Birthday Girl: The Wisdom of Eve

I suppose it says something about me more than anything else, but my feed over at Facebook just plain lit up with the news that yesterday was the birthday of the heavenly Miss Eve Arden.

Octoblog

It's an auspicious day, my dears, and I thought we all deserve a little eye candy. Meet Mr. Mohamed el Bably, who apparently ranks among "8 of Egypt's Top Male Models, at least according to online rag CairoScene.

This Woman Was Dangerous

I love stumbling, unawares, onto a treasurable character; this lady most definitely was one.

Birthday Girl: The Big Nine-Oh

Herself, as seen by Mr. David Bailey

There is, I think, very little that can be written about the woman that is in any way new or particularly insightful. 

When All the World is a Hopeless Jumble

Indulge me, darlings, in just a trace of sentimentality; perhaps I'm going soft in my old age.

Color Me Green

Yes, I fear I'm having the slightest - the very slightest - bout of envy.

Birthday Girl: It was a Party

We need a little cheering up hereabouts, and who better to take on that daunting task than today's birthday girl, the heavenly Miss Ann Miller?

A Very Fond Farewell

Oh, my dears, it's a sad day hereabouts. We got some really rather dreadful news this morning.

So This Happened

Three staunch ladies, lunching at the Russian Tea Room. What one would have given to be a fly on the wall...

Notes from the Office

Do you ever get distracted at work?  I'm afraid I did, this morning, perhaps just a little.

You Must Remember This

If you're looking for something to while away some time this fine spring weekend, I can't recommend anything more highly than spending time with the eminent British novelist Charmian Colston, her trying sister-in-law Dame Lettie, her faithful retainer Taylor, and even her rather odious "carer," the very uncaring Mrs. Pettigrew.

He is Risible, Indeed

Just in case your Easter isn't shaping up to be oleaginous enough, darlings, herewith a treasurable moment in vintage television.

Friday Frolic, Poolside Edition

Even in these trying times, can it be anything other than a good thing to head into the weekend with a little eye candy?

A Quicker Picker-Upper

When you've been feeling gloomy - crummy, even - sometimes all you need is a little shot of pure adrenaline. Enter Miss Ann Miller, stage right.

Look, Ma - I'm an Artist!

Except I don't think I'm, as the saying goes, an Early Adopter when it comes to feeling crummy. Increasingly, in fact, I think we live in a pretty crummy era.

Beware the Ides

In brighter news than the below, today is Marjorie Merriweather Post's birthday; 

here's the foyer of her modest little home, Hillwood, on my last visit. You know 

it's kind of an iffy day when thinking about Marie Antoinette cheers you up...

This is a peculiar time in Our Nation's Capital, unsettled and tetchy. The weather, after a long stretch of late June last week, turned dank and lowsome, and the trains, as you might have read, have been misbehaving. And, as you may also have noted, the politics aren't helping.

Strictly Grade B

Yup, she's dead. I've been wracking my brains trying to remember something I'd read about the woman that resonated, that really explained the truth about her particular kind of pinchbeck allure. I'm ashamed to admit that it took until this afternoon to remember that it was, predictably enough, from the writings of the marvelous Mr. Leo Lerman.

Birthday Girl: Shine On

The planet spins, and the world goes 'round - and suddenly, Miss Minnelli is 70. Happy birthday, Liza May.

Trip Report: Old Familiar Faces

We're home. The dogs, relieved and more than a little vengeful, have been fetched from their pricey hostelry, I've been back to the office, and today I'm taking advantage of a post-flight sore throat to stay home and try to get rested and organized.*

Evening in One City, Morning in Another

On our last evening in Cairo, we went downtown.