

It’s not just pasties. Cornwall is one of England’s most dramatic areas and the last part of England before America.

There’s beaches, sailing and history on this Atlantic coastline, all in a small area, and you can pop from the north to south coastlines very quickly. The American checked out the central part of the long peninsula to recommend the best attractions, hotels, eating places and beaches for you.

PHOTO ©HELIGAN GARDENS

From top: From Pendennis Castle toward St Mawes; Falmouth’s Discovery Quay; Lost Gardens of Heligan

24 August 2013

C

ornwall’s statistics are as impressive as the landscape. 300 miles of high cliffs, quiet creeks, sandy dunes and big surf. Medieval and Tudor castles stand guard over working fishing villages and high tech business estates while basking sharks and seals swim close to shore.

It’s all accessible as part of the South West Coast Path, England’s longest long-distance footpath.

England is a seafaring nation and Cornwall has an immensely long coastline compared to its area.

Think Royal Navy, the merchant marine and – of course – wreckers, smugglers and pirates. In 1783, throughout England, 160,000 people and a fifth of the nation’s horses were engaged in smuggling, according to

Paul White in his book The Cornish Smuggling Industry: “Perhaps a quarter of the whole export/import trade of the country was conducted illegally, and for some commodities, tea in particular, two thirds was probably illegal. A quarter of that smuggled tea and half the smuggled brandy, entered by way of Devon and Cornwall. Within Cornwall, ‘legal’ tea, spirits or fineries were almost unknown.” But fear not, while the modern population revels in this villainous reputation (the county’s premier rugby team is the Cornish Pirates) you are most unlikely to be boarded by brigands as you drive around the rugged countryside, though many locals profess no allegiance to that foreign government in

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

PHOTO NMMC / VISIT CORNWALL

Clockwise from left: Fistral beach before surf’s up; the luxurious Headland Hotel; and the National Martime Museum Cornwall

London, proudly flying the black and white flag of St Piran, which represents either Christianity over evil, or silver tin out of black rock.

Referring to Cornwall as a county is not advisable. That’s because it has a distinct identity as a Duchy, a private estate created in 1337 by Edward III for his son, Prince Edward.

Each Duke of Cornwall throughout history is the heir to the throne, so currently it’s Prince Charles. It’s even recognized as an ethnic origin on the UK Census. To really impress the natives, try calling the place Kernow, its name in the Cornish (or Kernowek!) language.

We based ourselves on the north coastline at the fabulous Headland Hotel in Newquay, perched as its name suggests, on a grassy outcrop overlooking the sea and Fistral Beach, a stunning half-mile-long west-facing stretch of soft sand.

Fistral’s ancient Cornish name, Porth an Vystel, means ‘cove of the foul water’! But don’t worry, the description alludes to the huge waves that can crash onto the beach, making it a dangerous place to land a boat but also one of the best places in Europe to surf - the Headland Hotel

has its own on-site surf & coasteering school. The sea can be cold – it is the Atlantic – but wetsuit hire and lessons are on hand, as is the lifeguard station to keep an eye on things.

It’s a safe environment for beginners, but look past them and you’ll see the experts searching for the perfect wave. When the swell gets high, a reef creates breakers up to 40 feet high. The Headland is a piece of Victorian history, served up 21st century-style. Built in 1900, it was then the height of modernity, with electric lighting, two bathrooms for gentlemen guests and two for ladies on each floor (no en-suites then) and every bedroom had basins with hot and cold running water. Edward VII and Queen Alexandra stayed several times in the 1900s and, later, Edward VIII (when Prince of Wales) recuperated from mumps here, accompanied by his younger brother Bertie (later George VI). During World War II, the Headland became an RAF

hospital, and guests have reported the ghosts of uniformed men and nurses walking (harmlessly) around the corridors late at night. Extensively renovated during the 1990s, it now boasts tennis courts, indoor & outdoor pools, a spa with treatment rooms, a Cornish salt steam room, sauna, Rhassoul mud room, gym and pitch and putt course, as well as a large restaurant and a more casual terrace bistro bar, both of which offer excellent food. Your dog can also join you for your stay at the Headland!

They’ve developed a lovely selfcatering apartment village too. Tip: there’s a small, perfect, sheltered sandy cove with shallow water a short walk along the footpath, called ‘Little Fistral’.

Newquay is known for its hedonistic surf-all-day, drink-all-night youth culture, which is there if you want it, but the Headland stands head and shoulders above it - literally as well as figuratively – for a classier experience. Do ask for a sea view when booking a room. Room rates start from £209 per night

PHOTO © SABRINA SULL Y

August 2013 25

PHOTO: BOB BERRY / VISIT CORNWALL

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

PHOTO: PAUL WATTS / VISIT CORNWALL

Like castles? You’ll love Cornwall! Henry VIII’s St Mawes; gunner tableau on Pendennis’ gun deck; and the ruins of medieval Tintagel

for the whole family, including dinner, if booked direct. The Headland is popular with couples and families who return every year for the airy casual elegance and facilities and we could certainly understand why.

Missing it already. 01637 872211 www.theheadlandhotel.co.uk

American Connections

Cornwall has many connections with the US. For example Pentillie Castle and Estate, in south east Cornwall, has American Gardens which were laid out by garden designer, Lewis Kennedy, in 1843. Even if you’re back home you can enjoy ‘Cornishness’ – there’s an annual Cornish Festival each September in Wisconsin (www. cornishfest.org). There are Cornish communities in the US who still retain the accent, e.g. Tangier Island, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Many were miners who emigrated with the decline of the Cornish tin mines to search for minerals in America.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin claims to serve authentic Cornish food, such as pasties and figgyhobbin, and Cornish pasties are sold at ex-Cornish mining towns in America, especially in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

26 August 2013

Many noted Americans have Cornish roots, like Mark Twain, Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry S Truman. See www.cousinjack.org.

A lot of the US links are to do with the preparations for D-Day, the Allied invasion of France that led to the end of World War II. American soldiers were billeted on both north and south coasts, and many of the rooms are as they were left at Prideaux Place, Padstow. Falmouth became full of GIs (known as ‘the friendly invasion’) as makeshift US army camps were erected on the Beacon at Pendennis Castle and the surrounding villages both sides of the river Fal, and during practice for the D-Day landings, “Operation Overlord”, many of their manoeuvres took place in the Fal and on local beaches.

During their stay they built slipways at Grove Place and Tolverne for landing craft to be loaded with troops and heavy transport. A local secret is that General Eisenhower stayed first at a lodge inland in a small village called Stithians then Tolverne, helping to plan the invasion. It is said that on the 4th & 5th of June 1944 there were many troop movements in the area and when the locals woke up on

the 6th they had all gone, departing from Falmouth and from the Fal estuary around Tolverne; for instance the embarkation point for the 29th US Infantry Division was the private beach of nearby Trebah Garden. Falmouth’s WWII gallery (www.rememberfalmouth.co.uk/view/272/) has pictures about this, and there’s a list of US regiment locations by UK town and county in April 1944, kindly compiled by Philip C Grinton of Santa Rosa, at www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/ documents/US-units-April-44.doc.

Falmouth, on Cornwall’s south coast, a deep river working port since 1613 which has a namesake in Massachusetts as well as one in Jamaica, is defended at the mouth of the Fal by the twin Henry VIII castles of Pendennis and St Mawes.

It was the official port for all packet boats for all overseas mail (the Royal Mail Packet Service) to and from the Empire, from 1688 to Victorian times.

They were also the main passenger transport. The Falmouth to New York packet service began in 1754/5, and passengers included Benjamin Franklin. For over 150 years Falmouth knew the latest international news before London!

The American

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

Daymer Bay, Rock: a classic bucket-and-spade beach

Travel

PHOTO: PAUL WATTS / VISIT CORNWALL

The Tudor heart of Pendennis Castle, still used in World War II by US troops

Falmouth is on the up, its focus once again on the water. Cruise ships increasingly call here, recreational sailing is very popular, and you’ll often see superyachts moored awaiting servicing at Pendennis, one of the world’s leading superyacht builders. The port area is upmarket and the docks have been sympathetically restored. Now called Discovery Quay, it is centered around a large piazza that is often busy with events, the other side of which is the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, a really family friendly fascinating collection of boats and maritime artifacts. There’s good eating on the piazza itself, including a great little inexpensive American Steakhouse & Grill, ‘The Ranch’, serving jumbo gourmet hot dogs (The Ranch hot dog £9.95) with trimmings, sauce and fries; Spicy buffalo wings (£9.95) and excellent 6oz rump steak with veg and fries for £10.95. There’s daily specials on the Butcher’s Block. We tried a delicious half Cornish lobster with garlic butter starter for £9.95.

There’s a kid’s menu with hot dogs and burgers (both £5.95) and steak at £7.95. They also serve bottled Bud and Brooklyn Lager. (01326 210989

to book or pre-order – they’re very helpful.) At the entrance to the Quay is Rick Stein’s Fish & Chips. Mid-Cornwall has always been popular with the well-heeled British for family holidays, many of whom own second homes here, so there are some really great restaurants. Rick’s main restaurant is in Padstow.

There are many lovely beaches, often tucked away. For instance Newquay has seven, all quite different. For a quieter experience, try Watergate Bay’s unspoilt natural beauty and caves. Ask the locals, the waiters and shopkeepers where the best are. Most are sandy, many have rock pools. If it’s windy, head to the leeward coast. There are plenty of wonderful walks throughout the area. And do make it a mission to seek out a proper handmade Cornish pasty while you’re there.

Let us know the places you’d recommend in mid-Cornwall.

Plane: Flybe flights to Newquay airport from all over UK (1hr 10min x Gatwick; 1hr 25min x Norwich) Coach: (National Express) Car: (M4/M5 or M3/A303, then A30). Cornwall also has a very good bus service

Places to visit

Classic Air Force: www.classicairforce.com Geevor Tin Mine: www.geevor.com Lost Gardens of Heligan: www.heligan.com National Maritime Museum: www.nmmc.co.uk Pendennis Castle: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ daysout/properties/pendenniscastle/ St Michael’s Mount: www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk Tintagel Castle: www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/tintagel-castle/ The fishing town of Padstow (pictured below) PHOTO: STEVE BURGESS / VISIT CORNWALL

Signed Banjo from Shackleton’s near-tragic polar expedition: “Vital mental medicine” for the trapped crew“ (National Maritime Museum) PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

August 2013 27

The American

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

St Moritz Hotel & Garden Villas, Trebetherick, Cornwall PL27 6SD www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk Reviewed by Sabrina P Sully

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

WINING & DINING

St Moritz Hotel & Garden Villas A

n art-deco inspired hotel overlooking Daymer Bay, which is very family-friendly. We stopped by for lunch by the pool, as it was hot and sunny. Actually, we weren’t going to eat, just get some water and a chill glass of white wine in the shade, but it was such a delightful scene, busy yet tranquil, we changed our plans. The pool area has a separate, casual restaurant, with artfully decorated mini beach huts, hammocks and sun beds, and very content parents and small children.

We sat on the terrace under a shady umbrella. I sipped a glass of chilled Los Vilos Chardonnay from Central Valley, Chile (£6.25) which was apple-y with a crisp finish. My companion, preferring a more robust wine, chose the Rioja Blanco from Montelciego, Spain (£7.75) which had notes of honeysuckle, but with a refreshing citrussy, green finish.

I started with a Cornish Crab Cake with chili jam and little leaves of coriander & lime (£6.50) which was light and fresh and easy on the potato, letting the delicate crab flavor shine through and the jam and coriander with the lime made

28 August 2013

this the best crab cake I’ve ever had, and I’m a sucker for fresh crab. My friend kicked off with the Warm Salad of Chickpeas with Squid, with red peppers & chorizo (£6.50). The locally caught squid was very fresh, but he ate it separately from the chorizo which although lovely, overpowered the delicate squid a little. I then indulged with the Grilled Fish of the Day (£11), sea bass which was creamy and perfectly cooked, served with tiny spinach leaves, croutons, black olives, and sherry vinegar dressing. Delicious, I savored every mouthful. The Porthilly Mussels (£11.50) cooked in coconut, lemongrass and coriander, came in a wonderful cast iron pot, and the mussels themselves were excellent – juicy and sweet.

But the sauce, albeit interesting, was slightly too sweet for the mussels, drowning their own natural sweetness and flavor. He would have preferred them marinière or Normandoise. I agree, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. I was tempted by the Buttervilla Farm Strawberries (£6.25) with Rodda’s clotted cream, and he by the Selection of Local Cheeses (£8.00) with homemade chutney and biscuits, which we’d both normally have jumped at, but it was too hot, and we were due on a beach, so angelically declined!

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

The American

Outlaw’s Reviewed by Michael Burland

I

f you are spending some time in Cornwall – and after reading our travel feature in this issue, why wouldn’t you? – you should seriously consider treating yourself to a meal at one of Nathan Outlaw’s restaurants. One is located each side of the entrance to the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock, on the Duchy’s north coast. You have a choice as you climb the grand stone staircase from the car park. On the right lies the 2 Michelin star Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, which has an all-fish fine dining tasting menu that changes daily – in fact it can change during the day if a particularly good catch comes in, as Nathan knows all the local fishermen and they call him. Turn left for Outlaw’s, open for lunch and dinner everyday, whose à la carte menu features the same local fish but also premium Cornish meat.

Head Chef Redas Katauskas works closely with Nathan, who is on the scene as often as he can be.

Restaurant Nathan Outlaw was booked solid for the whole month, so Outlaw’s it was. We arrived for lunch on a baking hot English sum-

mers day (oh, how long we’ve waited to say that!) and decided to go al fresco. Our waitresses – as friendly, intelligent and knowledgeable as one could wish – led us to a table on the terrace, which overlooks the River Camel, and brought us each a glass of Kir Cornwall (£11). The name comes from the delicate Camel Valley ‘Cornwall’ Brut sparkling wine laced with Cassis, a refreshing way to put one in the mood for a relaxed lunch.

Outlaw’s meat dishes are reputedly – and certainly looked, on other tables – excellent, but my partner and I both decided it had to be fish all the way. We nibbled on an amuse bouche of small cheese-centered fish cakes as we waited for our starters.

My Crispy Porthilly Oysters (£10) were surprisingly large and satisfyingly succulent, barely cooked and set off by piquant pickled vegetables and oyster mayonnaise. My companion’s hand-dived scallops, olives & tomatoes with dill sauce (£15) were, as advertised, straight out of the sea, perfectly grilled, their sweetness offset by a salty tang.

The marine main courses were Cod, Heritage tomatoes, olive dumplings, caper & gherkin dressing (£28, me) and Pollock, peas, broad beans, mussels and paprika oil (£25, her).

Both were ostensibly simple. How hard can it be to take the freshest fish

and cook them quickly, garnishing them with vegetables, herbs and spices as listed on the menu? Pretty hard, if my efforts at home are to go by, and it takes experience and sensitivity to create gorgeous dishes like both of ours at Outlaw’s.

We both chose something light for pudding. Her clotted cream ice cream sandwich with strawberries (£12) was good but she would have preferred simple fresh strawberries and Cornish clotted cream. My rhubarb jelly, vanilla cream and rhubarb sorbet (£9), however, was a highlight, the seasonal fruit (the British insist on it being a vegetable – technically correct but, well, silly) teased into two tongue-tingling delights, offset by the sweet vanilla.

Nathan took time out of the kitchen – his favorite place to be at all times – to chat about his love of seafood, his philosophy of cooking and his book on how to cook fish simply but deliciously, just as he and his team do every day. He’ll be sharing his thoughts and one of his delicious recipes next month in the print and digital editions (at www.theamerican.co.uk).

St Enodoc Hotel, Rock, Cornwall PL27 6LA www.nathan-outlaw.com

August 2013 29

The American

RED POCKET Hotel Verta • Bridges Wharf, Battersea, London SW11 3BE • www.redpocketrestaurant.com Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick

L

ocation, location, location! Red Pocket is, to put it plainly, in the middle of nowhere! I’m guessing that’s why Barclay’s London Heliport chose the same location. Overlooking a helipad did seem like an attraction at first, but after a while, the noise and exhaust simply became tiresome.

All that being said, Red Pocket is an oasis on the edge of Battersea.

The open kitchen dining room has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Thames and a lovely bar and lounge in the mezzanine. The décor is slightly edgy with very sleek modern furniture, Chinese oils and a wonderful mobile (the hanging art kind, not the ringing, texting, please-turn-itoff-when-you’re-at-the theater kind).

The menu is nothing short of stunning! It is not only ambitious and imaginative, but has just about every 5-star ingredient you’ve ever dreamt of. Beluga caviar, chili quail, Alaskan King Crab with fois gras sauce, wok fried lobster and to top it all, 60 grams of braised Japanese dried whole abalone for a whopping £428!

And all served by a most elegant, friendly and professional waitress.

We started with a Beijing Bellini.

Prosecco and lychee juice. What a perfect combination! The lychee was

30 August 2013

fruity but still dry, without the overbearing sweetness that often ruins a sparkling apéritif. I will immediately stock up on lychee juice!

It took great deliberation to decide on our meal. With so much to choose from, most of which sounded like it was created for an imperial banquet in the Forbidden City, we felt hard pressed to choose several dishes at the exclusion of all others.

We ended up with: King Crab Salad (£17), Dim Sum Platter (£14), Imperial Duck with Truffle Sauce (£27), Grilled Chilean Sea bass (£36), Pak Choi with ginger sauce (£8), and Abalone fried rice (£18). If that doesn’t get your juices flowing, nothing will!

