Son of Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan set to impress in ‘The Hunger Games’

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I n all the hype for the hugely anticipated “The Hunger Games,” one co-star getting buzz is Jack Quaid, the son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, who is making his big-screen debut.

‘JACK GETS IT’ Jack Quaid, soon to be seen in “The Hunger Games,” has inherited the acting talent of his famous parents

‘JACK GETS IT’ Jack Quaid, soon to be seen in “The Hunger Games,” has inherited the acting talent of his famous parents

Unbiased sources tell me the young Quaid — said to be very sad about his dad’s and stepmom Kimberly Buffington-Quaid’s increasingly nasty pending divorce — has inherited his parents’ acting chops.

“Jack is ready for people to hate him, since he’s playing the evil Marvel in ‘The Hunger Games,’ but trust me, Jack really has a big career in front of him,” said a Hollywood heavyweight who should know. “The Hunger Games” opens March 23.

“Both Meg and Dennis have given Jack lots of good advice on how to carefully craft a career. Starting out in what will likely be the biggest blockbuster of the year ain’t bad!” another source close to the young actor said with a laugh. “Jack gets it. This kid absolutely knows how to handle the fame game.”

SILVER SOAP: “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” 25th anniversary bash Saturday night at L.A.’s rooftop Perch hotspot was an elegant affair jam-packed with a celeb-heavy crowd, best described by both words in the title of the long-running soap opera. Hosted by “B&B’s” founding family, led by Brad Bell, wife Colleen, sister Lauralee Belland their mom — Chicago TV legend Lee Phillip Bell — those spied walking the “silver carpet” included Heather Tom, Hunter Tylo, Katherine Kelly Lang, Susan Flannery, Don Diamont, John McCook and Jacob Young.

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Five minutes with Donna Ida Thornton

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Finding the perfect pair of jeans has never been an easy task….(never!). But one trip to the denim mecca that is Donna Ida and you’d be hard pushed not to find jeans to fit any figure. With four boutiques and a super busy schedule, we caught up with founder of Donna Ida –Donna Ida Thornton to talk Dior, bags and of course…denim!

Five minutes with Donna Ida Thornton

Five minutes with Donna Ida Thornton

What’s a typical day like for you at work?
A lot of people ask me this! If I am in the UK, I get up at 4.45am every morning – we did a blog post on it recently because so many people ask what my day consists of! After that, it is usually a hectic mix of buying appointments, business meetings and meeting journalists. Liberty London Girl asked me to write about my typical day which I did in a recent guest blog, so you can see it is pretty mixed…but I wouldn’t want it any other way!

Who would you like to see replace John Galliano at Dior?

I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to find out. That’s the great thing about fashion, you never know what will happen next – I have to say he will be an incredibly hard act to follow though. It’s the hot potato job.

What’s your top tip for picking the right pair of jeans?

Be open minded and listen to all the help and advice you are given (by an expert!). I’ve had customers in the shop refuse resolutely to try a shape I am trying to suggest and over the course of half an hour I keep going back and wear them down….and as soon as they put them on there are tears of joy. When you sell jeans all day and look at women’s shapes constantly, you do tend to know which ones to put together. Jeans are all essentially the same – two legs, five pockets. The devil is in the detail so it’s up to us to convince you that one will work more than the other. We really do know!

You’re stuck in a lift for 5 hours. Who would you love to spend your time with?

My husband, and my dogs Romeo and Julio…or Elton John. He’s fascinating and seems so much fun.

Favourite holiday destination ?
I love Barbados – you can’t go wrong. The Caribbean is a guaranteed good holiday. I really want to get to Positano though. One day!

Best thing about owning your own business?

God – everything. You can actually get things done. You can make things happen – so satisfying.

Jimmy Choo or Louboutin? And why?

It’s YSL, Miu Miu and Camilla Skovgaard for me. They fit and are comfortable. I wore Louboutin when I got married…..it was not a comfortable ceremony. I asked a friend to go home and get a pair of heels I was wearing that Summer to get me through the bulk of the day and then switched back to the killers that evening when I changed into a shorter dress.

