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Somerton couple bid for planning
A SOMERTON couple have asked South Somerset District Council for planning permission.

Beverly Hills: It’s like dressing up for the prom

Way back in the 1950’s there was a television show called “Queen for a Day” which, despite present-day connotations, was about taking an everyday person and changing her entire life — if only for a day. It was a chance for some deserving person to really see how the Other Half lives.

Today you can do the same thing with a trip to Beverly Hills. The average mortal may not be able to afford anything they’ll see in the posh stores on Rodeo Drive, but they’ll certainly get a taste of what life would be like if they could. And therein lies the fun — it’s like dressing up for the prom, or putting on airs at the local country club. In this little getaway, you get to pretend you’re something that you are not.

Of course there are lots of movie stars out there, mortgaged to the hilt, who are essentially doing the same thing.

Start your pretend weekend with accommodations like the Montage Beverly Hills, footsteps from Rodeo Drive and the newest luxury hotel in the area. Sister property to its famous Laguna Beach hideaway, the Beverly Hills version is just as swanky but built with Spanish Revival architecture that matches the Mediterranean styling you see throughout the city. It’s not quite the Hearst Castle, but the flavor’s the same and the opulence just as pronounced. Our first clue was that our garden-variety SUV was outclassed the moment we eased onto the Montage circular driveway and took our place right between the Bentley and the Maserati.

You’ll want to have a few bills ready to tip your valet and bellhop. Five bucks seemed awfully little reward for putting our vehicle to bed amongst all those classic cars, but some habits die hard. Our poor valet — he got stuck with us and our SUV while, very next car, his co-worker drew a top-of-the-line fully-tinted Beamer and some executive who probably doesn’t even know what a five-dollar-bill is. And then it dawned on us: maybe that guy’s pretending, too.

We were not surprised when our room at the Montage was, in a word: ultra-luxurious. At 500 square feet it was larger than most hotel rooms and featured elegant dark wood furniture — a cabinet, combination desk and LCD TV hutch, stylish headboards on two queen beds — as well as a muted brown and beige color scheme that contrasted well with the furniture. Our room featured a lanai perfect for enjoying breakfast while looking over the hotel’s courtyard and gardens. The same tones and rich brown woods were used along with marble to make the bathroom and dressing area seem fit for a (pretend) king.

The Montage would be our base of operations and, with its location at the intersection of Canon and Beverly Drives, it’s in the heart of the action. It was a quick walk over to the famous Rodeo Drive, probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of visiting Beverly Hills. Almost all of the big-name stores are neatly compressed in a little two-block area where you’ll find Valentino, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and Armani. The key to success here, apparently, is to be sure and give your store a foreign sounding name. No one will spend buku bucks to shop at Jones, Smith or Johnson.

Now some pretenders will sweep into town and think they will spot movie stars up and down Rodeo because, let’s face it, hitting Rodeo is a little like driving to Costco for the well-heeled who live in the hills that are no more than 10 minutes away. But we’re told the stars avoid the commoners on weekends so your star search will have to be mid-week. Another tip: hang out in the alley ways where, instead of the homeless, you’ll find jobless movie stars who, while waiting for their next acting job, have their chauffeurs drop them off at the back entrances to top clothiers and jewelers.

If you really must see a movie or television star, stop by the Paley Center for Media, where you can at least see them on a television screen. Just a few blocks from Rodeo, this is like a library for TV watchers and has a unique setup where you can search for television shows dating back to the beginning of TV and then sit at a television and watch the entire show. Have a favorite show from the 80s? Just punch in the number and the show magically appears on your screen. The Paley Center also is now the West Coast edition of the Museum of Broadcasting, a popular attraction for visitors to New York City. And there are regular events at the Paley Center when they will have the stars come in and be honored for their achievements — a great way to lure them out of their Beverly Hills mansions long enough that the little people can get an up-close look.

Lots of people who visit Beverly Hills will take one of the star tours where you’ll be driven around town in a bus or some unusual vehicles we noticed that looked like vans that had the top half removed, ostensibly for a better view of the stars. We’re told the chances of seeing a star are slightly less than seeing a Republican in San Francisco, but you will see some fascinating homes and be able to put a name with a house. A better bet, we think, is the Beverly Hills trolley tour which you can catch near Rodeo Drive. For five dollars, you can ride around town for 40 minutes, visiting all the Beverly Hills highlights including the Beverly Hills Hotel and a number of stars’ homes.

The dining choices in Beverly Hills are spectacular. We enjoyed a couple of excellent meals at the Montage — lunch at the poolside Conservatory Grill and breakfast in the more formal Parq. In both cases, the food and service were excellent and came with some especially good people-watching and eavesdropping. One thirty-something man sitting next to us, for example, was telling his male friend that the impeccably dressed middle-age woman sitting a few tables away was worth about three billion dollars. Later he left his friend, went over to her table and launched into some serious schmoozing which we’re certain had nothing to do with money.

Another restaurant deserving special mention is the LA Food Show, a relatively new eatery on Beverly Drive. The unbelievably attentive service was only surpassed by the fascinating and eclectic menu. Our Gaucho Steak was hearty and tasty, while the Cajun Trout was done to perfection. Both entrees were reasonably priced.