The food is beautifully presented, garnished with the most extraordinary array of flowers, leaves and vegetables. Art! The King Crab Salad was a stunning creation, but unfortunately also the most bland. It was mostly avocado which unfortunately took over and didn’t allow the subtle sweetness of the crab to come through. I must say though, I’ve never seen anything prettier on a plate. The dim sum was colorful and tasty. An assortment of mince and seafood, served with a sweet and salty bean sauce and a very spicy

pepper sauce. The Imperial Duck was succulent and almost smothered in truffles and the sea bass was perhaps my favorite of the day. Coated with a mixture of spices and salt and grilled so the skin was crispy. The baby pak choi was perfect. So much more delicate than the larger vegetables that are usually served. I enjoyed the abalone fried rice, but dried abalone is nothing like the fresh version I used to get in times of old. When I was a child in California, some time after the decline of the dinosaur, but long before commercial fishing depleted our oceans of their most valuable treasures, one of my favourite treats was abalone amandine. There is nothing like it and it’s sad indeed that it is now so difficult to come by and, even then, only if one is listed in Forbes!

We finished off with Pastry Three Treasures (£6.50) for dessert which wasn’t pastry at all, but happily, three light and tasty parfaits. Vanilla cream with kiwi, chocolate and mango.

So after your promotion, when you fly in to London in a helicopter...

Free to Read in Print or On Screen Every issue of the magazine now available online...

IN PRINT: Pick a copy up from (among other places):  The US Embassy in London and US Consulates  The United/Continental and Virgin clubhouses at Heathrow  Hotels around the UK  The American Museum in Britain (near Bath)  Automat American Brasserie, Dover Street, Mayfair, London  Sports Bar & Grill Marylebone and Victoria  All the organizations listed in back of the magazine, and USAFE bases  Get a copy delivered to your home or workplace, the only thing we’ll ask you to pay for is the post and packing – call us on +44 (0)1747 830520.

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The American

MUSIC REVIEW

T

he first Blues Brothers movie, directed by John Landis, became a cult classic and Briefcase Full of Blues, the band’s first album, sold 2.8 million copies. Over three decades and the movie Blues Brothers 2000 later, is the act that reignited the Blues and the careers of stars such as Eddie ‘Knock On Wood’ Floyd, Sam Moore, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, and Junior Wells finished? The answer is a definite ‘no’ and we’ve seen the evidence...

We spoke with ‘Blue Lou’ Marini and Steve ‘The Colonel’ Cropper before The Original Blues Brothers Band’s performance at London’s Under The Bridge at the end of June.

Steve Cropper told us, “I’ve always made time for the Blues Brothers band, we always have fun. It’s 25 years of working with the band. Since we did a show for a birthday party, Lou and I looked at each other and said, ‘This is too much fun, we’ve got to keep doing it.’ The party was for Dan [Aykroyd]’s 40th birthday. His wife Donna did a great job of sneaking us in while Dan was out with his father. He opened the door and there’s a big whisper, ‘Surprise!’”

Lou said of the band’s life on tour, “We can play to audiences of 30,000

Bobby ‘Sweet Soul’ Harden enjoys a drink with the crowd.

PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY

32 August 2013

Steve ‘The Colonel’ Cropper (left) and ‘Smokin’’ John Tropea PHOTO © SABRINA SULLY.

The Original Blues Brothers Band Under The Bridge, London • June 29, 2013 • Reviewed by Darren Weale and then to 250 in a club in a small town. End of June, we’re in the UK and Europe and the band is smoking.

Lots of young musicians come up and say they got into music through our films.” One such young musician was John Popper of Blues Traveler, who during the shoot in Canada of Blues Brothers 2000 mentioned that he was inspired to play harmonica and to become a musician by the Blues Brothers Band and especially ‘Elwood’.

Lou reflected, “The music is still ‘turning goat’s piss into gasoline’, like Duck [Dunn] said. The band is still burning. From the downbeat at soundcheck, it’s burning.”

‘Burning’ the band certainly was at Under The Bridge. The line-up also includes Steve ‘Catfish’ Howard (trumpet), Lee ‘Funkytime’ Finkelstein (drums) and Larry ‘Trombonius Maximus’ Farrell on trombone. Plus the band’s Musical Director, Leon ‘The Lion’ Pendarvis (stepping into Paul Shaffer’s shoes, and himself Musical Director of TV show Saturday Night Live) on keyboards, ‘Smokin’ ‘John Tropea on guitar, and Eric ‘The Red’ Udel on bass. They were fronted by classy,

energetic vocalists in Bobby ‘Sweet Soul’ Harden and Tommy ‘Pipes’ McDonnell. The band nailed classics such as Hey Bartender and Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. With The Colonel on guitar, the audience was treated to the man of Stax himself playing on songs he first recorded, such as Booker T and the MG’s Green Onions and Sam and Dave’s Soul Man, where he was once again exhorted to “Play it, Steve”. The band paid tribute to the recently passed Bobby Bland, as Tommy put it, their “fallen Brother”, and played Love Light in his memory.

Their appearance was a joyful masterclass in music. As Lou told us, “Playing in the Blues Brothers Band is the world’s greatest part-time job.”

Other chances to catch The Blues Brothers include performances featuring James ‘Zee Blues’ Belushi and Dan ‘Elwood Blues’ Aykroyd.

Dan recently appeared at London’s Selfridges store promoting his own Crystal Head vodka. There are also two official shows, The Blues Brothers Approved in Europe featuring Brad ‘Jake’ Henshaw; and the official US Blues Brothers Revue. www.bluesbrothersofficialsite.com

For our ‘Live & Kicking’ gig recommendations, go to www.theamerican.co.uk/pr/diary_dates.php

The American

ALBUMS THEOF MONTH Chastity Brown Creative and Dreams Music Network

Country. Blues.

Soul. Roots. Gospel.

Roll those dice and combine them any which way you like – you’ve described Chastity Brown. And what roots: raised close to Memphis in Tennessee, based in Minnesota, a Boston Irish mother and an AfricanAmerican jazz/blues musician Daddy.

This is Brown’s first album available in the UK after three US releases.

Minimal arrangements effortlessly blend; acoustic slide (National) guitar, fiddle, banjo and Hammond organ with sampled beats and electronic keyboards. Does that sound like easy listening, relaxing sounds for a summer’s sunbathe or diverting dinner party? It would fit, but you’d be in danger of missing a subtlety of musicianship and an intensity and depth of voice and lyrics that are a rare find today. Chastity Brown’s playing live in September across the UK at her own headline dates and a couple of festivals. Go to chastitybrownmusic.com/tour

The Rides

Can’t Get Enough Provogue Records How many times over the last decade have you spotted yet another album released by an old master holding court in front of some grizzled veterans and a bunch of young disciples?

Not this time. Stephen Stills fits the former role, Kenny Wayne Shepherd the latter, and Barry Goldberg (exElectric Flag and sideman to Muddy,

Can Stephen Dale Petit walk on water? PHOTO: PATTI BOYD

Wolf and Otis Rush) is the old compadre. But instead of the celeb/old pals route they have formed a real band, The Rides. This collection of material, old and new, sounds as if they have been trucking along the highway, plying their trade to whichever juke joints, bars and roadhouses would have them. It’s a tough, tight sound, exemplified by storming opener Mississippi Roadhouse. A variety of tunes includes a bluesy take on Iggy & The Stooges’ Search and Destroy, Word Game (a number Stills wrote – but never recorded) by Buffalo Springfield and a creditable, credible version of Stills’ special sparring partner Neil Young’s Keep On Rocking In The Free World alongside blues standards Talk To Me Baby and Honey Bee. The younger guitarist doesn’t seem in awe of the older, neither does the veteran seem willing to sit back and let the young gun blaze away. Each energizes the other, making this a great electric blues album. Live gigs please!

Stephen Dale Petit Cracking The Code 333 Records

If you like your blues familiar, comfortable, back-porch style, SDP is not your go-to man. Try uncompromising. Angry, waspsting vocals spit acerbic lyrics while distorted Gibson guitars provoke.

This is today’s urban blues: there’s no

Mississippi delta in Riot In The City, a tale of British summertime city unrest.

Petit is not afraid of modern sounds.

There’s no lack of confidence here either – listen out for the cry of “Super Steve’s comin’ at ya” as he launches another blistering solo. Neither is he fearful or dismissive of the genre’s rich heritage. Check out the guests on CCC: Mick Taylor, Rolling Stones guitarist during arguably their greatest period; Dr John, New Orleans gumbo merchant par excellence; Chris Barber, the trombonist and bandleader who arguably kicked off the British Blues boom and therefore arguably helped save the blues from extinction; Patrick Carney from current blues-rock supremos The Black Keys; and making his last ever recorded appearance, Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s chief guitar player.

Petit’s backed by a talented band who have other projects but on this album make a solid, talented unit. They’re rightly included on the record’s cover artwork (yes, record – get the heavyweight vinyl LP with gatefold sleeve for the full effect and the best sound), an intriguing photo taken by Patti [Harrison-Clapton-] Boyd, on which the guitarist appears to be walking on water. Judging by the guitar playing on this album, he might be doing exactly that. [Read our SDP interview online at www.theamerican.co.uk, click on ‘READ MAGAZINE’ and scroll to the November 2010 issue.]

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The American

CHOICE National Galleries of Scotland www.nationalgalleries.org With topics including witchcraft, death, ageing and illness, the National Galleries north of the border may be doing little to dispel the cliché of ‘dour Scots’, but if you’re in Edinburgh for the August mirth, why not investigate your solemn soul with contemplation of the following outstanding exhibitions? Additionally, if you didn’t find a chance to see Through American Eyes: Frederic Church and the Landscape Oil Sketch or Man Ray Portraits in London, both exhibitions are now in Edinburgh, while the Scottish National Gallery also maintain its own significant col-

lection, including works by Van Gogh, Vermeer, Titian, Velázquez and Monet.

Rodin’s The Kiss is also on display at the Scottish National Gallery this year, on loan from Tate Britain.

Witches & Wicked Bodies

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DR July 27 To November 3

Part of the National Gallery of Scotland’s permanent collection: Sir Henry Raeburn, Revd Dr Robert Walker (1755 – 1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch, about 1795. © NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND

Over 500 years of artistic depictions of witchcraft have been gathered for an exhibition that includes works by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco de Goya and William Blake, Paula Rego and others. The exhibition illustrates the wide spectrum of representation of witches, from Fuseli’s hags to JW Waterhouse’s seductive sorceresses.

Peter Doig – No Foreign Lands Scottish National Gallery The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL August 3 to November 3

Edinburgh-born, Trinidad and Canada-raised painter Peter Doig is a celebrated graduate of the Chelsea College of Art and Design. The cultural influences of the Great White North, island life and European tradition are all evident in his tranquil, landscape abstract and impressionist scenes, lending his work universal appeal. His paintings already attract huge prices at auction. This major exhibition covers the past 10 years, during which he has split his time between London, Trinidad and Düsseldorf.

Above: Henry Fuseli, Three Weird Sisters from Macbeth, 1785. Mezzotint on paper

Peter Doig, Paragon, 2006. Oil on linen.

© BRITISH MUSEUM

COURTESY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION

34 August 2013

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Edinburgh Arts Festival The Edinburgh Festival beckons even more art into the Scottish capital, but if you’re expecting mere pavement chalk, check out: an exhibition of original screenprints and etchings by Barbara Rae CBE RA at the Dundas Gallery; Coming into Fashion: A Century of Photography at Condé Nast – over 150 rare photographs and original magazines from the archives of Vogue and Glamour including works by Helmut Newton, David Bailey and Mario Testino at the City Art Centre; the geometric art of Gabriel Orozco: Thinking In Circles at the Fruitmarket Gallery; and the 151st International Exhibition of Photography at the Edinburgh Photographic Exhibition Centre.

Visit www.edfringe.com for details of dates and location.

Ken Currie, Nightwork, 2013. Oil on canvas © THE ARTIST, COURTESY OF FLOWERS GALLERY PHOTOGRAPH © IAN MARSHALL

Right: Ernesto Neto, It Happens When The Body Is Anatomy Of Time, 2000.

Lycra tulle, clove, cumin, turmeric.

COURTESY OF THE D DASKALOPOULOS COLLECTION

Ken Currie

Scottish National Portrait Gallery 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JD To September 22 One of the ‘New Glasgow Boys’, Ken Currie’s darkly shimmering figurative paintings tackle the subjects of age, illness and bodily decay with unflinching humanity, the naked vulnerability of the living body emerging luminously from the shadows and veils of morbid inevitability. With the influence of Velásquez evident in his use of contrast, and Goya’s dark convalescent period also surely a touchstone, the North Shields (Newcastle) born painter raises philosophical and metaphysical questions far beyond portraiture. This exhibition of new works examines the idea of the portrait, its origins and purposes, though Currie himself usually eschews commissions for portraiture.

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DR To September 8 This show gathers together works from the D Daskalopoulos Collection, an important private collection of contemporary art alongside the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art’s own. As with the Ken Currie exhibition, the body plays a central role, reflecting 20th and 21st century artistic interest in our biology and obsessions, both sensual and medical. Artists represented include Marina Abramovic, Joseph Beuys, Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick and Marcel Duchamp, amongst others. Please note that the exhibition features imagery of an explicit nature.

Rachel Maclean, I HEART SCOTLAND (detail), 2013 © THE ARTIST I Heart Scotland at the Edinburgh Printmakers sees Rachel Maclean’s exhibition of film and screenprint grotesquely and kitchly referencing Scottish landscape, Robbie Burns, and futurist visions of SNP propaganda.

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LAST CHANCE TO SEE Sturtevant: Leaps Jumps And Bumps, Installation view.

Serpentine Gallery, London PHOTO © 2013 JERRY HARDMAN-JONES

Works by two notable American installation artists are in London at the moment. Ohio-born Sturtevant challenges ideas of authorship and originality by emulating and indeed repeating the work of other artists. Form your own opinions about her appropriations at the Serpentine Gallery, London (www.serpentinegallery.org) where the Exhibition Leaps Jumps and Bumps is showing until August 26. Meanwhile Pace London (www.pacegallery.com) has an exhibition of Robert Irwin until August 17. Originally a painter, the Californian increasingly regarded art as something ‘conditional’ and moved into installation as a way to explore perception as the fundamental issue of art. The exhibition includes two new sitespecific installations Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue3 III (pictured below) and Piccadilly.

© 2012 ROBERT IRWIN. PHOTO © 2013 PHILIPP STOLZ RITTERMANN

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Ibrahim El-Salahi, Vision of the Tomb, 1965. Oil on canvas.

Museum for African Art, New York © IBRAHIM EL-SALAHI

Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist

The exhibition has been co-organized by the Museum for African Art, New York and Tate Modern, London.

Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG www.tate.org.uk To September 22

Houghton Revisited

The work by African/Arab Modernist Ibrahim El-Salahi, a titan of Sudanese art and Sudan’s former cultural attaché, has not greatly entered the public consciousness in the West. This major retrospective of 100 works, covering five decades of his career should plant him firmly in the mainstream here. Schooled at the Slade School, London, and after living in Sudan (his birthplace) and Qatar, he returned to the UK in the 1990s. His work draws on Islamic, African, Arab and Western traditions, examining themes of faith and culture with images that include abstractions of the flourishes of Arabic calligraphy.

Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE www.houghtonrevisited.com To September 29 Houghton Hall, a beautiful Palladian house in Norfolk, and family seat of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, plays host to this significant art loan from the Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia. And it’s a logical lend: the collection, which includes work by Van Dyck, Van Rijn, Poussin, Albani, Rubens, Rembrandt, Velázquez and Murillo, was originally in the possession of the Marquess’ ancestor, Sir Robert Walpole. Walpole was Great Britain’s first Prime Minister, and the collection was sold to Catherine the Great over 200 years ago. For the

The American

Zandra Rhodes: Unseen

Fashion and Textile Museum 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF www.ftmlondon.org To August 31

Nicolas Poussin, The Holy Family with St John and Elizabeth. Oil on canvas COPYRIGHT: THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM PHOTO BY JOHN BODKIN

first time, the collection has returned to the Hall originally designed to house it, with many of the paintings readorning the walls in their original positions.

Dame Laura Knight

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place London WC2H 0HE www.npg.org.uk To October 13 Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) was one of Britain’s leading 20th century artists and this exhibition of her portrait works marks the centenary of her celebrated Self Portrait. Born in Derbyshire and educated at Nottingham School of Art (entering aged just 13), she later moved to the artist’s community at Newlyn, Cornwall, where she painted her self-portrait with her friend, ceramicist Ella Naper as the model. Famous in the 1920s for her portraiture of actors and dancers at the Ballets Russes, later that same decade she found inspiration in Baltimore, gaining permission to draw black children in the racially

Dame Laura Knight, Self Portrait, 1913.

Oil on canvas © REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION OF THE ESTATE OF DAME LAURA KNIGHT DBE RA, [2013]

segregated wards of Johns Hopkins Memorial Hospital, commenting: “The babies of American darkies are among the most beautiful things in the world”. In 1935 she contributed to the Artists against Fascism and War exhibition. She became an official war artist during the Second World War, producing a series of portraits of female members of the auxiliary air force and munitions workers.

Ruby Loftus screwing a breech-ring, painted during this period, is part of this exhibition.

The Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates its tenth anniversary with an exhibition of the distinctive fashion from the archives of its founder, Zandra Rhodes – fabulous textiles, sensuous dresses and original sketches, combining lesser-known fashion collections with more familiar designs drawn from a prolific career.

BP Portrait Award 2013

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place London WC2H 0HE www.npg.org.uk To September 15 The prestigious BP Portrait Award has been won by a mother’s portrait of her son, Pieter, by Massachusetts College of Art-educated Susanne du Toit.

The award exhibition will also travel to Aberdeen Art Gallery (November 2 to February 1) and Wolverhampton Art Gallery (March 3 to June 14).

Keep Your Timber Limber Institute of Contemporary Arts The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH www.ica.org.uk To September 8

The politics of gender, war, race and sexuality (be warned: there is a lot of sexuality) challenging social mores through commercial media such as fashion and comics is addressed in this exhibition of works on paper.