If you HAD to choose another industry besides the beloved fashion world to work in, which would it be?

Food I guess? Or something crafty. I like making things.

Most interesting person you’ve met?

My husband. It would have to be! I could be stuck on a desert island with him and never run out of things to say (mainly oh my GOD what are we going to dooooo?!! on repeat)

You can only buy one bag this year…..which would it be?

I need a Celine. I. Need. A. Celine.

Best piece of advice you’ve been given?

When you’re going through hell, keep going. Churchill said it during the war. It’s not like running your own business is a battlefield, but when you’re in a sticky situation or doing something uncomfortable it just reminds me to push through it.

Beijing Fashion Week? China’s Communist Party elite convenes–decked out in haute couture

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No, it’s not “Beijing Fashion Week.” It’s actually a Chinese Communist Party political convention.

CPPCC committee member Song Zuying chose Chanel boots for the annual conference

CPPCC committee member Song Zuying chose Chanel boots for the annual conference

China’s political elite have gathered in Beijing this week for the annual twin meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress (CPPCC). And Chinese netizens are taking to Asian micro-blogging sites to note that some of their Communist Party representatives are turning up for the annual political powwows decked out in some rather conspicuously high-end French and Italian designer duds. Among the luxury labels in the fashion parade: Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta, according to a report in MP Life, translated via the English-language ChinaSmack blog.

Take, for instance, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress (CPPCC) committee member Song Zuying (pictured in the photo at right), who arrived to participate in the conference in “a fur coat, [and] on her feet she wears Chanel’s Autumn-Winter collection gold chain boots,” MP Life wrote. (Retail value for the boots: $1,500, according to one shopping website–if you can still snag a pair.)

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Mudcat Festival makes Top 100 list

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Dunnville’s locally famous Mudcat Festival has once again been put on the provincial map.

On Wednesday, the festival’s organizer, Carolyn Chymko, announced to those in attendance at the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting that the 38th installment of “Dunnville’s biggest party” was once again named to the 2012 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario.

Mudcat Festival organizer Carolyn Chymko holds up the new logo for the popular event unveiled on Wednesday March 7, 2012 at the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce's Annual General Meeting. The new logo wasn't the only good news Chymko shared with those in attendance, the 38th annual Mudcat Festival which will take place in June has been named to the 2012 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario

Mudcat Festival organizer Carolyn Chymko holds up the new logo for the popular event unveiled on Wednesday March 7, 2012 at the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce's Annual General Meeting. The new logo wasn't the only good news Chymko shared with those in attendance, the 38th annual Mudcat Festival which will take place in June has been named to the 2012 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario

This marks the second time in three years the festival has made the cut.

“We are top 10 for sure, they never say who’s No. 1,” Chymko said. “Actually, we think we’re No. 1, who are we kidding?”

Sponsored by VIA Rail Canada, the annual list features a select group which represent some of the most well-known and respected celebrations in the province; celebrations which draw both an international and domestic audience.

Submissions for the distinction were received in the fall of 2011 and judged by an independent panel of judges.

Chymko said she believes the festival was chosen yet again because of its growth over the last few years.

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Military watches: Creations that rarely appear on battlefield

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The relationship between watchmakers and the military has been a long one. Throughout the 20th century, the world’s most prominent luxury brands have been producing timepieces with dazzling movements and complications, supposedly created for – or inspired by – soldiers fighting in the most testing of environments.

Well armed: durable pieces are the order of the day

Well armed: durable pieces are the order of the day

Yet how often do these creations actually make the transition into the reality of a battlefield or even into the realms of ordinary military life?

In centuries past, the answer was frequently, says John Reardon, head of Sotheby’s watches department in New York and a renowned timepiece historian. He says: “A hundred years ago, many watchmakers customised watches at the behest of military leaders to meet the harsh requirements of war.

“Pioneering pieces were made with non-reflective cases, luminous hands, non-magnetic movements, sturdier case construction and escapements with extreme temperature compensation.”

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