ROYALS Royal Wedding

Today the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton was announced, ending years of speculation.

The two became engaged while on holiday in Kenya.

In a touching gesture, Kate's engagement ring is a sapphire and diamond ring once owned by William's mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. It was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today and the excitement", said William.

The wedding will take place in in London in either spring or summer. Will it be the event that the wedding Prince William's parents, Charles and Diana's was? Probably not, but I'm sure the world will be captivated anyway. For Britain it will be a celebration like they haven't seen in years, probably not since the wedding of Charles and Diana, and I suspect the wave of euphoria will last all the way through the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics in London. But most of all it will give the monarchy some much needed rejuvenation.

MISC Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'd like to start off this blog by apologizing to my faithful readers (all two of you!) for being so neglectful lately.

Truth be told, life has been extremely busy for me lately. I know everyone's is, but I'm at a real crossroads in my life. In two months I will have completed my undergrad in English Rhetoric and Lit. I'm moving to Toronto for at ten month interim before I (hopefully) move to London, England to do my MA in Life Writing at King's College. I've got three weeks left at a job I have spent nearly eight years working at, which works out to be nearly one third of my life! I'm also getting ready to say goodbye to favourite profs, my hairdresser and trainer. They really have become family, and I'll miss them terribly. I'm not so upset about being hours away from friends. I know I'll see them. But it's the other people in my life, the ones that you promise to keep in touch with, and try as you might, it just doesn't happen. At least there's Facebook, right?

All of that sounds like I don't do well with change. That's not true. I love change and I think it's essential for growth. I'm excited about apartment hunting and cultivating a spot that is just my own. I'm excited about finding a job, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones, and living in an incredibly vibrant city where there is always something going on. I've already got tickets for my first event as a Toronto resident: "An Evening with Stephen Sondheim" at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Sounds fun, right?

I've had two incredible Thanksgiving dinners this weekend, and a third tonight. This afternoon I plan on curling up with some of my favourite Christmas movies. I'll be in Europe over Christmas this year, and won't get a chance to watch my favourites. Or maybe with all these changes I do need some tradition in my life...

-Andrew Jon-

OLD HOLLYWOOD Olivia de Havilland Awarded France's Legion of Honour

Yesterday Hollywood legend--and one of my all-time favourites--Olivia de Havilland, 94, was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour at an investiture by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris.


"[Y]ou honour France for having chosen us," Sarkozy told de Havilland, who was born in Japan to British parents but has long made Paris her home.

He also acknowledged de Havilland's hand in changing the studio system when in the 1940s she fought against roles that she felt were beneath her talents as an actress.


"You are a rebel because you are the only one who dared file a suit against the studios to defend the liberty of actors," Sarkozy said. "You won. It's exceptional."


British born actress Jacqueline Bisset was also awarded the Legion of Honour at yesterday's ceremony.

CELEBS Gaga Does Japanese Men's Vogue

At this point I don't know whether to applaud Gaga for still getting us talking about her outrageous fashion choices, or be annoyed with her for still getting us talking about her outrageous fashion choices...

Well, she's at it again, this time on the cover of the Japanese edition of Men's Vogue wearing what has been described as a meat bikini. Not surprisingly, Peta is already up in arms over the whole thing. (They're about as predictable as the predictability of Gaga's unpredictable attire.) I don't doubt Gaga's authenticity. She truly seems to live through her art, whether it's her music or her costumes. However, how much longer can she continue topping herself? There's something to be said for allowing her talent to shine through and be centre stage... For every epic video like 'Thriller' that Michael Jackson made, there was also a 'Man in the Mirror'. He was a showman, but he also understood simplicity.

At this point you know what I think would be really shocking? Seeing Gaga in jeans and a T-shirt...

MUSIC 'Miss Me' by Drake f. Lil Wayne

This is easily my favourite song of the moment. Drake has been enjoying great success with his debut album, Thank Me Later, released back in June. It's been great watching his meteoric rise to fame as we're both the same age and good Canadian boys. I look forward to evolving and growing in my craft as he does in his...

THEATRE "The Tempest" starring Christopher Plummer

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend The Tempest starring Christopher Plummer at the Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario. As its run is quickly drawing to a close (the last performance is this Sunday), it has already been long reviewed by such distinguished critics in such venerable publications as Charles Isherwood in the New York Times. I would, however, like to reiterate that this production, by Des McAnuff, is a complete feast for all of the senses. Rarely have I seen such a beautifully articulated production. From the costumes, to the interpretation of these familiar characters, The Tempest serves as a reminder of why Stratford has gained its world renowned reputation.


The Tempest, Shakespeare's great play about the usurped duke of Milan, has often been a swan song for many great actors of the stage. However, Christopher Plummer, never one to adhere to what others have done, has vowed that his Prospero on stage will not be his last; he has no intentions of retiring from the profession he loves. Indeed he will reprise his Tony award winning performance from 1997, the title role in Barrymore, the two man play about another great Shakespearean actor, John Barrymore, at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto for thirty performances. I can't wait.

MUSIC 'Crossfire' by Brandon Flowers

I'm absolutely in love with 'Crossfire,' the first single from The Killers' frontman Brandon Flowers' debut album, Flamingo, due out this month. He doesn't break any new ground here, but it's great nonetheless.