Artists include Judith Bernstein, Tom of Finland, George Grosz, Margaret Harrison, Mike Kuchar, Cary Kwok, Antonio Lopez and Marlene McCarty.

Susanne du Toit, Pieter. Oil on canvas © SUSANNE DU TOIT

August 2013 37

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THEATER REVIEWS

Charlie AND THE Chocolate Factory A

ny adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is inevitably going to begin life very much under the twin shadows of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp.

Add to that a wildly popular staging of Dahl’s Matilda only recently opened in the West End and the pressure is high for Sam Mendes’ current attempt at Charlie at the Theatre Royal.

While there are clear influences from both films, I am also pleased that this dazzling version courageously leaps out from the shadows to give us a stunningly realized production brimming with all the vitality bursting from the pages of Dahl’s novel.

With an animated prologue extolling the virtues of chocolate, illustrated by Quentin Blake, whose work has become so indelibly linked to Dahl’s tales, Mendes returns us to an original vision while at the same time pushing our expectations of theater, through animation, clever

38 August 2013

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl • Adapted by David Greig • Music by Marc Shaiman • Directed by Sam Mendes • Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London WC2B 6JF Reviewed by Peter Lawler use of cinematic projection, and a delightful use of space (the golden ticket winners are broadcast through a giant television that fills up the stage with actors inside watched by the Bucket family).

There is even good old-fashioned theatrical sleight of hand with wonderfully well-executed Oompa Loompas, whose foreshortened limbs skirt the right side of postmodern kitsch, so deliciously endearing when onstage that we suspend disbelief to revel in Mark Thompson’s witty costuming. In fact it is Thompson’s set design that envelops us so imaginatively and adds so much wonder to the show. It richly evokes the poverty of Charlie and his family in their ramshackle home

by the dump, the grandparents’ bed forming the narrative focal point of the first half of the play.

The touching dynamic between Charlie and his family, especially the warmth between him and Nigel Planer’s lovable Grandpa Joe, gives this play heart and firmly invests us emotionally in the eponymous little boy – played with heart-melting innocence and spark by Isaac Rouse on the night we saw it – and his story, so much so that there are tears of joy when he finally gets his ticket into the factory, that he has finally got his due reward. Alas, the songs, at least in the first half, are layered, enjoyable, and full-bodied, but lean dangerously towards treacly schmaltz.

By intermission we are more than ready for the sharp wit and charisma of Douglas Hodge’s exuberant Wonka, and what a wonder of giddy genius and larger-than-life presence Hodge brings to the role, exhibiting not only a contagious joy, but also a surprising vulnerability. Little touches like the shy, fearful looks he begins to give the audience as he enters in the second half conducting the orchestra, demonstrate the intelligence of an actor who can engender trust, suspicion, and sympathy adeptly in the same moment, all with a dash of charm.

The music picks up momentum in the second half, as does the excitement. Wonka’s helpers leave us craving just one more moment of their hilarious and justice-exacting mischief. The bliss we feel for, and with, Charlie at the end might only be topped by amazement at the magic by which Hodge’s character departs, elevating him to a folkloric figure of myth, solidifying this piece of musical theater as a kaleidoscopic extravaganza that manages to still touch the soul.

The American

T

he Boston Ballet returned to London after a 30 year break to start their 50th Anniversary tour with two programmes, performed on separate nights from July 3 to 7.

If you were lucky enough to catch it, their programmes were well constructed; a large company with considerable athleticism and enthusiasm, ten principal dancers and fifteen soloists made both programmes a night to remember.

Programme One opened with Balanchine’s first dancepiece created in the United States as Artistic Director to the newly formed Boston Ballet, Serenade (1934). Set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, it is alternately an expression of sadness and hope – the spirit of American émigrés.

The curtain rising to rows of diaphanously-skirted ballerinas in pale blue against a dark blue moonlit background was stunning and prompted applause. The Corps’ synchronicity of movement was good, although elegant footwork was occasionally sacrificed due to the brisk pace, and an occasional port de bras was more earnest than ephemeral.

But the choreography shone through to a magical piece, with a strong Corps and fine performances by the soloists, denoted by simple twinkling diamond stud earrings. Kathleen Breen Combes’ dance was particularly elegant and meaningful.

Next came a faithful reproduction, down to the original set and costumes, of Nijinsky’s L’Après Midi d’un Faune (1912) for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, set to Debussy’s eponymous prélude. Both were inspired by the poem L’après-midi d’un faune

by Stéphane Mallarmé. Considered one of the first modern ballets, this quirky, haunting, sensuous ‘moving frieze’, inspired by the nymphs and

Corina Gill, Misa Kuranaga, and Shelby Elsbree of the Boston Ballet ©THE GEORGE BALANCHINE TRUST. PHOTO BY GENE SCHIAVONE

Boston Ballet fauns of ancient pottery, was shocking in its time. It lacked oomph, but was a thrill to see live, and Altan Dugaraa’s faun was a strong, exotic and slightly scary animal, although I think the nymphs would have been ‘nymphier’ unshod, as in the 1912 performance.

Plan to B (2004), by resident choreographer Jorma Elo, was an energetic fourteen minute workout of bees communicating, as bees do, inside the hive. With waggle dances and competing queens, this was perfect for this company of enthusiastic, athletic dancers. Jeffrey Cirio excelled in this (he can jump so high, so often!) and the next piece.

Finishing with the last ballet Balanchine devised, Symphony in Three Movements (1972) is danced to Stravinsky’s music of the same name, (Stravinsky suggested Balanchine devise a dance to it way back in WWII). This work is 1970s New York: young Americans, children of those émigrés, who bustle to work, hustle,

London Coliseum (reviewed July 3, 2013) Reviewed by Sabrina P Sully

cheerlead, meet and fall in love, but above all are one nation, all with the verve and energy that only Americans have, and this American company come up trumps. The males made their entrance with such a perfection of Élévation they resembled gazelles in flight. The synchronicity of the choreography, enthusiasm, energy and sheer depth of the Corps, Leaders and Principals onstage, was impressive.

Needless to say, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, tucked under the apron and conducted by Boston Ballet Music Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan McPhee, played faultlessly and divinely throughout.

Mikko Nissinen (Artistic Director) has certainly forged The Boston Ballet into a strong, world-class company, packed with young talent. A truly magical evening to remember.

August 2013 39

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Private Lives

By Noël Coward • Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6AR www.privateliveswestend.com • Reviewed by Tim Baros

T

he play Private Lives has more lives than a cat. Written by Noël Coward in the 1920s, it had its first stage production at London’s Phoenix Theatre in 1930 to rave reviews, and starred Coward, Gertrude Lawrence, Adrianne Allen and Laurence Olivier. The next year it hit Broadway. Here we are, 83 years later and Private Lives is still a hit!

The story is actually a very simple one. Newlyweds Elyot and Sibyl (Toby Stephens and Anna-Louise Plowman) are on a hotel balcony in Deauville talking about their new future together and discussing Elyot’s previous marriage. In the room next door, Amanda and Victor (Anna Chancellor and Anthony Calf), also newlyweds, are enjoying one of their first nights together. Separated on the balcony by just a small partition, Elyot and Amanda used to be married - apparently a very volatile relationship.

Anna Chancellor and Toby Stephens PHOTO © JOHAN PERSSON

40 August 2013

After arguing with their respective partners over very minor matters, Amanda spots Elyot on his balcony. Coy, shy and nervous at first, before long Amanda jumps over the partition to be with him. They drink, reminisce, have a few laughs, and decide to run off together to Paris where Amanda has a flat. Honeymooners all over again, loving, laughing, then arguing and fighting with each other, just as they did when they were previously married. With Sybil and Victor turning up, who is going to end up with whom?

Considering Private Lives has played in the West End a couple times in the past 13 years (most recently at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2010, starring Kim Cattrall and Matthew Macfadyen), this version of the play, a transfer from the Chichester, has opened to rave reviews and will be talked about for years to come.

Chancellor upstages everyone in the cast: she can tell a joke, pout and erupt in a big laugh when necessary, and dance and flail her arms memorably. Her chemistry with Stephens is palpable, and makes it believable that she could fall in love with him all over again. Her eyes flutter, her gowns (and robe) drape over her like the star she is.

Stephens is able, somewhat, to keep up with her, credible firstly as the man whose second wife is seven years younger than him, then falling back in love with his ex-wife, smouldering in one moment and then vile the next. Calf and Plowman are second fiddles to the main two actors.

They are solid enough, but this is Chancellor’s show, and they know it.

The set design, by Anthony Ward, is luscious. The balcony in the first act is gorgeous, and when the play switches to the Paris flat, we see classic French style, from the checkerboard floor to the paintings on the wall, very detailed and lovely to look at. Director Jonathan Kent couldn’t have gotten better performances from his cast, and the script is funny, witty, dramatic – all you could ask for in a Noël Coward play. Chancellor’s performance is terrific.

The American

FENCES Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5LA

‘Actor’s Corner’ visits the theater, as James Carroll Jordan and Maxine Howe go fencing...

I

saw August Wilson’s Pulitzerwinning Fences alongside dining reviewer Virginia Schultz’s sidekick Maxine Howe and I completely loved it, especially Lenny Henry’s staggering performance. Maybe the way to true stardom is via standup (...I think I may do a bit of standup and see what happens to my career).

Now, as loyal readers of my ‘Actor’s Corner’ column may know, I have problems with theater seating.

It shows just how impressive Fences was that I happily sat through the whole two and three quarter hours with rapt attention. It did help that a running theme was baseball, which I just love even more than theater (I just have more of a talent for theater than I did for baseball).

Max and I were worried before the show if Wilson’s play would hold up as strongly as it did thirty-some years ago. Over drinks afterwards, we agreed it did. It could have used some judicial trims, but I still loved it. Commented Max: “The ‘Everyman’ hero so disappointed with what ‘curved balls’ have been sadly thrown at him – and beautifully brought to life by Lenny Henry – was magnificent. He lived, breathed and drank in the role of Troy.” ...by now, Max was on a roll... “The rest of the cast were nicely in tune with Lenny. Bono, his best buddy, in the garbage truck and out of it is a wonderful rhythmic foil.

Warm, engaging, and he understands more than most of the family.”

Although Colin McFarlane as Bono was an obviously fine actor, I somehow found him a bit too “Amos and Andy-ish” for my taste.

Maybe the director allowed brush strokes just a bit too big and broad for complete believability.

“Tanya Moodie, playing Troy’s loyal wife, holding the marriage together is excellent,” continued Max, “...and I just loved the little girl” (Tranae Sinclair the night we saw it).

While Max also appreciated the two brothers played by Peter Bankole and Ashely Zhangazha I have to say I thought Zhangazha (young Cory) mugged a bit too much for my taste.

Again I blame the direction. I feel Paulette Randall needed to reign pretty much everybody in a bit closer to reality ...except Lenny who was spot on.

The parallel themes of a failed baseball career and ending up a garbage man with a very low ceiling for advancement are adeptly handled by the playwright, giving ample reason for Troy’s angers and frustrations with himself and his life, taking it all out on his youngest son Cory. Wilson also makes it very clear Troy’s extracurricular activities, which eventually bring about his downfall, are self-inflicted.

Max approved of the folksy, shabby set with the hot ‘Southern’ (actually Pennsylvanian) sun, but

Lenny Henry and Tanya Moodie PHOTO © NOBBY CLARK

couldn’t figure out why they were making a fence when the house was obviously surrounded by a large brick wall. I pointed out that those brick walls were actually the outside walls of the Duchess Theatre.

Max had one reservation: “I wasn’t happy with the choice in music. Oh, how I longed for some of the black soul music of the ’50s? All those soulful, sexy songs that got us through the hazy days and the dripping hot nights before air-conditioning.”

“Anything else Max?” I asked drily.

“Yes! I would have liked to see Troy and Bono, coming home, filthy and sweaty from garbage collecting and, through the dense long speechy dialogue, to see a rusty old shower at the side of the old cottage and for Troy to strip down to his fruit of the loon knickers to shower off before going into Rose’s tidy home ... OK stripped to the waist then. It would make a homely touch. But then I am not the director” sighed Max. I silently thanked the Gods of Theater for that. Maybe the direction wasn’t so bad after all. At the end of the evening, as they called time at the pub we concluded it was fabulous and well worth seeing.

August 2013 41

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STEPHEN CAMPBELL MOORE The actor currently winning plaudits for his role in Chimerica talks to The American about being an Englishman playing an American in a play about China

PHOTO © JOHAN PERSSON

C

42 August 2013

himerica, which premiered last month at the Almeida Theatre is based on ‘Joe’ the young photojournalist (in reality it was a group of them) who took the iconic image of the lone protestor who stopped a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square armed only with shopping bags. It follows him, 20 years later, as he tries to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film. Directed by Lyndsey Turner, it has been acclaimed by critics and audiences and it transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End on August 6 for a limited eleven week run (booking to October 19).

Stephen Campbell Moore plays the central character, an American photographer. But Stephen’s English, and so is the playwright.

How does it work?

“Chimerica is written by Lucy Kirkwood, a girl from Hackney, East London. Half the characters are American and the other half from mainland China, so Lucy’s certainly put herself out there.

But if I’d read the script without knowing it, I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t by an American. Lucy is so highly researched, her choice of language and

style really hit the nail on the head.

“I’ve done plenty of West End productions but there’s something more exciting about taking a new play meant for a six week run somewhere like the Almeida and transferring to the West End. “Sonia Friedman, a great producer, saw one of our Saturday matinees and decided she had to give it a further life. And she does take risks, she did Jerusalem for the West End. It’s a complex thriller, and she saw that it was incredibly entertaining as well. I’ve rarely been in a play I’ve been so excited about. It could easily go to New York, but probably not with the original cast – it would be a bit like doing an Oscar Wilde with an all-American cast here, not wholly unacceptable, but unlikely.”

Having said that, Stephen has form in taking a play across the Atlantic to the US. He was Irwin in the original West End production of The History Boys which, unusually, transferred to Broadway with the full cast although, as he points out, they were all British characters. (He also went with the production to Australia and Hong Kong.)

How historically accurate is Chimerica? For example, is there a real Joe? “There were about five photographers who took very similar photos from the same hotel,” Stephen explains. “I think it was Jeff Widener who took the one that won the awards. But I don’t think Lucy was fusing particular characters together, she was imagining a young

The American

man taking his first photographs for an imaginary New York newspaper, then seeing him 20 years later. You realise that in that time he’s never achieved anything of the sort again, his life’s in a different place, and he feels quite down about the amount that photography can change things. Lucy did a lot of research into the relationship between photojournalists and their work, the guilt and ethics involved. She also doesn’t shy away from technological progress, the way iPhones and all those things can make specialist writers and photographers feel redundant and have to search for new ways to present their work that will give it credence.”

How natural did Stephen find the American accent he needed for the role?

“I’m not a method actor – most British actors aren’t – but I work on the accent to make it credible.

It’s mid-West. I have done a lot of American before, two of the last three plays I’ve done are Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris which is set in Chicago. I have a dialect coach who points out anything that isn’t right, and in a play you have people in every night from the US who soon set you right! I like meeting people after the performance and Chimerica is a good piece to talk about, because it throws up so many ideas.

There are not a lot of things which are tied up in a neat bow at the end.

It’s basically a thriller and a mystery but there are a lot of contemporary subjects, like China and its economic interdependence with America, the multi-platform changes in media and how that affects reporting and journalism... We have Q&A sessions and we’ve had people from mainland China who were shocked at the representation of their country, and

THEATER PREVIEWS The Sound of Music Regents Park Open Air Theatre www.openairtheatre.com July 25 – September 7

Stephen Campbell Moore in Chimerica PHOTO © JOHAN PERSSON

Americans who have had criticisms, but that’s OK. “People who don’t often go to the theater seem to enjoy Chimerica because it has a filmic structure.

There are 41 scenes and an extraordinary cube design which rotates and has sliding doors and video projections. You can have snapshot scenes which move quickly from Beijing to New York, and it’s all seamless. Lucy is well versed in film and, combined with fantastically penned language, it works for a non-theatrical audience, especially in the West End, where people are not used to going to anything that isn’t a musical. It’s great being in something that’s not a safe option, but is still entertaining.”

Read the extended interview at www. theamerican.co.uk in which Stephen talks about West End time-warps, safe options, the difference between film and stage acting, working with Richard Griffiths in The History Boys, audiences in different countries (UK v US, Australia v England), and why not being a born actor can help with choosing better parts.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s timeless musical of The Trapp Family Singers may lack ev’ry mountain to climb in Regent’s Park, but the Open Air Theatre is an ideal venue for breezing through a full cast performance of Do-Re-Mi, My Favourite Things, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Edelweiss and more.

With Olivier Award-nominated Michael Xavier as Captain Von Trapp and Charlotte Wakefield (Mamma Mia, West End) as Maria.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, London www.barmybritain.com August 7 – September 1 (Part 1) and September 26 – January 5 (Part 2) Terry Deary and Neal Foster’s histories of Britain – including the nasty bits, for more fun – are a great way to trick the children into enjoying history, with new songs and sketches, and a new second installment. Could you beat battling Boudicca, has William Wallace met his match, and can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Based on the massively popular series of books.

Horrible Histories: Move to the groove with party Queen Victoria

August 2013 43

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Grounded The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh EH1 2ED, during the Festival, August 1-25 Then above The Prince Albert Pub, 11 Pembridge Road, London, W11 3HQ August 28 – September 21 www.gatetheatre.co.uk The tiny Gate Theatre begins a series of award-winning US plays – These American Lives – with Grounded by George Brant, an examination of our assumptions abour war, family and motherhood, in which a female F-16 fighter pilot tries to balance switching to controlling Reaper Drones over Pakistan, whilst trying to retain her identity as a wife and mother.