We also enjoyed a delicious lunch at a place called Boe where we ate on the patio in front of the Hotel Crescent, one of the city’s hot social spots right now. It’s a great place to people-watch, especially if you stop in for dinner on a Friday or Saturday.

If you visit on a weekend, be sure and check out the Farmer’s Market held each Sunday near the Beverly Hills Police Station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parking area looked a little like the Montage with Land Rovers outnumbering Jeeps 10 to 1, but the concept is the same as in any other community: reasonably priced super-fresh produce along with the unusual knick-knacks and food booths galore.

With just one night in Beverly Hills, we left a lot undone — no time for the Spa at the Montage, for example. There were several gardens we didn’t have time to see. And our time on Rodeo was spent “speed-shopping,” something I invented this trip to keep my wife from making our pretend trip a real trip with real credit card bills to remind me of our great time.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Beverly Hills is in the heart of Los Angeles and adjacent to other fun areas to visit such as Santa Monica and Hollywood.

WHAT: Beverly Hills is the epitome of wealth and style with more famous people living here than anyplace we can think of. It’s fun to play in the Big Leagues for a weekend.

WHEN: Anytime of the year. L.A.’s weather is almost always good.

WHY: Beverly Hills is making an all-out effort to welcome visitors and anyone who For more watches TV or movies will immediately recognize the famous landmarks. Great hotels, superb dining choices and constant sunshine all help seal the deal.

HOW: For more information on Beverly Hills, phone 800-345-2210 or visit www.lovebeverlyhills.org.

About the Author

Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California spa vacations and other Golden State destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Washington vacation ideas as well as other Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

School in St. Petersburg Russia?

I want to go to the conservatory in St. Petersburg. I just was just looking for any kind of advice; grocery costs for a single person, average rent, things I should watch out for, crime, police, etc…

the best advice here – make sure you get friends that a LOCAL,
and you’ll be fine.

The Thespian’s Guide to Acting Schools in New York

These are the facts and myths that most know or believe of the city:

New York is the city that never sleeps.

New York is one of the costliest places to live in.

New York is the center of the whole world.

New York is inhabited by people who love to love, hate, argue and haggle.

Now being a peace loving writer, I certainly shan’t argue about which one of those is true and which one isn’t. But if you’re a thespian in search for good acting schools, then you certainly won’t care about that. But you’d naturally care about the list that I’m about to provide below.

New York is a cosmopolitan city where a lot of good acting schools abound. In fact, if you truly are in search for excellent thespian education, New York isn’t a bad place to start. Naturally, the tuition fees of these acting schools are comparatively more expensive than the acting schools in your local state but they’re worth it. And if you’re looking for more proof, all you need is to do a little research work and I assure you that a lot of Hollywood big stars owe their talents to the very acting schools I’m about to enumerate.

Assuming that finances are not a problem for you, there’s just only other thing then to tackle: admissions. Several acting schools in New York are quite choosy when it comes to the students they’d let in their hallowed halls so to improve your chances of getting accepted, make sure that your school or the proper figures of authority furnish you with glowing recommendations. Neither does it hurt to have high GPAs to back you up.

With those two warnings then, here are some New York acting schools that you can try applying to.

ACTeen: Acting For Teen: Operating for almost three decades already, the ACTeen is the pioneering on-camera acting academy for teens, particularly those aged between thirteen to nineteen years old. If you or your child is serious about pursuing acting for a profession then you should consider contacting this particular acting school and view their curriculum. Besides learning everything about film and theater, students are also provided with a choice of over fifteen electives.

Ted Bardy Studio Inc. : To echo their tagline, this acting school provides their students with intense and personalized acting instruction. Everyone’s welcome to be a part of their workshop (limited to a small number to ensure personalized instruction), may it be amateurs, intermediate actors or professionals out to seek to improve their craft. The Ted Bardy Studio Inc. uses the Stanislavski / Meisner approach in guiding their students through their uniquely designed 3 phase program. Ted Bardy Studio Inc. is located in the Union Square section of New York City.

Actor Theater Workshop : ATW is a professional, non-profit theater company and under it, the Scott Acting Conservatory operates to train professional actors and have them realize original creative techniques to further improve their craft.

Lee Strasberg Theater Institute : this acting school hopes that the techniques of the acting legend, Lee Strasberg, continue to live on through their students.

East End Ensemble : A school that started two years ago as a local acting workshop set up in a private home and meant to improve the communication skills of their adult students. If you want to have fun while learning, this funky acting school may be what you’re looking for. East End Ensemble can be found in Brooklyn, New York.