A Boy and His Soul Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR www.tricycle.co.uk September 4-21 Written by and starring Tony-nominated Colman Domingo, A Boy and his Soul recounts ‘70s and ‘80s Philadelphia, memories of youth, and the soundtrack to a life. To the backdrop of smooth R&B – Aretha, Marvin, Gladys – a coming of age tale which won the Lucille Lortel Award (Best Solo

Show), GLAAD Media Award (Best Play On or Off Broadway) and ITBA (Best Solo Show) as an Off-Broadway production. UK premiere. (Interview next month and online.)

The Butterfly Lion (Tour) Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester CO1 1PT August 30 – September 14 www.kenwright.com Gwen Taylor (Driving Miss Daisy, 2012 UK tour) stars in a tale of enduring friendship and a lost white lion in the latest stage adaptation of a book

by Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse. The tour begins in Colchester, with confirmed venues as far north and south as Glasgow and Brighton.

Theater Round-up

Antony Sher is once again Sigmund Freud alongside Tamzin Outhwaite in the Hampstead Theatre’s revival of ingenious farce Hysteria, a hit last year at the Theatre Royal Bath (www.hampsteadtheatre.com) ...

Bath itself has Richard Wilson (TV’s One Foot in the Grave) and Richard McCabe in an adaptation of Georges Feydeau’s farce A Little Hotel On The Side, directed by Lindsay Posner (The Winslow Boy, Noises Off) and Cal McCrystal (www. theatreroyal.org.uk)

Colman Domingo stars in A Boy and his Soul.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KYLE ZIMMERMAN. DESIGN

BY ROGERS ECKERSLEY DESIGN. COURTESY OF VINEYARD THEATRE.

44 August 2013

... The National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre has a contemporary take on Christopher Marlowe’s magnificent, erotic and violent 16th century play Edward II, about a king who toys with domain and favors while his enemies gather and plot (August 28 – October 26, www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) ... William M Hoffman’s Pulitzer-nominated story of 1980s AIDS angst, As Is, gets its first London production in more than 25 years at the bijou Finborough Theatre from August 6-31 (www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk) ... Had an accident at work?

The Same Deep Water As Me, a new play by Nick ‘Constellations’ Payne about deceit in the office of personal injury lawyers debuts at The Donmar Warehouse August 1 to September 28 (www.donmarwarehouse.com) ...

The Pitmen Painters UK Tour reaches Oxford, Richmond and Swansea this month (www.kenwright.com) ... Hayley Atwell (Captain America, The Duchess) and Mathew Horne (Charley’s Aunt, TV’s Gavin and Stacey) star in the multi-award-winning tale of sexual liberation The Pride, part of Trafalgar Transformed (August 8 – November 9 www.thepridewestend.com)... Following a successful West End run, the UK tour of Cabaret opens August 28 at the New Wimbledon Theatre with pop star Will Young as Emcee (www.kenwright.com).

The American

BOOK REVIEWS Natural Causes / The Book of Souls

By James Oswald Both Penguin Paperback, £7.99 440 pages / 448 pages ISBN: 9781405913140 / 9781405913164 If, like me, you enjoyed Ian Rankin’s Rebus books, here’s another Edinburgh cop thriller series to delight you. The author is a farmer in Fife, Scotland, who self-published these as e-books, and Penguin have brought him to the print audience.

In Natural Causes we’re introduced to newly promoted Detective Inspector Tony McLean, who has a baffling case – a young girl’s mutilated, mummified body is discovered in a sealed room in a vacant property. The body’s been carefully and ritually arranged, yet the horrific murder seems to date back over 60 years. With little to go on, the case nags at him, while he is plunged into a series of bloody and high profile killings that are happening now. Add to that he has to deal with the death of his beloved Gran, who brought him up from age four, after the death of his parents. Gradually he unravels both cases, despite difficulties with colleagues and a step into the supernatural.

DI McLean is a character with plenty of history & mystery. The book is well written: other characters are well-drawn too; and detail isn’t sacrificed as the plot drives forward, with many twists and turns. A real page-turner and a great read.

The sequel, The Book of Souls, has just come out (July 4). It follows up a story touched on in Natural Causes: the murder of DI McLean’s girlfriend

twelve years ago. She was thought to be the last victim of a serial killer who every tenth Christmas killed a girl in Edinburgh, and whom McLean subsequently caught. The killer is murdered in prison. Yet at Christmas there is another body with a similar M.O. Is this a copycat to The Christmas Killer, did McLean nail the wrong guy, or is it something more sinister?

This book is as good, or maybe better. Do read them in order though, for the full effect. The third title The Hangman’s Song, will be out in 2014.

– Sabrina Sully I can’t wait!

Jazz. New York in the Roaring Twenties Designed, illustrated and edited by Robert Nippoldt with texts by Hans-Jürgen Schaal Taschen, Hardcover +CD, 144 pages, £34.99 In the 1920s, Jazz transported from New Orleans to Chicago and eventually on to New York City. Black Jazz musicians from the South had joined African Americans who traveled north seeking work, especially after New Orleans’ red-light district was shut down in 1917 and jobs were scarce. Well-known band leader Paul Whiteman had refused to hire blacks and although it was known first as Jass and then Jazz, it was played mainly by white men and there was little musical resemblance to

what we now know as Jazz. Harlem, however, was developing its own music scene; soon white fans were making their way there and clubs like the Cotton Club were catering to a mixed audience. Everyone from Ethel Waters, Florence Mills, debutantes, businessmen, police officers and mechanics, all in black tie, were traveling to Harlem to check out this music scene everyone was talking about. No longer did black Americans only shine as musicians, singers and dancers but with talented writers and painters – Harlem was becoming known as the Black Paris.

Artist Robert Nippoldt and Jazz expert Hans-Jürgen Schaal bring to life the stories of 24 of the top Jazz musicians then working in NYC during the roaring twenties. For anyone interested in Jazz, this is a bible of fascinating facts, anecdotes and a history of music that was and is pure American, an insight into the musical images of the Jazz greats: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Ethel Waters, Glenn Miller and Louis Armstrong to name just four. I found myself reading it over several weeks, all the time listening to the accompanying CD of original recordings. It is a feast for the eyes and ears and a book that can be enjoyed even by those like myself who have no musical talent.

Highly recommended.

– Virginia E Schultz

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Vūhl 05 Attacks Road & Track

W

hile the VW XL1 (right) was wowing onlookers with its high tech frugality, the nearby Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall saw another kind of extreme automotive futurism.

The Mexico City/Detroit-based design agency, ETXE, owned by Guillermo Jr. and Iker Echeverria (sons of a Mexican professional driver) are the designers of the Vūhl 05, a lightweight supercar for road and track in the same vein as the Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow. The 05’s monocoque weighs a mere 78kg, the whole car 695kg.

The chassis utilizes aerospace technology – aluminum extrusions and aluminum honeycomb – for a high level of torsional rigidity. The standard body is reinforced plastic, but carbon fiber is an option, and racecar-style aerodynamics include a flat underbody, front and lateral splitters, rear diffuser and rear spoiler.

It may only boast a 2-liter Ford EcoBoost engine, but its 285bhp gives 400bhp per tonne which, with 310 lb-ft of torque, results in a 0-62mph time of 3.7 sec and a top speed of 152mph.

Pricing start from around £55,000 (plus taxes and shipping), and initial sales will be in the UK and North America only. Delivery begins in spring 2014.

46 August 2013

DRIVE TIME

London Gets Futurized V

olkswagen’s futuristic XL1, the world’s most fuel-efficient production hybrid car, took to the streets of London recently. Even amid the smart cars, Leafs and G-Whizzes the diesel-electric hybrid turned heads (search for ‘The Volkswagen XL1 in London’ on YouTube). Apart from looking suitably ‘space-age’ its white carbon fiber body stood out against the traditional black cabs and red double-decker buses in the bright London sunshine.

One XL1 drove over Westminster Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace where it joined the Queen’s Coronation Festival. A second went to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and attacked the famous hill climb.

While the XL1 looks like the future, it is already in limited production. It achieves its 313 mpg and 21 g/km CO2 by allying super-efficient aerodynamics to high technology in which a two-cylinder 800 cc diesel engine is paired with an electric motor. The low (50 inch high) ‘tear drop’ shape uses innovations like cameras called e-Mirrors which transmit exterior images to interior displays, rather than wing mirrors that stick out into the breeze, ruining the airflow.

Gladstone Visits Salon Privé

S

alon Privé is London’s premier upmarket motoring event.

Upmarket? It’s held on the lawns of the spectacular stately home, Syon Park, and the entry includes Pommery Champagne, lobster luncheon, afternoon tea and access to all areas.

“Quite simply where else would you want to launch an exclusive, hand built, new British motorcycle brand?” asks Henry Cole, bike enthusiast and genial presenter of twowheeled TV shows like World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides (Travel Channel Worldwide) and ITV4’s The Motorbike Show. He’s talking about his new venture, Gladstone Motorcycles, the first new bespoke British motorcycle manufacturer since Hesketh in 1984.

Cole has named his firm after his great-great-uncle, William Gladstone, the British Prime Minister in Victorian times and he intends to produce limited runs of hand-built motorcycles like The Gladstone No. 1, a Métisse framed, Triumph powered, ‘Bobber’ of which only nine will be made.

He’s also launching a bicycle and a collection of Gladstone clothing and accessories including jackets, gloves, helmets, goggles and tweed caps.

Eagle Eyed Summer’s here, the fairways are calling... so begins the DK Tour, with some unexpected silverware for our own Darren Kilfara!

O

ne down, two to play. I’m short and to the right of the bowlshaped 17th green on the West Links at North Berwick, needing a miracle shot to extend my match. Facing an uphill lie in light rough, I choose my putter and clip the ball carefully from the turf: it bounces up and across a narrow causeway, barely stumbles over the edge, trickles slowly down a steep slope and curls to a halt three feet from the hole. The 25 or so spectators now following along applaud enthusiastically, and I instinctively wave a hand in acknowledgment like a seasoned tour pro.

And I’m thinking to myself, ‘How cool is this?’. Every year, while the PGA Tour rumbles across the US, my own personal tour bumbles around Scotland and northern England.

Britain’s golfing ethos is fundamentally competitive: unlike the USGA handicapping system, the UK system relies entirely upon scores formally signed and attested in competition, and the number and variety of tournaments anyone can enter is vast.

So, to the regular medal events at my home club of Dunbar I also add a mix of open competitions at great and good courses both local and distant.

The cost of entry is always much lower than a normal green fee, and if I play well there’s cash prizes or pro shop vouchers with which to fund future exploits. And I can redesign my itinerary every year, subject only to my sense of adventure and goodnatured negotiations with my wife.

One of the self-appointed “majors” on my tour this year was the Esmond Trophy at North Berwick, a competition I discovered this spring while leafing through a stack of tournament entry forms in the Dunbar locker room. I played my strokeplay qualifying round on a Saturday morning, and I didn’t do well: with only the top 32 net finishers advancing to matchplay, my 82 (net 78) on a fairly calm day seemed hopelessly poor. I told my wife she could make plans for Thursday evening, when the second matchplay round was scheduled; meanwhile, on the Sunday I drove up to Cruden Bay – one of my favorite courses in Scotland – for another open event, and on a windless day I failed to break 90. I hadn’t played that badly for at least a decade.

Thoroughly depressed, during my long drive home from Cruden Bay I resolved not to touch my clubs for at least a week. But at lunchtime on Monday, I checked my voicemail and discovered my first-round matchplay tie in the Esmond Trophy was that evening at 5:48. Ha! I resolved to use the faulty swing I had and not the perfect swing I wished I had…and what do you know, I started winning, and winning big: 4&2, 6&5, 4&3. Babysitters were frantically called after each victory. My wife’s congratulations came through increasingly gritted teeth.

Two weeks later, I was in the Sunday final, playing a 19-year-old local on a golf scholarship to a junior

It’s a silver salver for Darren as rival Chris Low escapes with the the Esmond Trophy at North Berwick

college in Waco, Texas. Back and forth we battled as our gallery – including the baroness who would present our trophies – steadily grew: all square with three to play, with a stroke due to me on the 16th I pushed my tee shot out of bounds. Careless and stupid. After I hit two poor shots at 17, the match looked over; then I hit my miracle putt, and at least one more hole looked assured. Alas, my three-footer was slippery and fast, and I never fully committed to the left-to-right break. My ball edged the hole and slid past, and I turned to shake my opponent’s hand. I was gutted…but as is usually the case on my competitive travels, I’d more than gotten my money’s worth.

Open Cases

Only members of golf clubs in East Lothian may enter the Esmond Trophy at North Berwick, but most of my favorite opens are open to anyone subject to certain handicap limits. You can design a great golfing holiday around any of these events I’ve entered in the past (dates and entry fees are for the 2013 season): Silloth-on-Solway – Gents Open (27 April, £28 for 36 holes) This under-visited and underappreciated linksland gem on the

August 2013 47

The American

I Above: trophy-bound Chris Low

northwest Cumbrian coast makes a great place at which to kick off the new golfing season.

Gullane No. 1 – Scratch Open (22 June, £30 for 36 holes) Gullane makes an elegant local qualifying venue when the Open Championship is at Muirfield, and on a windy day it is an incredibly demanding test of driving: last year I lost no fewer than 12 golf balls in deep rough during my first 11 holes.

The Golf House Club – Elie & Earlsferry Links Championship (10 August, £20 for 18+ holes) A thoroughly pleasant and picturesque seaside course in Fife, this open has a unique format: everyone plays 18 holes in the morning, but after a qualifying score is determined, only the best finishers make the afternoon cut.

Royal Dornoch – Carnegie Shield (11-17 August, £90 for 54+ holes) Cruden Bay – Challenge Cup (16-19 July, £50 for 72+ holes) Both of these great linksland events feature 36 holes of strokeplay, after which the best scratch and handicap golfers qualify for up to four or five rounds of matchplay; nonqualifiers may still enter consolation strokeplay competitions. (Similar events are also held in towns like St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Montrose, while Royal Dornoch and Cruden

48 August 2013

Bay each host separate one-day opens throughout the season.)

Royal Aberdeen – Men’s Open (22 September, £50 for 18 holes) What better way to wind down your season than at the site of next year’s Scottish Open (and the 2005 British Senior Open)? Good September weather cannot be guaranteed, but Royal Aberdeen remains very playable in any conditions, and its magical front nine is among the great duneland tests in the world.

Nike Golf Matchplay Championship (June to September – £25 to enter) A UK-wide competition. In summary, four local matchplay (net) rounds are followed by a regional stableford final, with each regional winner getting a free trip to the Algarve for the 72-hole Grand Final in January. www.matchplay.co.uk.

My list is Scotland-centric as I live here, but many other great courses across the UK and Ireland host similar open events for individuals and pairs. If you like competitive golf and are interested in playing a particular course, a little online research can yield large rewards.

Darren Kilfara formerly worked for Golf Digest magazine and is the author of A Golfer’s Education, a memoir of his junior year abroad as a student-golfer at the University of St. Andrews.

t was the NBA Draft nobody wanted to grade because there were no blue chippers, no franchise saviours, no era kick-starters. They said trade action might be limited because next year’s class is the one and nobody wanted to gamble with next year’s picks. So, a bunch o’ bums, huh? Not quite. Just a class of raw talent, projects, investments, and somewhere in there, down-the-road champions.

And as for a quiet day for trades... did anybody end up with the guys they took? First though, to defy and define the day, that one big trade...

Celtics and Nets in KG Trade

Danny Ainge officially blew up the Celtics. Kevin Garnett could have invoked a no-trade clause in his contract, but it is now official. They may as well have just house-swapped between Boston and Brooklyn, there were that many players on the move.

To Brooklyn: Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and DJ White. To Boston: Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks and Kris Joseph, and first round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 (with an additional option for the Celtics to swap 2017 first round picks). Ainge continues to reiterate that the Celtics are not interested in trading Rajon Rondo, who is recovering from a torn ACL, but considering the draft-day drama, it’s hard to believe they’re not listening to offers.

Nerlens Noel a no-no at No.1

It wasn’t that grand a slide for Kentucky’s spindly center Nerlens Noel, but after weeks of media salivation that he would go first overall, going sixth (“I’m just happy to be with the Pelicans”) – and then being traded – didn’t impress him much. “I’m going to make them pay” he said of the teams that passed on him. The New

The American

Next best or next bust?

A glance back at the headlines from this year’s NBA Draft

Anthony Bennett surprise No.1

Another former presumed top pick, Cody Zeller of Indiana, went to the once and future Hornets of Charlotte (presently still bobbing along as Bobcats). The actual draft day No.1 was a stunner of the kind the NFL Draft just wished it had for its hype: Anthony Bennett of UNLV. The Cavaliers landed the power forward on the basis of athleticism, rebounds and upside, though his weight and defensive skills are of a caliber that certainly wouldn’t have had the Canadian in the top spot most years. He has mismatch appeal, but he could just as easily prove to be a tweener who rides the pine more often than he’s treading the boards.

But it was that kind of draft class.

T-Wolves Trade Burke to Jazz

One of the more interesting trades of a trigger-happy draft was Minnesota selecting and then trading point guard Trey Burke of Michigan, in exchange for picks 14 and 21, which the T-Wolves used on falling SF Shabazz Muhammad and C Gorgui Dieng. The three players represent starkly different positions on the risk-rewards spectrum. Burke was about as sure a thing as there is in this crowd, a playmaker who would have been top-5 if the measurables didn’t match everything he’s shown.

Dieng showed enough defensive

presence late in the season to justify his selection as an early contributor, and solid starter at both ends given time. Muhammad can sure score, but he needs a lot of work at passing and can be a tactical cul-de-sac. It was revealed in March that he’s a year older than previously claimed, and according to Nate Sandell of 1500ESPN.com, when Muhammad asked for jersey No. 15 and didn’t get it, he opted for No. 0 because ‘Nobody wears zero in the league’. Well, about fifteen of them. Marching to another drum?

So... Winners and Losers?

We smile on activity. Short-term we love the big trade for the Nets, and the selection of Duke center Mason Plumlee was super-solid in a year of dice rolling. Long-term we’ll also sign off on the Celtics, tentatively, though Boston fans will be sobbing in their basements. The Pelicans passed on Noel and gave away a 2014 first rounder, so it takes a sharp intake of breath before saying that Jrue Holiday was worth the cost.

They’ll have to prove that one. The Trailblazers taking CJ McCollum at 10 and Allen Crabbe at the top of Round 2 was a master class in value, and the Bulls class of SG Tony Snell and PF Erik Murphy, while not headliners, answered needs adeptly – Chicago’s a canny organization. Conversely, after tripping into Cody Zeller at pick 4, the Bobcats may have wasted a pick on token big Byron Mullens.

Who were the best and who were the busts is something time will tell.

PHOTO COURTESY OF U-M PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS

Orleans Pelicans (formerly Hornets) traded Noel and a 2014 first round pick for two point guards, 76ers veteran Jrue Holiday and this year’s 42nd pick Pierre Jackson of Baylor.

One of the NBA Draft’s Safer picks, Trey Burke

August 2013 49

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Maka Unufe in training, and (inset) USA Club Rugby Director, Jim Snyder

USA Rugby 7s

PHOTOS: USA RUGBY

Ahead of the World Rugby 7s tournament at Twickenham, we chat to USA Club Rugby’s Director, Jim Snyder

O

lympic Rugby is back for 2016, the first time since 1924 when the USA won gold. In those days, it was the 15-man version, but the ‘7s’ version of the game, played at lightning speed, is now the Olympic form. The inaugural World Club 7s tournament is played this month at the 80,000-seat Twickenham Stadium, London, and teams from New York and San Francisco will be there. We asked Jim Snyder, Director of USA Club Rugby, about rugby’s resurgence both at the Olympics and in the United States.

“The readmission of rugby into the Olympics can’t be understated for America. Olympic athletes are held in a real special place in American hearts and now that our rugby players are Olympic athletes, it’s changed things significantly... it’s going to be a game changer for us.

“We were having very strong growth in the sport just through good quality grass roots efforts, but what we’re seeing is that with the inclusion of 7s in the Olympics it’s taken that growth curve and spiked it upwards just because of the additional interest, from the general sporting population all the way

50 August 2013

through to sponsorship partners and broadcast partners.”

Over 1000 US colleges now have rugby teams. How are those programs able to attract and retain talent that might otherwise be skimmed off by football?

“In those 1000-plus collegiate rugby programs there’s everything from highly professionalized varsity programs right down to purely social.

One of the ways they’re able to lure athletes outside of the natural appeal of rugby is that a lot of the sports at the university level are really elite and exclusionary – there’s caps on roster sizes, so sometimes there’s no room in these other sports and sometimes what we’re seeing now is that a good athlete just chooses rugby because they enjoy it more.”

There seems little correlation between which schools are big in football and which are big in rugby.

“It may be just the opposite, that there are universities that in place of putting resources into the football team, their football team isn’t very strong or they don’t have one, so they’ll put more resources into their rugby program. Some of the universities that have very strong football

and basketball programs don’t have the depth and breadth of administration and finances to also fund a strong rugby program.”

Are the top level US Rugby players rugby-raised or converts from other sports? “I would say the majority will be rugby-raised to this point. There’s a couple of guys – Carlin Isles is the most visible example of a recent crossover – but the majority of the roster are raised, which is a good sign.

The youth development, the grass roots programs that were launched 10 years ago are starting to bear fruit.”

The TV networks seem genuinely enthusiastic for Rugby: NBC’s coverage of the Club Rugby Championships (CRC) outdrew Men’s Lacrosse, and BT Sport will be covering the World Rugby 7s. Is this the 21st century form of rugby, the way 20/20 may be for cricket?

“Its a raging debate here in rugby circles as to if that’s good for 15s or not, but I think it’s undeniable that the commercial viability of 7s – the brevity of the games and the ability to include commercial stoppages – answer concerns for those broadcasters in their business models. Until 15s grabs hold of a massive market share in the US, 7s allows broadcasters to air a sport that’s exciting and new with seemingly less risk. So it’s already started to take off with the USA Las Vegas round of the HSBC 7s series and with the CRC and the USA Rugby 7s championship there’s going to be more and more 7s series to see, especially if the US teams qualify for the Olympics.”

Is USA Rugby shaping for medals at Rio 2016? “Our [qualification] pathway is through Argentina and Canada, likely with that second spot being either US or Canada. Anything less than a medal for the women at this point would be disappointing,

Is women’s rugby gearing up for world domination and a varsity explosion? Read more of our interview with Jim Snyder online: www.theamerican.co.uk

World Club 7s

PHOTO: GARY BA

because our women’s program has been strong the last couple of years.”

Will the World Club 7s tournament ‘reveal all’ on US progress versus other nations? “I’m hoping it will reveal we’re stepping in the right direction. If we have a good showing, we’ll know that the moves we’re making are working.”

Who are some of the players US fans should be keeping their eyes on at Twickenham? “Carlin Isles is electric to watch. When he’s on the field you won’t miss him because he’s going to be the fastest guy out there. Danny Barrett, a University of California product, is just an all around wonderful rugby player, he’s dynamic and it’ll be fun to watch him taking his first steps at the next level. Maka Unufe – we picked him up out of an U19 tournament where he really was the driving force taking his team to the final and that was at 17 so we fast tracked him into the residency program. His upside is tremendous.”

What can we expect at the World Club 7s Tournament at Twickenham?

“Arguably the best sporting event that you can go to is a 7s tournament.

The turnover of the matches and the pace at which the game is played, you can sit there for two straight days and not get bored for one minute because if a game gets lopsided or it’s two teams that you don’t have an interest for, 15 minutes and that one’s over and two more teams take the field. You can sit and be pretty much on the edge of your seat the whole time. You certainly won’t be bored and you certainly won’t regret it.”

WIN TICKETS to the J

oin New York City 7s and San Francisco Golden Gate RFC at fabled Twickenham Stadium in the inaugural World Club 7s Tournament, courtesy of The American.

Five pairs of tickets are up for grabs as Twickenham, southwest London, hosts a major new 7s tournament this August.

The new World Club 7s brings together, for the first time, some of the biggest names in club and provincial rugby from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, together with some of the emerging names in the 7s game. There will be a family friendly, summer carnival atmosphere.

The 12 teams competing in the inaugural tournament August 17-18, 2013 at Twickenham Stadium will include top Aviva Premiership Teams Harlequins and Northampton Saints as well as the winners from early August’s J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Final. Other countries sending topflight teams include South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and Argentina, as the established and emerging rugby worlds meet.

Follow World Club 7s on: www.worldclub7srugby.com or www.facebook.com/WorldClub7s or Twitter @WorldClub7s

For those not lucky enough to win, 2 for 1 weekend and daily tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk Ticketmaster: 0844 847 2492

KER

The American

Twickenham August 17-18

To be in with a chance of winning two tickets simply answer the following question: What is the nickname of the USA 7s National Team?

HOW TO ENTER: Email your answer and contact details (name, address, daytime and mobile phone number) to WC7scompetition@theamerican. co.uk with RUGBY 7s in the subject line; or send a postcard to: RUGBY 7s COMPETITION, The American, Old Byre House, Millbrook Lane, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK; to arrive by mid-day August 12.

Winners will be the first 5 correct entries drawn at random. You must be 18 years old or over to enter this competition. Only one entry per person per draw. The editor’s decision is final. Terms and conditions: Tickets valid for selected performances (exclusions will apply). Subject to availability. No cash alternative. Non transferable. Additional expenses are the responsibility of the prize winner. Promoter reserves the right to exchange all or part of the prize to that of equal or greater value.

August 2013 51

The American

By Jeremy Lanaway

T

he NHL thrills fans, year in and year out, with its unpredictability, and its latest Entry Draft offering at the Prudential Center upheld the tradition with its own deviation from the script. It provided unexpected chutes and ladders in the draft order of arguably the most talented crop of prospects in a decade, and even a last-minute trade involving – and most would agree, improving – the host team, the New Jersey Devils.

What else would you expect from the NHL’s annual auction?

The Avalanche, winners of the top pick in the lottery, fulfilled their promise of passing on top-ranked US defenseman Seth Jones in favour of Canadian centreman Nathan MacKinnon, who spent last season leading the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Halifax Mooseheads to a Memorial Cup. He led the tournament with 13 points, earning himself the tournament MVP. He also scored 32 goals and amassed 43 assists in the regular season, and stood out at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

MacKinnon didn’t bother to hide his elation at being picked first. ‘I kind of blacked out for a second, but it’s so cool,’ he said. ‘[The Avalanche] have such a promising team and such good young talent, and hopefully I can be a part of that. This is unbelievable. I’m part of the Colorado Avalanche, and I can’t wait to get to training camp.’

The straying from the script continued with Florida’s selection of Finnish centerman Aleksander Barkov as the number-two pick. The 6’2”, 209-pound prospect spent last

52 August 2013

season playing for Tappara in the Finnish Elite League, where he totaled 21 goals and 27 assists in 53 games, the second-best numbers on a team filled with veterans. Barkov’s blend of size and skill had earned him the top-ranked European prospect by NHL Central Scouting.

Jones’ chute from first overall was furthered by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s selection of Canadian left-winger Jonathan Drouin at pick three. Drouin, another former Moosehead, amassed 41 goals, 64 assists in 68 regular-season games, and finished the campaign at an impressive plus-48. He became a household name in Canada last Christmas by dominating play at the World Junior Championship – despite being the youngest player on Team Canada’s talent-rich roster.

Drouin was happy to land in Tampa Bay: ‘I think it’s a good fit.

They’ve got a lot of young prospects – great older players too – and I think it’s the best fit for me.’

Jones finally landed in the fourth position, selected by Nashville. Jones, son of NBA star Ronald ‘Popeye’ Jones, tallied 14 goals and 42 assists last season, with a plus-46 rating, for the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. He also represented Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships, living up to the hype as one of the tournament’s top blueliners. The Predators, who already boast a franchise defenseman in the form of team captain Shea Weber, were surprised and ecstatic to have a chance to land Central Scouting’s top pick. ‘This is

a franchise-type player,’ Predators GM David Poile said of the 6’4”, 205pound defenseman.

‘So I really feel good about our defense right now.’

When asked to comment on his unexpected slide, Jones responded, a touch testily: ‘Yeah, well, I’m competitive – I have a competitive nature – and I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong ... to show them why they should have picked you.

That’s not my only goal next year, but it’s definitely on my list.’

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman picked up the tempo of an alreadyexciting draft by announcing that the Devils had negotiated a last-minute trade to acquire Canucks netminder Cory Schneider in exchange for their ninth pick. The crowd understood the implications of the trade, which solved their upcoming problem of having no number-one goalie if future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur retires at the end of the season, as most expect him to do – and for only a single first-round pick.

Vancouver turned that pick into centreman Bo Horvat, who has been called the most NHL-ready player in the top ten (playoff MVP in the Ontario Hockey League), and solved their long-running goalie drama by unloading Schneider and reinstalling Roberto Luongo as starter, but it’s hard to deny that the Devils did best in the exchange. Schneider is a triedand-tested starter, a perfect replacement for Brodeur, while Horvat is merely a promise of what might be.

But that’s another reason why the NHL Entry Draft makes for such compelling viewing every year — its winners and losers are open to interpretation.

AMERICA’S CUP 2013:

Catastrophy & Controversy C

ontroversy rears its head yet again for the 34th America’s Cup. After the tragic death of British Olympic sailor Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson in May during training, when Artemis Racing’s catamaran was destroyed, 37 new design and safety rules were introduced. One, requiring changes to the rudder specifications, altered the design rule just one week from the start of competition in the Louis Vuitton challenger series. The two challengers with seaworthy boats claim this will unfairly advantage the Cup defenders, the American team, who have time to make the changes and train before The America’s Cup (September 7 to 22 ).

The three official America’s Cup challengers, Team New Zealand, Swedish team Artemis Racing and Italian team Luna Rossa, are competing in the Louis Vuitton Cup (July 4 – August 30). The winner will challenge Oracle Racing (the only team

that came forward to defend the cup on behalf of the San Francisco YC) for the Cup. One of the fundamental pillars of any America’s Cup is the class rule, which is proposed by the defender and accepted by the challenger when they enter. Article 4 states changes can only be made with the unanimous consent of competitors, as has happened many times historically.

The Protocol for the 2013 Cup was issued in September 2010, and the super-fast (they can travel three times faster than the wind) 72 foot wing-sail catamarans were designed and built accordingly. Their power and speed has attracted criticism since the Protocol was announced.

With Artemis Racing’s replacement boat still being built, the two remaining challengers question whether Regatta director Murray has the authority to alter the governing documents in the name of safety

PHOTO: © ACEA / PHOTO GILLES MARTIN-RAGET

The American

when the word “safety” does not appear anywhere in the 43 page Protocol, but he claims that as he filed the 37 recommendations to gain the Coastguard’s marine event permit, they fall within Article 16 which requires teams to comply with “all applicable rules and regulations of any city, state, national or governmental authority having jurisdiction over the event or part thereof”.

An imminent ruling from adjudicators the International Sailing Federation was due as The American went to press, but what was supposed to be spectacular in-shore racing, viewable from the shore with a backdrop of The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, started with Team New Zealand processing the first race alone, Luna Rossa refusing to sail in protest at the new rules. This may well eliminate Luna Rossa, whose technical design-sharing arrangement with Team New Zealand ended in New Zealand in 2012.

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GIVE US

One Good Reason...

In the second part of our NFL 2013 season build-up, we look at 2012’s near misses and ponder which way the teams within one game of .500 are headed this time

I

Eli Manning © EVAN PINKUS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF NY GIANTS

n last season’s preview issue, Joe Flacco, Cam Newton and Jay Cutler were our poster boys for passers looking to take the next step. Flacco led the Ravens to Super Bowl glory, earning himself a massive new contract, while Newton trod water and Cutler’s Bears actually seemed to take a step back. The Panthers and Bears are right here, along with three of the four previous Super Bowl teams – the Giants, Steelers and Saints.

An ‘elite’ quarterback is no guarantee of the playoffs, it seems. So which way now for last year’s distant and not so distant contenders? Give us one good reason...

…Why the NFC East title is the New York Giants’ destiny.

Only a game behind last year, the combination of Manning and receivers Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and TE Brandon Myers (over 800 yards in 2012) adds up to arguably the best starting pass offense roster in the division.

They added RT Justin Pugh in the draft, and running back David Wilson has ‘breakout year’ written all over him. …Why a team with Eli Manning can fall flat.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul is recovering from back surgery, Justin Tuck’s best season was three years ago,

54 August 2013

and the Giants have a new-look LB corps in Mark Herzlich/Dan Conner, Jacquian Williams, and Keith Rivers/ Mathias Kiwanuka. If talent alone trumped chemistry, we’d be discussing what a great 2012 the Eagles had.

However, Head Coach Tom Coughlin does have a knack of pulling it all together down the stretch. …Why the Dallas Cowboys can win 2+ playoff games.

The Cowboys missed out by just an overtime fieldgoal last season (week 16 v the Saints), despite a rash of injuries. Still, owner Jerry Jones didn’t sit idly by, handing playcalling duties to OC Bill Callahan and replacing DC Rob Ryan with Monte Kiffin. There’s no complacency, and

The American

the hunger of young players such as the increasingly mature Dez Bryant and backfield of DeMarco Murray and Joseph Randle may signal more week-in-week-out fights than they’ve had in many years. …Why the Cowboys record may actually get worse.

Tony Romo had a career year last year, throwing for almost 5000 yards, but when the Cowboys won, they won tight and when they lost, they lost comfortably. They may suddenly have the best two-TE set in the league, but if the line doesn’t improve significantly, Romo will be flinging for fantasy glory only. Again. …Why the 49ers and Seahawks need to fear the St Louis Rams.

The Rams largely owned the NFC West last season, going 4-1-1 in divisional play, only losing to Seattle in the final moments of the final game.

With QB Sam Bradford another year wiser, they are at least a wild card contender. …Why the Rams fall short again.

In the first half of 2012, they used RB Steven Jackson sparingly, especially in a dismal October spell that included the 45-7 drubbing at Wembley. With Jackson used properly in the second half, they won four, lost four, two of those only narrowly. They were simply a better team. Jackson – the face and pace of the franchise for some years – is now in Atlanta. …Why the Carolina Panthers can contend in the NFC South.

Check the stats, Cam Newton haters: 3869 yards passing, 741 yards rushing, 27 combined TDs. And if stats aren’t everything, consider the 5-1 finish to what started as a 2-8 year.

Newton isn’t about to find the next level – he was already finding it late last year.

…Why the Panthers miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year.

The schedule. Only the Bills and Jets did worse than 7-9 last season, and they went 6-10. Carolina’s bye week is in September, so there’s simply no time for breath. It could feel like a real long haul down the stretch. …Why the New Orleans Saints bounce back from Bountygate.

The league couldn’t have shoveled more soil on the Saints season – they played the whole season without their Super Bowl winning coach, remember, and they still missed .500 by only one score in the final game.

Sean Payton + Drew Brees = playoffs. …Why last year’s 7-9 was a trend, not an exception.

The defense gave up an NFL single season record 7,042 yards, so improvement is relative. New coordinator Rob Ryan, despite that surname, has never presided over a celebrated defense, and LOLB Victor Butler, a projected starter, tore his ACL in training. If anything happens to Brees (he has a new left tackle protecting him after the departure of Jermon Bushrod), this defense can’t cover the offensive shortfall. …Why it finally comes together for Cutler and the Chicago Bears.