About the Author

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Selecting Proper Conservatory Manufacturing Design

Selecting right conservatory is not an easy task. There are various forms of it such as the traditional ones such as Victorian Conservatory, Edwardian Conservatory and Garden Conservatory or the contemporary ones that are distinguished according to the shape and materials like P shaped conservatory, T shaped conservatory, gable end conservatory, double glazed conservatory, etc. You must decide on the design before you actually begin the construction work otherwise there might be unsolicited hazards in the future. Here we are featuring some vital tips that will help you to proper design of conservatory manufacturing. Choosing the right design is the most crucial factor. Victorian and Edwardian conservatories are the most common and oldest varieties. You can select from those traditional varieties of you can opt for the latest designs. You must consider your housing style as the conservatory manufacturer will conduct his according to that. Based on the design of the house, you can opt for other specific aspects of your conservatory. Proper control of temperature would be the next vital thing for conservatory manufacturing design. The interiors of conservatories react differently in different seasons. Overheating makes the summer time uncomfortable and there are even possibilities of the furniture getting discolored. While during the winters, people inside the conservatory can feel shivering cold. Then what is the solution to control temperature? Using proper glasses in windows and doors will ensure proper temperature all through the year. Conservatory constructions with proper glass materials can ensure protection against ultra violet rays and gives proper insulation. Using single layered glass in the conservatory is an inexpensive alternative, but during the winters things will not be comfortable. Tempered glass is also a good choice as these glasses are unbreakable. Many conservatory manufacturers suggest for insulated double glazed glass panels. These panels include two glass layers, but there is a space between the panels. Gases like carbon dioxide, argon, krypton, air, etc cover that gap and hence both safety and comfort are much stronger. Flooring is among of most significant feature in this aspect. There are several varieties of flooring that goes well with diverse conservatory varieties. Discuss with your conservatory manufacturer what kind of flooring you should go with. Some of the choices include carpets, woods, tiles and concrete. Out of these varieties, concrete and tiles are the most common option because of easy maintenance and long lasting ability. However, there is a disadvantage of using concrete or tile flooring, which is the increase of floor heating cost, especially in winter. During winter, such kind of flooring gets too cold for comfort and hence heaters are required to be installed, which increases cost. In such scenario, wooden flooring can be better choice. Such flooring can be used during both summer and winters. Other advantage of wooden floors is attractive look and easy cleaning facility. If the above said factors are considered, you can select a perfect conservatory design for your home.

Selecting right conservatory is not an easy task. There are various forms of it such as the traditional ones such as Victorian Conservatory, Edwardian Conservatory and Garden Conservatory or the contemporary ones that are distinguished according to the shape and materials like P shaped conservatory, T shaped conservatory, gable end conservatory, double glazed conservatory, etc. You must decide on the design before you actually begin the construction work otherwise there might be unsolicited hazards in the future. Here we are featuring some vital tips that will help you to proper design of conservatory manufacturing.

Choosing the right design is the most crucial factor. Victorian and Edwardian conservatories are the most common and oldest varieties. You can select from those traditional varieties of you can opt for the latest designs. You must consider your housing style as the conservatory manufacturer will conduct his according to that. Based on the design of the house, you can opt for other specific aspects of your conservatory.

Proper control of temperature would be the next vital thing for conservatory manufacturing design. The interiors of conservatories react differently in different seasons. Overheating makes the summer time uncomfortable and there are even possibilities of the furniture getting discolored. While during the winters, people inside the conservatory can feel shivering cold. Then what is the solution to control temperature? Using proper glasses in windows and doors will ensure proper temperature all through the year. Conservatory constructions with proper glass materials can ensure protection against ultra violet rays and gives proper insulation. Using single layered glass in the conservatory is an inexpensive alternative, but during the winters things will not be comfortable. Tempered glass is also a good choice as these glasses are unbreakable. Many conservatory manufacturers suggest for insulated double glazed glass panels. These panels include two glass layers, but there is a space between the panels. Gases like carbon dioxide, argon, krypton, air, etc cover that gap and hence both safety and comfort are much stronger.

Flooring is among of most significant feature in this aspect. There are several varieties of flooring that goes well with diverse conservatory varieties. Discuss with your conservatory manufacturer what kind of flooring you should go with. Some of the choices include carpets, woods, tiles and concrete. Out of these varieties, concrete and tiles are the most common option because of easy maintenance and long lasting ability. However, there is a disadvantage of using concrete or tile flooring, which is the increase of floor heating cost, especially in winter. During winter, such kind of flooring gets too cold for comfort and hence heaters are required to be installed, which increases cost. In such scenario, wooden flooring can be better choice. Such flooring can be used during both summer and winters. Other advantage of wooden floors is attractive look and easy cleaning facility.

If the above said factors are considered, you can select a perfect conservatory design for your home.

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Conservatory Regulations (Scotland)?

We currently live in a 4-in-a-block type house with upstairs and through-the wall neighbours. We were thinking of adding a small conservatory. These are the specs:- 1m away from boundary, only building up to our window height, taking away the window in the room and replacing with a door, and have been assured by conservatory company that it will be under 8 square metres inside. Where do we go from here? What permission may we need if any. please help.

oooooooh sounds lovely! perhaps u could invite me round to your new conservatory for a wee shandy

as far as getting permission etc…not got a clue!!!

im in the same position and no one can give me an answer

my company say no….letter of comfort is all i need,
spoke to about a million people from glasgow city council,
1 says…only building warrant required for drop down
1 says…full planning permission is required
1 says…submit drawings with a small fee

no idea!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaah !!!

good luck, let me know how u get on
xx