This roster is too good to stay bad.

The aforementioned Bushrod is now protecting Jay Cutler. The running game is set with Matt Forté and Michael Bush, and WR Alshon Jeffery could break out opposite Brandon Marshall. Despite cutting Brian Urlacher, LBs Lance Briggs, DJ Williams and rookie Khaseem Greene could be the definition of ‘moving on’. …Why the Bears could fade again.

Lack of leadership. Urlacher had lost a step or two as a tackler, but he leaves a hole in the locker room. QB

Jay Cutler never seems the rallying kind. A team that slid from 7-1 to missing the playoffs in ’12 is hard to favor for gritting it out late (...and yes, they actually went 10-6 last year, so we’re cheating including them here!)

Why the San Diego Chargers can challenge the Broncos in the West.

The sword of Damacles finally fell on coach Norv Turner, bringing a mixture of positional competition and low-pressure expectations. Max Starks arrives at left tackle, huge rookie DJ Fluker at right tackle, helping QB Philip Rivers show what he’s capable of. This just might be the loosest team in the NFL right now, which is good news for a team that lost five times last season by less than one score and blew a massive lead in a sixth (against the Broncos). …Why the Chargers still don’t soar now Norv Turver has gone.

There’s not one elite player at any position on offense. Receiver Malcom Floyd finished the season on IR (ankle), Danario Alexander has a history of knee problems, Antonio Gates isn’t what he was. RB Ryan Mathews is no LaDainian Tomlinson. …Why the Miami Dolphins are the team to beat in the East.

The Patriots are vulnerable, the Dolphins have a talented roster, but most of all, Ryan Tannehill just feels like he’s on the cusp. While his fellow class of 2012 QBs lit up the headlines, Tannehill quietly learnt his role, posting 5 TDs and one pick in December. That was without a true No.1 receiver. Enter ex-Steeler speedster Mike Wallace. Training reports on Tannehill have been glowing. …Why the ‘Phins fail to break through again.

Put your hand up if you can name Miami’s starting running back. Hands

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down, Dolphins fans, while the rest of us keep thinking (...and anyway, you’re guessing). Reggie Bush, rushing leader in 13 of last year’s games, is gone. The heir apparent is Lamar Miller, because of better pass blocking than Dan Thomas, and they have 1156 combined career rushing yards.

Even in the pass-first modern NFL, that’s putting a lot on Tannehill. …Why the Pittsburgh Steelers are in sight of a seventh Super Bowl.

The Steelers have invested a lot in their O-line in recent drafts, with Mike Adams, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert all 1st and 2nd rounders. DeCastro missed most of 2012 with ligament injury. What he didn’t miss, Gilbert missed. If they’re all there at once a weakness becomes a strength, RB Le’Veon Bell has a monster rookie year and Ben Roethlisberger enjoys a 16-game season for only the second time in his career. …Why injury wasn’t the Steelers’ only problem in 2012.

What happens if this ‘Steel Curtain’ gets rusty? Casey Hampton and James Harrison are gone, DL Brett Keisel and LB Larry Foote are entering their 12th seasons, CB Ike Taylor his 11th, and safety Troy Polamalu may be promoting Rogaine before long. If a No.1 defense in terms of yards allowed can’t bolster a team to go better than 8-8, they really need that offense to grow some new teeth before the defense loses theirs.

Next month, it’s time to climb down off the fence and offer some predictions for which 2012 playoff teams retain their contender status, which ones slide, and which of these or more unlikely teams make the move to playoff territory and a run for Super Bowl XLVIII in East Jersey.

56 August 2013

BIG BEN:

8-8 felt like losing

The NFL brings not one, but two games to London this year, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, September 29.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dropped by last month to check out Westminster’s own ‘Big Ben’. Josh Modaberi caught up with him for The American.

For two-time Super Bowl winner Roethlisberger, last year’s 8-8 record felt like a losing season. His objectives for the coming season extend much further than a European trip: “In 2013/14 we need to win a Super Bowl. That’s always our expectations, so when we don’t make the play-offs or we don’t get to the Super Bowl that’s a disappointment and a failure for us. Not making the play-offs last season motivates us to come back and be better than ever, to put the work in during the offseason and to come out strong.”

On his recovery from last year’s knee injury, Roethlisberger says: “The knee operation went really well. I only missed three practices, and I’ve been around this league long enough to know they’re not as important as training camp or regular season practice. My knee feels great, better than it’s felt in about three years so that’s encouraging.

I think toughness – as much as it’s in your body – it’s in your mindset.

I feel healthier than I have in a long time. To play ten years in this league or more – I think the average lifespan of a football player is three years so to have anything past that, you have to count as a blessing.

“The more you get hit throughout your career the harder it is to

‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger drops by his Westminster namesake.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NFLUK

get up in the morning and the more your ankles, knees and shoulders pop, but that is part of the game we play. Every single guy that signs up for this game knows what they are signing up for.” However, the 31-year-old doesn’t plan to take things any easier as the new season approaches. “When you’re a competitor you can’t just tell yourself ‘okay let me just quit on this play’, and that’s one of the reasons why I don’t go down easily. It’s just not in my blood, it’s not in my genes to give up on anything and not compete to want to be the best.”

Of September’s trip to London he says “I’m very excited to play at Wembley. The only thing that I know about Wembley is from watching soccer games on the television and just how crazy the fans are and the energy in the crowd. It reminds me of a game back home.

“From a players’ perspective everyone dreads the flight back and forth ... but everyone I’ve talked to has really enjoyed the whole atmosphere and the trip in general, from the people to the stadium to the game itself.”

The American

American ORGANIZATIONS

American Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery Kathleen Bice, Development Officer, Members and Patrons 020 8299 8726 www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/support_us/ american_friends.aspx

An index of useful resources in the UK If your group or organization is fundraising, has upcoming events, or is running something you’d like more people to know about, get in touch with Sabrina at The American. If your entry needs amendments please let us know – we rely on you to keep us up to date! Telephone 01747 830520, Fax 01747 830691, sabrina@theamerican.co.uk. We would be pleased to receive profiles, news or short articles about your organization for possible publication in The American.

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS EMERGENCIES Fire, Police, Ambulance

999 or 112 (NOT 911)

001 100 155 153 151

MEDICAL ADVICE LINE NHS Direct delivers 24-hour telephone and e-health information services, direct to the public. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk 0845 4647 and being phased in for non-emergencies: 111

American Friends of the Jewish Museum London Stephen Goldman Tel. 020 7284 7363 stephen.goldman@jewishmuseum.org.uk www.jewishmuseum.org.uk/american-friends

American Red Cross RAF Mildenhall Tel: 01638 542107, After Hours 07031 15 2334 red.crossv3@mildenhall.af.mil

American Friends of the Lyric Theatre Ireland Crannóg House, 44 Stranmillis Embankment, Belfast, BT9 5FL, Northern Ireland Angela McCloskey info@americanfriendsofthelyric.com www.americanfriendsofthelyric.com/

American Friends of the Almeida Theatre, Inc. Kenneth David Burrows, 950 Third Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA or Lizzie Stallybrass, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London N1 1TA, UK www.almeida.co.uk/supportus/individual-support/ american-friends

American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery Stacey Ogg and Charlotte Savery, Individual Giving Managers 020 7312 2444 individualgiving@npg.org.uk www.npg.org.uk/support/individual/americanfriends. php

American Friends of Chickenshed Theatre U.S. Office: c/o Chapel & York PMB293, 601 Penn Ave NW, Suite 900 S Bldg, Washington, DC 20004 UK Office: Chickenshed, Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PE 0208 351 6161 ext 240 AdamG@Chickenshed.org.uk www.chickenshed.org.uk/659/individual/ american-friends.html

For more details go to www.theamerican.co.uk and click on Life In The UK

CIVIC & SERVICES American Church in London Senior Pastor: Rev. John D’Elia.

Music Director: Anthony Baldwin.

Sunday School 9.45am Sunday Worship 11am, child care provided.

79a Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TD (Goodge St. tube station) Tel: 020 7580 2791/07771 642875 churchsecretary@amchurch.co.uk www.amchurch.co.uk

American Friends of the Donmar Inc. Stephanie Dittmer, Deputy Director of Development 020 7845 5810 sdittmer@donmarwarehouse.com www.donmarwarehouse.com/p46.html

American Citizens Abroad (ACA) The Voice of Americans Overseas, 5 Rue Liotard, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland +41.22.340.02.33 info.aca@gmail.com www.americansabroad.org

TRANSPORTATION London Underground 020 7222 1234 www.tfl.gov.uk National Rail Enquiries 08457 4849 50

www.nationalrail.co.uk National Bus Service 0990 808080

www.nationalexpress.com TELEPHONES Direct Dial Code, US & Canada Operator Assistance, UK Operator Assistance, Int. International Directory Assistance Telephone Repair

American Friends of the British Museum Mollie Norwich. The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. 020 7323 8590 www.britishmuseum.org

American Institute of Architects Mailing address: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX Tel: 0203 318 5722 chapterexecutive@aiauk.org membership@aiauk.org www.aiauk.org

Here are some crucial telephone numbers to know while you are in the UK.

American Friends of ENO – English National Opera Denise Kaplan, American Friends Coordinator London Coliseum, St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES 0207 845 9331 Americanfriends@eno.org www.eno.org/support-us/individual-giving/ american-friends/american-friends.php

American Friends of Contemporary Dance & Sadler’s Wells U.S. Office: Celia Rodrigues, Chair 222 Park Avenue South, 10A, New York, NY 10003 +1.917.539.9021 americanfriends@sadlerswells.com www.sadlerswells.com/page/american-friends UK Office: 020 7863 8134 development@sadlerswells.com

American Friends of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Inc. Jennifer Davies, Development Director jennifer.davies@philharmonia.co.uk www.philharmonia.co.uk/support/friends/afpo/ American Friends of the Royal Court Theatre U.S.: Laurie Beckelman, Beckelman and Capalino +1.212.616.5822 laurie@beckcap.com UK: Gaby Styles, Head of Development, Royal Court Theatre 020 7565 5060 gabystyles@royalcourttheatre.com or info@afrct.org

American Friends of the Royal Institution of Great Britain U.S.: c/o Chapel & York Limited, PMB #293, South Building Washington, DC 20004

August 2013 57

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UK: The Development Office, Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS 020 7670 2991 kdodd@ri.ac.uk www.rigb.org

American Friends of the Royal Society http://royalsociety.org/Overseas-Donations American Friends of St. Bartholomew the Great U.S.: John Eagleson 2925 Briarpark, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77042 UK: 20 7606 5171 admin@greatstbarts.com American Friends of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust U.S.: John Chwat, President 625 Slaters Lane, Suite 103, Alexandria, VA 22314 +1. 703.684.7703 info@americanfriendsofsbt.org www.americanfriendsofsbt.org American Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Inc. U.S.: Diana Seaton, Executive Director 61 Londonderry Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830 +1.203.536.4328 diana.seaton@afvam.org www.afvam.org UK: 020 7942 2149 American Friends of Wigmore Hall U.S.: c/o Chapel and York, 1000 N West Street Suite 1200, Wilmington DE 19801 UK: 020 7258 8220 mhosterweil@wigmore-hall.org.uk American Museum in Britain Director: Dr Richard Wendorf Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD. 01225 460503. Fax 01225 469160 info@americanmuseum.org www.americanmuseum.org American Women Lawyers in London www.awll.org.uk info@awll.org.uk American Women’s Health Centre 214 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QN. Obstetric, gynecological & infertility service.

020 7390 8433 www.awhc.co.uk Anglo American Medical Society Hon. Sec.: Dr. Edward Henderson, The Mill House, Whatlington, E. Sussex, TN33 0ND. 01424 775130. ed@themillhouse.eclipse.co.uk Association for Rescue at Sea The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Association does not have an American Branch but if you wish to make a tax-efficient gift to the RNLI, contact AFRAS. Secretary: Mrs. Anne C. Kifer P.O. Box 565 Fish Creek, WI 54212, U.S.A. 00-1-920-743-5434 fax 00-1-920-743-5434 email: ackafras@aol.com

58 August 2013

Atlantic Council Director: Alan Lee Williams.

185 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UF 0207 403 0640 or 0207 403 0740.

Fax: 0207 403 0901 acuk@atlantic-council.org.uk Bethesda Baptist Church Kensington Place, London W8.

020 7221 7039 office@bethesdabaptist.org.uk Boy Scouts of America Mayflower District Field Executive: Wayne Wilcox 26 Shortlands Road, Kingston, Surrey KT2 6HD 020 8274 1429, 07788 702328 wpwilcox@gmail.com BritishAmerican Business Inc. 75 Brook Street, London, W1K 4AD. Tel. 020 7290 9888 www.babinc.org ukinfo@babinc.org British American-Canadian Associates Contact via The English Speaking Union – esu@esu.org CARE International UK 10-13 Rushworth Street, London, SE1 0RB 020 7934 9334 www.careinternational.org info@careinternational.org Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 66-68 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2PA 020 7584 7553 adcockmp@ldschurch.org https://lds.org.uk http://mormon.org Church of St. John the Evangelist Vicar: Reverend Stephen Mason.

Assistant Priest: Reverend Mark Pudge.

Assistant Curate: Reverend Deiniol Heywood.

Hyde Park Crescent, London W2 2QD Tel: 020 7262 1732 www.stjohns-hydepark.com parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com Commonwealth Church Rev. Rod Anderson, PO Box 15027, London SE5 0YS www.savestmarks.com Democrats Abroad (UK) Box 65, 22 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JE Regular updates on events, chapters throughout the UK (and specific email addresses), and DAUK newsletters: www.democratsabroad.org.uk Register to vote and request an Absentee Ballot: www.votefromabroad.org Tel: 020 7724 9796 www.democratsabroad.org/group/united-kingdom

Friends of St Jude London Debbie Berger Tel. 07738 628126 debbie.berger@stjude.org www.friendsofstjude.org/london Grampian Houston Association Secretary: Bill Neish 5 Cairncry Avenue, Aberdeen, AB16 5DS 01224-484720 wineish@sky.com

Details changed? Let us know email sabrina@theamerican.co.uk

International Community Church (Interdenominational) Our Vision: “Everyone Mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28) Pastor: Rev. Dr. Barry K. Gaeddert Worship on Sundays: 10.30 am at Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 9DR Active Youth programme.

Church Office: 1st floor, Devonshire House, 60 Station Road, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2AF. 01932 830295. churchoffice@icc-uk.org www.icc-uk.org Junior League of London President: Jennifer Crowl 9 Fitzmaurice Place, London W1J 5JD. Tel: 020 7499 8159 Fax: 020 7629 1996 jrleague@jll.org.uk www.jll.org.uk Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 19 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT. Tel: 020 7713 2030 Fax: 020 7713 2031 info@jdrf.org.uk www.jdrf.org.uk Liberal Jewish Synagogue 28 St John’s Wood Road, London NW8 7HA Services 6.45pm Fridays and 11am on Saturdays except for first Friday each month when service is held at 7pm with a Chavurah Supper.

Please bring non-meat food dish to share.

020 7286 5181 ljs@ljs.org Lions Club International Lakenheath & District 105EA, 15 Highfields Drive, Lakenheath, Suffolk IP27 9EH. Tel 01842 860752 www.lionsclubs.org

Farm Street Church 114 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 3AH Tel: 020 7493 7811 www.farmstreet.org.uk

Lutheran Services, St Anne’s Rev. Timothy Dearhamer.

Lutheran Church, Gresham St, London EC2.

Sun 11am-7pm.

Tel. 020 7606 4986 Fax. 020 7600 8984 info@StAnnesLutheranChurch.org www.StAnnesLutheranChurch.org

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington DC 20301-1155.

Director: Ms. Polli K. Brunelli UK Toll Free Tel: 0800 028 8056 US Toll Free Tel:1-800-438- VOTE (8683). www.fvap.gov vote@fvap.ncr.gov

Methodist Central Hall Westminster, London SW1H 9NH Services every Sunday at 11am and 6.30pm.

Bible study groups & Monday guilds also held.

Tel: 020 7222 8010 www.methodist-central-hall.org.uk church@mchw.org.uk

The American

North American Friends of Chawton House Library U.S. Office: 824 Roosevelt Trail, #130, Windham, ME 04062 Tel:+1.207 892 4358 UK Office: Chawton House Library, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1SJ Tel: 01420 541010 www.chawton.org/support/nafchl5.html Republicans Abroad (UK) Chairman Dr. Thomas Grant chairman@republicansabroad-uk.org www.republicansabroad-uk.org Rotary Club of London 6 York Gate, London NW1 4QG. Tel. 020 7487 5429 Royal National Lifeboat Institution Head Office, West Quay Road, Poole BH15 1HZ 0845 045 6999 www.rnli.org.uk The Royal Oak Foundation Sean Sawyer, 35 West 35th Street #1200, New York NY 10001-2205, USA Tel 212- 480-2889 or (800) 913-6565 Fax (212)785-7234 ssawyer@royal-oak.org www.royal-oak.org St Andrew’s Lutheran Church Serving Americans since 1960. Whitby Road & Queens Walk, Ruislip, West London.

(South Ruislip Tube Station). Services: 11 am 020 8845 4242 pastorvan43@hotmail.com www.standrewslutheran.co.uk Other Lutheran Churches in the UK: www.lutheran.co.uk T.R.A.C.E. P.W. (The ‘original’ Transatlantic Children’s’ Enterprise reuniting children with G.I. father’s and their families) Membership Secretary: Norma Jean Clarke-McCloud 29 Connaught Avenue, Enfield EN1 3BE www.tracepw.org normajean78@hotmail.com United Nations Association, Westminster branch Chairman: David Wardrop 61 Sedlescombe Road, London SW6 1RE 0207 385 6738 info@unawestminster.org.uk www.unawestminster.org.uk www.wethepeoples.org.uk USA Girl Scouts Overseas – North Atlantic Stem Kaserne Bldg 1002, Postfach 610212 D-68232, Mannheim, Germany. +49 621 487 7025. girlscouts@cmtymail.26asg.army.mil www.norags.com

SOCIAL American Club of Hertfordshire President: Lauryn Awbrey 63-65 New Road, Welwyn, Herts AL6 0AL 01582 624823 amclubherts@aol.com

American Expats of the Northwest of England The Ruskin Rooms, Drury Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6HA. expatsnw@gmail.com American Friends of English Heritage 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington DC 20036.

202-452-0928. c/o English Heritage, Attn: Simon Bergin, Keysign House, 429 Oxford Street, London W1R 2HD. 020 7973 3423 www.english-heritage.org.uk American Professional Women in London Rebecca Lammers, Flat 9 Hanover Court, 5 Stean Street, London, E8 4ED 075 3393 5064 abwinlondon@gmail.com www.meetup.com/American-Business-Women-inLondon/ www.facebook.com/groups/293890040710041 Twitter: @USAProWomenLDN American Society in London c/o The English Speaking Union 37 Charles Street, London W1J 5ED info@americansocietyuk.com 020 7539 3400 American Stamp Club of Great Britain Chapter 67 of the American Philatelic Society.

Hon. Publicity Secretary: Stephen T. Taylor 5 Glenbuck Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6BS. 020 8390 9357

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American Womens Association of Bristol awabristol_membership@fawco.org American Women of Berkshire & Surrey P. O. Box 10, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4YP. www.awbs.org.uk awbscommonground@yahoo.co.uk American Women of Surrey PO Box 185, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3YJ. www.awsurrey.org American Women’s Association of Yorkshire The Chalet, Scarcroft Grange, Wetherby Road, Scarcroft, Leeds LS14 3HJ. 01224 744 224 Contact: Carol Di Peri The American Women’s Club of Dublin P.O. Box 2545, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 IRELAND www.awcd.net info@awcd.net American Women’s Club of London 68 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LQ. 020 7589 8292 awc@awclondon.org www.awclondon.org

American Women’s Club of Central Scotland P.O. Box 231, 44-46 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4BF info@awccs.org www.awccs.org American Women of South Wales 07866 190838 awsouthwales@fawco.org The Anglo-American Charity Limited Jeffrey Hedges, Director.

07968 513 631 info@anglo-americancharity.org Association of American Women in Ireland aawireland@fawco.org Association of American Women of Aberdeen PO Box 11952, Westhill, Aberdeen, AB13 0BW email via website www.awaaberdeen.org British Association of American Square Dance Clubs Patricia Connett-Woodcock 87 Brabazon Road, Heston, Middlesex TW5 9LL 020 8897 0723 tricia_baasdc@btinternet.com www.squaredancing.co.uk Canadians & Americans in Southern England 023 9241 3881 contactcase@casecommunity.com Canadian Womens Club 1 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 4AB Tues – Thurs 10.30-3.30 0207 258 6344 info@canadianwomenlondon.org www.canadianwomenlondon.org Chilterns American Women’s Club PO Box 445, Gerrards Cross, Bucks, SL9 8YU membership@cawc.co.uk www.cawc.co.uk Colonial Dames of America Chapter XI London.

President Anne K Brewster: AnneBrewster@hotmail.com Daughters of the American Revolution – St James’s Chapter Mrs Natalie Ward, 01379 871422 nattyward@aol.com or UKDARStJames@aol.com http://mysite.verizon.net/jean.sutton/main.htm Daughters of the American Revolution – Walter Hines Page Chapter Diana Frances Diggines, Regent dardiana@hotmail.co.uk www.dar.org Daughters of the American Revolution – Washington Old Hall Chapter, North Yorkshire Mrs. Gloria Hassall, 01845 523-830 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Great Britain President: Mrs. Sheila Roberts, Morvan House, Shoreham Lane, St. Michaels, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6EG email: saroberts123@aol.com www.deltakappagamma.net

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Delta Zeta International Sorority Alumna Club Mrs Sunny Eades, The Old Hall, Mavesyn Ridware, Nr. Rugeley, Staffordshire, WSI5 3QE. 01543 490 312 SunnyEades@aol.com The East Anglia American Club 49 Horsham Close, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 7HN Tel: 01440 766 967 Email: eaacexpats@karej.co.uk English-Speaking Union Director-General Peter Kyle Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London W1J 5ED. Tel: 020 7529 1550 Fax: 0207 495 6108 esu@esu.org Friends of Benjamin Franklin House Director: Dr. Márcia Balisciano Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St, London WC2N 5NF 0207 839 2006 www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org Hampstead Women’s Club President - Betsy Lynch. Tel: 020 7435 2226 email president@hwcinlondon.co.uk www.hwcinlondon.co.uk High Twelve International, Inc. Local Club Contact – Arnold Page High Twelve Club 298 Secretary, Darrell C. Russell, 1 Wellington Close, West Row, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 8PJ Tel. 01638 715764 email: russelld130@btinternet.com.

International American Duplicate Bridge Club Contact: Mary Marshall, 18 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RP. 020 7221 3708 www.ycbc.co.uk/american.htm

info@northwoodareawomensclub.co.uk www.northwoodareawomensclub.co.uk

Petroleum Women’s Club Contact: Nancy Ayres.

Tel: 01923 711720 nanayrs@btopenworld.com Petroleum Women’s Club of Scotland pwcscotland@yahoo.co.uk www.pwcos.com Pilgrims of Great Britain Allington Castle, Maidstone, Kent M16 0NB. Tel. 01622 606404 Fax. 01622 606402 sec@pilgrimsociety.org Propeller Club of the United States – London, England propellerclubhq.com Royal Society of St George Enterprise House, 10 Church Hill, Loughton, Essex IG10 1LA. Tel.+44 (0) 20 3225 5011 info@royalsocietyofstgeorge.com www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com

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Stars of Great Britain Chapter #45 Washington Jurisdiction. Lakenheath, England sogb45@yahoo.com http://starsofgreatbritainchapter45.com St John’s Wood Women’s Club Box 185, 176 Finchley Road, London NW3 6BT membership@sjwwc.org www.sjwwc.org

MILITARY AFJROTC 073 Lakenheath High School. Tel: 01638 525603 Air Force Sergeants Association European Division Timothy W. Litherland CMSgt, USAF (ret).

Chapters at RAFs Alconbury, Croughton, Lakenheath, Menwith Hill and Mildenhall. tim_lith@msn.com www.afsadiv16.org American Legion London Post 1 Adjutant: Jim Pickett PO Box 5017, BATH, BA1 OPP Tel: 01225-426245 www.amlegionpost1london.org.uk info@amlegionpost1london.org.uk Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association London Chapter Secretary: CW04, A.H. Cox, USN, Navcommunit Box 44, 7 North Audley Street, London W1Y 1WJ. 020 7409 4519/4184 www.afcea.org.uk london.sec@afcea.org.uk Bentwaters/Woodbridge Retirees’ Association President: Wylie Moore. 2 Coldfair Close, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1UN. 01728 830281 British Patton Historical Society Kenn Oultram 01606 891303 Brookwood American Cemetery (WW1) Brookwood, Woking, Surrey GU24 0BL 01483 473237 www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/bk.php Cambridge American Cemetery (WWII Cemetary) Superintendent: Mr. Bobby Bell.

Asst. Superintendent: Mr. Tony Barclay.

Coton, Cambridge CB23 7PH. 01954 210350

Kensington & Chelsea Men’s Club Contact: John Rickus 70 Flood Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5TE. (home): 020 7349 0680 (office): 020 7753 2253 johnrickus@aol.com

Thames Valley American Women’s Club Contact: Miriam Brewster PO Box 1687, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 8XT. 0208 751 8941 www.tvawc.com membership@tvawc.com

Kensington & Chelsea Women’s Club President: Susan Lenora. Tel. 0207 581 8261 president@kcwc.org.uk Membership: 0207 863 7562 (ans service). membership@kcwc.org.uk

UK Panhellenic Association Contact Susan Woolf, 10 Coniston Court, High St. Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex HA1 3LP. 020 8864 0294 susanrwoolf@hotmail.com

Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Europe Naval Reserve Detachment 130, Recruiting Officer: LCDR Thomas D. Hardin, USNR-R. 020 7409 4259 (days) 020 8960 7395 (evenings).

New Neighbors Diana Parker, Rosemary Cottage, Rookshill, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 4HZ. 01923 772185

United Kingdom Shrine Anglian Shrine Club (Master Masons) Secretary: David A. Mostyn Long Furlong House, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7DD

Eighth Air Force Historical Society UK Representative: Mr. Gordon Richards and Mrs Connie Richards 14 Pavenham Road, Oakley, Bedford MK43 7SY. 01234 823357.

North American Connection (West Midlands) PO Box 10543, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands. B93 8ZY T: 0870 720 0663 info@naconnect.com www.naconnect.com

W.E.B. DuBois Consistory #116 Northern Jurisdiction Valley of London, England, Orient of Europe Cell: 0776-873-8030 mjack36480@aol.com

Friends of the Eighth Newsletter (FOTE News) Chairman: Mr. Ron Mackay. 39b Thorley Hill, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM23 3NE. 01279 658619.

Northwood Area Women’s Club c/o St John’s UR Church, Hallowell Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 1DN 01932-830295

Women’s Writers Network Cathy Smith, 23 Prospect Rd, London, NW2 2JU. 020 7794 5861 www.womenwriters.org.uk info@womenwriters.org.uk

Joint RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath Retiree Affairs Office Director: Col. John J. Valentine, USAF (Ret) Unit 8965, Box 30

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RAF Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, IP28 8NF Tel. (01638) 542039 rao@mildenhall.af.mil

Marine Corps League Detachment 1088, London, England Commandant Mike Allen Creek Cottage, 2 Pednormead End, Old Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 2JS detachment1088@mcl-london-uk.org www.mcl-london-uk.org Mildenhall Retirees Association President: Jack Kramer 6 Nunsgate, Thetford, Norfolk 1P24 3EL Navy League of the United States, United Kingdom Council Council President: Steven G. Franck steven.franck@googlemail.com www.navyleague.org Non-Commissioned Officers’ Association (NCOA) – The Heart of England Chapter Chairman: Ronald D.Welper.

Pine Farm, Sharpe’s Corner, Lakenheath, Brandon, Suffolk 1P27 9LB. Thetford 861643.

The Chapter Address: 513 MSSQ/SS, RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.

RAF Croughton, Northants NN13 5XP Phone: 01280 708182 e-mail: 422abg.rao@croughton.af.mil

American School of Aberdeen Craigton Road, Cults, Aberdeen.

01224 861068 / 868927.

US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) UK Chapter President: Allison Bennett bennett.ac@gmail.com Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom

Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NF. Tel 020 7839 2006 Fax 020 7930 9124 info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org

USNA Alumni Association UK Chapter Pres: LCDR Tim Fox ’97, timfox97@hotmail.com Vice Pres: Miguel Sierra ’90, mrsierra@chevron.com Treas/Membership Coord: Bart O’Brien ’98, bartonobrien2@yahoo.com Secretary: Matt Horan ’87, matthoran@btinternet.com Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Commander: Ernest Paolucci 24, rue Gerbert, 75015 Paris, France 00 33 (0)1.42.50.96.34 Western UK Retiree Association President: R. Jim Barber, MSgt (USAF), Ret Phone: 01280 708182

EDUCATIONAL

Society of American Military Engineers (UK) UK address: Box 763, USAFE Construction Directorate.

86 Blenheim Crescent, West Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7HL London Post. President: W. Allan Clarke.

Secretary: Capt. Gary Chesley.

Membership Chairman, Mr. Jim Bizier.

ACS International Schools ACS Cobham International School, Heywood, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL 01932 867251

US Army Reserve 2nd Hospital Center 7 Lynton Close, Ely, Cambs, CB6 1DJ. Tel: 01353 2168 Commander: Major Glenda Day.

ACS Hillingdon International School Hillingdon Court, 108 Vine Line, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 0BE. 01895 259771 www.acs-england.co.uk

US Air Force Recruiting Office RAF Mildenhall, 100 MSS/MSPRS, RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, 1P28 8NF. 01638 542290 Retired Affairs Office, RAF Alconbury Serving Central England POC: Rex Keegan Alt. POC: Mike Depasquale UK Postal Address: 423 SVS/RAO, Unit 5585, Box 100, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 4DA Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 10:30am–2:30pm 01480 84 3364/3557 Emergency Contact: 07986 887 905 RAO@Alconbury.af.mil 2nd Air Division Memorial Library The Forum, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1AW 01603 774747 www.2ndair.org.uk 2admemorial.lib@norfolk.gov.uk USAF Retiree Activities Office Director: Paul G Gumbert, CMSgt (USAF), Ret 422 ABG/CVR Unit 5855, PSC 50, Box 3

ACS Egham International School, Woodlee, London Road (A30), Egham, Surrey TW20 0HS. 01784 430800

AIU/London (formerly American College in London) 110 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4RY. Tel 020 7467 5640 Fax 020 7935 8144 www.aiulondon.ac.ukadmissions@aiulondon.ac.uk Alconbury Middle/High School RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE17 1PJ, UK. www.alco-hs.eu.dodea.edu AlconburyHS.Principal@eu.dodea.edu American Institute for Foreign Study 37 Queensgate, London SW7 5HR 020 7581 7300 www.aifs.co.uk info@aifs.co.uk American School in London 1 Waverley Place, London NW8 0NP Tel: 020 7449 1200 Fax: 020 7449 1350 www.asl.org admissions@asl.org

Boston University – London Graduate Programs Office 43 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7244 6255 www.bu.edu/london British American Educational Foundation Mrs. Carlton Colcord, 1 More’s Garden, 90 Cheyne Walk, London SW3.

020 7352 8288 www.baef.org anncolcord@compuserve.com BUNAC Student Exchange Employment Program Director: Callum Kennedy, 16 Bowling Green Lane, London EC1R 0QH. 020 7251 3472 www.bunac.org enquiries@bunac.org.uk Centre Academy London 92 St John’s Hill, Battersea, London SW11 1SH Tel: 02077382344 Fax: 02077389862 info@centreacademy.net www.centreacademy.net Centre Academy East Anglia Church Rd, Brettenham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7QR Tel: 01449736404 Fax: 01449737881 admin@centreacademy.net www.centreacademy.net

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Tweet @TheAmericanMag Central Bureau for Educational Visits The British Council Director: Peter Upton 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN 020 7389 4004 Wales 029 2039 7346, Scotland 0131 447 8024 centralbureau@britishcouncil.org Council on International Educational Exchange Dr. Michael Woolf, 52 Portland Street, London WIV 1JQ Tel 020 7478 2000 Fax 020 7734 7322 www.ciee.org contact@ciee.org Ditchley Foundation Ditchley Park, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4ER. Tel 01608 677346 Fax 1608 677399 www.ditchley.co.uk info@ditchley.co.uk European Council of International Schools Executive Director: Jean K Vahey Fourth Floor, 146 Buckingham Palace Road,

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Marymount International School, London Headmistress: Ms Sarah Gallagher George Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7PE Tel: 020 8949 0571 info@marymountlondon.com www.marymountlondon.com

London SW1W 9TR Tel 020 7824 7040 www.ecis.org ecis@ecis.org

European-Atlantic Group PO Box 37431, London N3 2XP 020 8632 9253 justinglass@btinternet.com www.eag.org.uk

Missouri London Study Abroad Program 32 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7373 7953. www.umsl.edu/services/abroad/universities/ molondon.html web_office@umsl.edu

Florida State University London Study Centre Administrative Director: Kathleen Paul 99 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LH. Tel 020 7813 3233 Fax 020 7813 3270 www.international.fsu.edu/london/ intprog1@admin.fsu.edu Fordham University London Centre Academic Coordinator: Sabina Antal 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HQ 020 7937 5023 londoncentre@fordham.edu www.fordham.edu Harlaxton College UK Campus, University of Evansville Harlaxton Manor, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 1AG. Grantham 4541 4761.

Tel 01476 403000 Fax 01476 403030 harlaxton.ac.uk.

Huron University USA in London 46-47 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4JP Tel +44 (0) 20 7636 5667 Fax+44 (0) 20 7299 3297 folu@huron.ac.uk www.huron.ac.uk Institute for Study Abroad Butler University, 21 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4EB 020 7792 8751 http://www.ifsa-butler.org/england-overview.html Institute for the Study of the Americas Director: Professor James Dunkerley.

Tel 020 7862 8879 Fax 020 7862 8886 americas@sas.ac.uk www.americas.sas.ac.uk International School of Aberdeen 296 North Deeside Rd, Milltimber, Aberdeen, AB13 0AB 01224 732267 www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk admin@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk International School of London 139 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LG. 020 8992 5823. www.islondon.com mail@ISLondon.com International School of London in Surrey Old Woking Road, Woking GU22 8HY Tel +44 (0)1483 750409 Fax +44 (0)1483 730962 www.islsurrey.com mail@islsurrey.com Ithaca College London Centre 35 Harrington Gardens, London SW7.

Tel. 020 7370 1166 www.ithaca.edu/london bsheasgreen@ithacalondon.co.uk

62 August 2013

Regents American College Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS. 020 7486 9605. www.regents.ac.uk exrel@regents.ac.uk

Richmond, The American International University in London Richmond Hill Campus,Queen’s Road Richmond-upon Thames TW10 6JP Tel: +44 20 8332 9000 Fax: +44 20 8332 1596 enroll@richmond.ac.uk www.richmond.ac.uk Schiller International University Royal Waterloo House, 51-55 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TX. Tel. 020 7928 1372 www.schillerlondon.ac.uk admissions@schillerlondon.ac.uk Sotheby’s Institute of Art Postgraduate Art studies, plus day /evening courses 30 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EE Tel: 0207 462 3232 www.sothebysinstitute.com info@sothebysinstitute.com Southbank International Schools Kensington and Hampstead campuses for 3-11 year olds; Westminster campuses for 11-18 year olds.

Director of Admissions: MargaretAnne Khoury Tel: 020 7243 3803 Fax: 020 7727 3290 admissions@southbank.org www.southbank.org TASIS England, American School Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Nr. Egham, Surrey TW20 8TE. Tel: 01932 565252 Fax: 01932 564644 http://england.tasis.com ukadmissions@tasisengland.org University of Notre Dame London Program 1 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG 020 7484 7811 london@nd.edu http://www.nd.edu/~ndlondon/lup/future/ introduction.htm US-UK Fulbright Commission Dir. of Advisory Service: Lauren Welch 020 7498 4010 Dir. of Awards: Michael Scott-Kline, 020 7498 4014 Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, London SW8 5BN www.fulbright.co.uk

Warnborough University International Office, Friars House, London SE1 8HB. Tel 020 7922 1200 Fax: 020 7922 1201 www.warnborough.edu admin@warnborough.edu Webster Graduate Studies Center Regent’s College, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NS, UK. Tel: 020 7487 7505 Fax: 020 7487 7425 www.webster.ac.uk webster@regents.ac.uk Wickham Court School, Schiller International Layhams Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9HW. Tel 0208 777 2942 Fax 0208 777 4276 Wickham@schillerintschool.com www.wickhamcourt.org.uk Wroxton College Fairleigh Dickinson Univ.,Wroxton, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6PX. Tel. 01295 730551 http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=326 admin@wroxton-college.ac.uk

ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS Alliant International University (formerly United States International University) England Chapter Alumni Association Chapter President: Eric CK Chan c/o Regents College London, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, UK University: www.alliant.edu chane@regents.ac.uk Amherst College Bob Reichert RAreichert26b@aol.com Andover/Abbot Association of London Jeffrey Hedges ‘71, President 07968 513 631 hedgeslon@hotmail.com Association of MBAs Leo Stemp, Events Administrator Tel 020 7837 3375 (ext. 223) Fax 020-7278-3634 l.stemp@mba.org.uk Babson College Frank de Jongh Swemer, Correspondence W 020 7932 7514 babson.alumni@btinternet.com Barnard College Club Hiromi Stone, President.

Tel. 0207 935 3981 barnardclubgb@yahoo.co.uk Berkeley Club of London Geoff Kertesz Email: berkeleyclublondon@gmail.com http://international.berkeley.edu/LondonClub Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ groups/223876564344656/ Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/BerkeleyClub-London-4186104

The American

Boston College Alumni Club UK Craig Zematis, President +44 7717 878968 BCalumniclub@gmail.com www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/BTN/cpages/ chapters/home.jsp?chapter=41&org=BTN Boston University Alumni Association of the UK Will Straughn, Snr International Development Officer, University Development and Alumni Relations, 43 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 4JU 020 7244 2908 020 7373 7411 bstraugh@bu.edu Brandeis Alumni Club of Great Britain Joan Bovarnick, President http://alumni.brandeis.edu office@alumni.brandeis.edu Brown University Club of the United Kingdom President: Tugba Erem. Vice President: Caroline Cook Secretary: Pinar Emirda. Treasurer: Mikus Kins Events: Ramya Moothathu. Communication: Patrick Attie. Alumni Club & Liaison: Vanessa Van Hoof Former President: Ed Giberti edgibertiwgcuk@aol.com.

Brown Club UK, Box 57100, London, EC1P 1RB contact@brownuk.org www.brownuk.org Bryn Mawr Club President: Lady Quinton. c/o Wendy Tiffin, 52 Lansdowne Gardens, London SW8 2EF Wendy Tiffin, Secretary/Treasurer wendytif@ukgateway.net Claremont Colleges Alumni in London Hadley Beeman hadley_beeman@alumni.cmc.edu Colgate Club of London Stephen W Solomon ‘76, President 0207 349 0738 swsolomon@hotmail.com Columbia University Club of London Stephen Jansen, President london@alumniclubs.columbia.edu www.alumniclubs.columbia.edu/london Cornell Club of London Natalie Teich, President nmt4@cornell.edu www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/int/London Dartmouth College Club of London Sanjay Gupta, Officer Andrew Rotenberg, Officer sanjay.gupta.96@ alum.dartmouth.org andrew.l.rotenberg.92@alum.dartmouth.org www.dartmouth.org Delta Kappa Gamma Society International For information about the Society in Great Britain go to our website www.deltakappagamma.org/GB. There are links to all the USA and other international members’ sites.

Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity London Alumni Chapter. Ashok Arora, P O Box 1110, London W3 7ZB. Tel: 020 8423 8231 bertela@yahoo.com www.dspnet.org Duke University Club of England Ms Robin Buck buckrobin@yahoo.com Tim Warmath timwarmath@yahoo.com Kate Bennett jkbennett@btinternet.com www.dukealumni.com/england

Running something we should know about?

email sabrina@theamerican.co.uk Emory University Alumni Chapter of the UK Matthew Williams, Chapter Leader 079 8451 4119 matthew.eric.williams@gmail.com www.alumni.emory.edu/chapters-and-groups/ chapters/international.html Georgetown Alumni Club Alexa Fernandez, President GeorgetownLondon@Yahoo.com Gettysburg College Britt-Karin Oliver brittkarin@aol.com Harvard Business School Club of London www.hbsa.org.uk Harvard Club of Great Britain Brandon Bradkin, President president@hcuk.org www.hcuk.org Indiana University Alumni club of England Anastasia Tonello, President 020 7253 4855 iuinlondon@yahoo.com www.alumni.indiana.edu/clubs/england KKG London Alumnae Association emilymerrell@gmail.com LMU Alumni Club London (Loyola Marymount University) Kent Jancarik 07795 358 681 kent@jancarik.com Marymount University Alumni UK Chapter President: Mrs Suzanne Tapley, 35 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7QT. Tel 020 7581 3742 MIT Club of Great Britain Yiting Shen, Flat 8a, 36 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6PB Tel: 0789 179 3823 yshen@alum.mit.edu http://alumweb.mit.edu/clubs/uk/ Mount Holyoke Club of Britain Rachel L. Elwes, President rlelwes@yahoo.com Karen K. Bullivant Vice-President

kkbullivant@alumnae.mtholyoke.edu www.mtholyoke.co.uk

Notre Dame Club of London Hannah Gornik, Secretary: ND_Club_London@yahoo.co.uk NYU Alumni Club in London Jodi Ekelchik, President alumni.london@nyu.edu NYU STERN UK Alumni Club Matthieu Gervis, President sternukalumniclub@hotmail.com Ohio University UK & Ireland Frank Madden, 1 Riverway, Barry Avenue, Windsor, Berks. SL4 5JA. Tel 01753 855 360 Fax 01753 868 855 frank@madant.demon.co.uk Penn Alumni Club of the UK David Lapter Tel. 07957 146 470 david.lapter@alumni.upenn.edu Penn State Alumni Association Penn State Alumni Association Ron Nowicki - 0207 226 7681 pennstatelondon@yahoo.co.uk www.alumni.psu.edu Princeton Association (UK) Carol Rahn, President Jon Reades, Young Alumni carol.rahn@orange-ftgroup.com jon@reades.com www.alumni.princeton.edu Rice Alumni of London Kathy Wang Tel. 07912 560 177 kathyw@alumni.rice.edu Skidmore College Alumni Club, London Peggy Holden Briggs ‘84, co-ordinator 07817 203611 peggyhbriggs@gmail.com Smith College Club of London Kathleen Merrill, President smithclubgb@googlemail.com http://alumnae.smith.edu Stanford Business School Alumni Association (UK Chapter) Robby Arnold, President Lesley Anne Hunt, Events robby@blueyonder.co.uk lesley.hunt@blueyonder.co.uk www.stanfordalumni.org.uk Texas Tech Alumni Association – London Chapter David Mirmelli, Ferhat Guven, Bobby Brents president@texastechalumni.org.uk www.TexasTechAlumni.org.uk Texas Exes UK (UKTE) President: Carra Kane 7 Edith Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 8TW 0778 660 7534 carrakane@alumni.utexas.net www.fornogoodreason.com/UKTEMain.htm

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Texas A&M Club London Ashley Lilly, Co-President Devin Howard, Co-President london@aggienetwork.com http://clubs.aggienetwork.com/londonamc/ The John Adams Society Contact: Muddassar Ahmed c/o Unitas Communications, Palmerston House, 80-86 Old Street, London EC1V 9AZ 0203 308 2358 johnadamssociety@unitascommunications.com www.johnadamssociety.co.uk Tufts - London Tufts Alliance Vikki Garth Londontuftsalliance@yahoo.com UK Dawgs of the University of Georgia Rangana Abdulla ukdawgs@hotmail.com UMass Alumni Club UK Julie Encarnacao, President (0)20 7007 3869 julesje32@gmail.com University of California Matthew Daines (Program Director) 17 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3JA 020 7079 0567 matthewdaines@californiahouse.org.uk

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University of Chicago UK Alumni Association President c/o Alumni Affairs and Development – Europe University of Chicago Booth School of Business Woolgate Exchange, 25 Basinghall Street, London EC2V 5HA Tel +44(0)20 7070 2245 Fax +44(0)20 7070 2250 www.ChicagoBooth.edu University of Illinois Alumni Club of the UK Amy Barklam, President 07796 193 466 amybarklam@msn.com University of North Carolina Alumni Club Brad Matthews, Club Leader 2 The Orchards, Hill View Road, Woking GU22 7LS brad.matthews@alumni.unc.edu http://alumni.unc.edu University of Michigan Alumni Association Regional Contact: Jessica Cobb, BA ’97 +44 (0) 788-784-0941 jesscobb@yahoo.com http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/umich_uk_alumni/ University of Rochester/Simon School UK Alumni Association Ms. Julie Bonne, Co-President 0118-956-5052 julie_bonne@yahoo.com University of Southern California, Alumni Club of London Jennifer Ladwig, President

64 August 2013

Chuck Cramer, Treasurer usclondon@gmail.com www.usclondonalumni.org

University of Virginia Alumni Club of London Kirsten Jellard, 020 7368 8473 londonuvaclub@yahoo.com http://members.aol.com/UKUVACLUB/UVA-london.htm

ARTS North American Actors Association Chief Executive: Ms. Laurence Bouvard Americanactors@aol.com 07873 371 891

SPORTS

US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) UK Chapter President: Allison Bennett bennett.ac@gmail.com Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom

Eagles Golf Society Sharon Croley c/o Eventful Services, 49 Hastings Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 6PH sharoncroley@blueyonder.co.uk

USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter President: LCDR Greta Densham ‘00 (gretaj@mac.com) Vice President/Treasurer: Tim Fox ‘97 (timfox97@ hotmail.com) Secretary: Mike Smith ‘84 (Mike.Smith@polycom.com) Facebook Group - USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter

English Lacrosse PO Box 116, Manchester M11 0AX Tel: 0843 658 5006 info@englishlacrosse.co.uk www.englishlacrosse.co.uk

Vassar College Club Sara Hebblethwaite, President 18 Redgrave Road, London, SW15 1PX +44 020 8788 6910 sara.hebblethwaite@virgin.net

British Baseball Federation/ BaseballSoftballUK 5th Floor, Ariel House, 74a Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QJ. 020 7453 7055 British Morgan Horse Society 01942 886141 www.morganhorse.org.uk admin@morganhorse.org.uk

Warnborough Worldwide Alumni Association c/o International Office, Friars House, London SE1 8HB Tel. 020 7922 1200 Fax. 020 7922 1201 www.wwaa.info admin@warnborough.edu

Ice Hockey UK 19 Heather Avenue, Rise Park, Romford RM1 4SL Tel. 07917 194 264 Fax. 1708 725241 www.icehockeyuk.co.uk ihukoffice@yahoo.co.uk

Wellesley College Club Ana Ericksen, President. ana@ericksenuk.com

Infinity Elite Cheerleading (founded by C.A.C) Mondays 4.30-8.30 – Maiden Lane Comm. Centre, 156 St. Paul’s Crescent, London NW1 9XZ. Tumble: Thursdays 6-8 – Paget Centre,18-28 Randells Rd, Islington, London N1 0DH. Tel. 077 9132 0115 http://londoninfinityelite.clubbz.com www.facebook.com/InfinityAllstars

Wharton Business School Club of the UK Yoav Kurtzbard, President Claire Watkins, Administrator 020-7447-8800 ykurtzbard@youngassoc.com cwatkins@youngassoc.com Williams Club of Great Britain Ethan Kline: ethankline@gmail.com Yale Club of London Joe Vittoria, President president@yale.org.uk Scott Fletcher, Events events@yale.org.uk Nick Baskey, Secretary secretary@yale.org.uk www.yale.org.uk Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Kristin Morgan. Tel: 07812 580949 kristinamorgan@gmail.com www.zetataualpha.org

CIVIL WAR SOCIETIES American Civil War Round Table (UK) Sandra Bishop, 5 Southdale, Chigwell, Essex IG7 5NN sandra-bishop@hotmail.com www.americancivilwar.org.uk Southern Skirmish Association (SoSkan) Membership Secretary, Bob Isaac, 3 Hilliards Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3TA email membership@soskan.co.uk

Herts Baseball Club Adult & Little League Baseball www.hertsbaseball.com LondonSports Instruction & competitive play in baseball, basketball and soccer, boys/girls aged 4-15, newcomers or experienced players. Sports in a safe, fun environment.

We welcome children of all nationalities. www.londonsports.com vll@me.com London Warriors American Football Club Contact: Kevin LoPrimo info@londonwarriorsafc.co.uk www.londonwarriorsafc.co.uk Mildenhall EELS Swim Team International and local competitions for ages 6-19.

Contact Coach Robin flv4@hotmail.com

Every effort is made to ensure that these listings are correct and current. If your entry requires amendments please notify us immediately. We rely on you to keep us informed.

Telephone 01747 830520, Fax 01747 830691 or email us at sabrina@theamerican.co.uk. We would be pleased to receive profiles, news or short articles about your organization for possible publication in The American.

The American To find out whether you’re eligible to advertise your products and services here, and for rates, call Sabrina Sully on +44 (0)1747 830520. You’ll reach Americans living in and visiting the UK as well as Britons who like American culture and products.

Suppliers of quality products and services hand-picked for you ACCOUNTANCY & TAX BDO LLP The UK member firm of the world’s fifth largest accountancy organisation.

55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU 020 7486 5888 info@bdo.co.uk www.bdo.uk.com Jaffe & Co., incorp. American Tax International Comprehensive tax preparation and compliance service for US expatriates in the UK and Europe.

America House, 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT 020 8346 5237 www.jaffeandco.com Tax & Accounting Hub Professional service at affordable prices. Fixed fee U.S. Expatriate tax preparation service in London. Federal/ State, Foreign bank account/IRS audits response +44 (0)20 3286 6445. M: +44 (0)79 1439 3183 152 Burford Wharf, 3 Cam Road, London, E15 2SS www.taxandaccountinghub.com Xerxes Associates LLP Fixed Fee US & UK Individual Tax Compliance, Consulting & Planning.

Tel: +44(0)207 411 9026 Fax: +44(0)207 411 9051 www.xerxesllp.com

ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES Stephen T Taylor Your American stamp dealer in Britain since 1995.

5 Glenbuck Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6BS 020 8390 9357 info@stephentaylor.co.uk www.stephentaylor.co.uk

DRIVING INSTRUCTION Alison Driving School A well established, well known International Driving Instructor covering the area south and west of London, ideal for new drivers and for Americans who want to drive in the UK. www.alison-driving-school.co.uk alisondrivingschool@yahoo.co.uk 01784 456 037, cell 07956 220389

COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY Transitions Therapy Psychotherapy & Counselling for Expatriate Individuals, Couples, Families & Adolescents in the West End. London, England, United Kingdom 07557 261432 in the UK or 0044 7557 261432 from another country.

Skype sessions available around the world. transitions_therapy@hotmail.com www.transitionstherapy.co.uk

LEGAL Kingsley Napley LLP Family lawyers with particular experience in dealing with cases involving Americans living here and abroad.

020 7814 1200 www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

MEDICAL & DENTAL The American Women’s Health Centre (AWHC) OB GYN Based in the West End of London, at the heart of medical excellence in Britain.

Third Floor, 214 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QN 020 7390 8433 info@AWHC.co.uk www.awhc.co.uk

EDUCATION Florida State University in UK Over 50 years of experience in international education.

99 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LA 020 7813 3223 www.international.fsu.edu

VIDEO / TELEVISION

GROCERY Lidgate Butchers Organic meats from a 150 year old business now run by the fifth generation of the same family.

110 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 4UA Tel. 0207 727 8243 www.lidgates.com

Jim Garnett - Cameraman 27 years’ experience in television, magazines and newspapers – Full professional gear in both NTSC [USA/Canada] and PAL formats. Used by ‘Entertainment Tonight’, CBC, CTV National, CTV Toronto, CTV Sports, Global TV and Channel Zero.

Tel. 07930-100909 http://jimgarnettphotography.blogspot.co.uk

Coffee Break Answers

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1. Merle Haggard; 2. Robert Galbraith; 3. John Nash; 4. Roger Rabbit; 5. Turks & Caicos, (British) Virgin Islands; 6. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe...; 7. John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler; 8. HP Lovecraft; 9. (c) A bit of a trick question... all of them were crowned King of England, but William (aka ‘The Conqueror’) was crowned after he invaded in 1066; 10. The Green Bay Packers; 11. Phil Collins; 12. Dolly Parton; 13. Robert Hayden; 14. Oreo; 15. Danny Kaye.

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2013

© ESPN 2012-2013

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