Drawing architects to accolades

The Pullman Hotel, Bangsar was the site for the groundbreaking PAM Awards 2014 on 24 May. Hosted by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), the country’s highest recognition for architectural excellence was attended by many in the industry, including the Malaysian Minister of Works, Datuk Haji Fadillah bin Yusof.

Five projects received the Gold Award for promoting responsible co-existence with nature through their works. These showstoppers were entries from:

Ar Mastor bin Surat (Commercial – High Rise)
WHBC Architects (Single Residential and Special Category)
Ken Wong Architect (Multiple Residential – Low Rise and Interior Design)

8 June 2014 witnessed the glitz and glamour of Broadway as its biggest stars converge to celebrate drama, flair, pizzazz and flamboyance of American theatre. Four-time Tony Awards host, Hugh Jackman ditched his Wolverine-claws and rugged leather jacket for a crisp and elegant suit and sartorial beard that oozed masculine charm. What’s more, he wowed the star-studded audience with his singing and energetic dancing, much to the delight of his legions of fans.

Fresh off his 10-year stint as the suave Barney Stinson on the wildly popular television sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris scandalised and seduced with his electrifying performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Even his performance at the Awards ceremony drew much chatter for the fabulous Hedwig @ Harris-in-drag licked Samuel L. Jackson’s glasses, gave Sting a lap dance and made out with his (Harris’s) husband who was seated in the front row.

Needless to say, it was all hot,  just like the Tony Awards 2014!

68th-Annual Tony Awards Fun Facts

908 : Number of total costumes made this year by the eight Tony nominated costume designers from Bullets Over Broadway, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Act One, Casa Valentina, After Midnight, Machinal and Twelfth Night

478.5 : Number of performances Alan Cumming has portrayed the Emcee in Cabaret on Broadway

337 : Number of costumes in each performance of Aladdin

300 : Number of raw eggs Tony Nominee Andy Karl has consumed on stage in Rocky

67 : Number of votes Lyndon B. Johnson, played by Tony Nominee Bryan Cranston, gets to pass his proposed bill in All the Way

26 : Number of Carole King’s hit songs featured in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

16 : Carole King’s age when she wrote her first song, as told in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

5 :  Number of Tony Awards Nominee Audra McDonald has won in her career

4 :  The height (in inches) of Tony Nominee Neil Patrick Harris’ highest pair of heels worn in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

1 :  Number of inches Hedwig is angry about

Patrolling the streets of Rome in style

On the streets of Rome, it is not uncommon to find supercars racing down narrow cobblestoned lanes and back alleys. What’s more, the Italian police force is famous for its fleet of patrol cars that include super sports cars. This May, Lamborghini donated to the polizia (that’s Italian for police) its latest edition of the Huracán LP610-4.

Stephan Winkelman, Automobili Lamborghini CEO, presented the car to Prefect Alessandro Pansa, the head of the Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police) in Rome. ‘We have a strong and fitting relationship with the Italian State Police. The new Lamborghini Huracán stands for Italian super sports car excellence and we are proud to provide it to the Italian State Police to carry out the specialist tasks these police cars undertake,’ said Winkelmann.

‘Today is an important day, since two Italian excellences meet and strengthen their relationship which started in 2004 with the handing over of the Lamborghini Gallardo to the Italian State Police. In the last ten years, the Italian State Police used the car for prevention purposes and in order to enhance street security,’ Pansa said, during the hand-over ceremony on 22 May.

Specially equipped to suit the needs of the crime-busting heroes, Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia has life-saving features that makes these patrol cars all the more awesome. The  luggage compartment at the front comes complete with a specialised refrigeration system that enables safe transportation of donor organs!

The next time you are in Rome, try to spot the blue and white Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia.

The Sicilian town of Taormina was the centre of much glam and glitz from 14 – 21 June as some of the world’s hottest stars graced its streets for the Taormina Film Festival.

Being the 60th edition of the film festival, Maserati – a sponsor of the event – chauffeured the international stars to the red carpet in style. The Italian luxury carmaker provided its Quattroporte and Ghibli models as official cars for the courtesy car service that was laid out for the celebrities stars attending the screenings.

Stunning American actress Eva Longoria, the elegant Paz Vega and the fabulous Bo Berek arrived at the film festival red carpet in the comfort of the sophisticated Maserati Quattroportes. Adding a touch of masculine charm to the Taormina Film Festival were American film star, funny man and director Ben Stiller and the dashing Matt Dillon.

A Game of the Queen, Cartier and Polo

The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park saw the biggest names in the world of polo battle to win the Cartier Queen’s Cup 2014.

Considered as one of the most prestigious British sporting events, the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final on 15 June 2014 was graced by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and joined by Arnaud M Bamberger, Executive Chairman Cartier Ltd, and Laurent Feniou, Managing Director Cartier Ltd.

To kick off the match, the Band of the Grenadier Guards paraded on the field, forming the figure 30 in celebration of Cartier’s three decades of sponsorship of polo at Guards Polo Club.  In line with their reputation as ‘The King of Jewellers’, Cartier has a long-standing tradition of supporting polo, a sport favoured by royalties and aristocrats the world over.

Exquisite floral creations by Britain’s top florist, John Carter, elegantly encapsulated Cartier’s 30 years of polo sponsorship. The tables were adorned with Cartier’s signature red; red dahlias, red antirrhinums, deep pink peonies, artichokes, red rose plants and red gladioli. A display of Cartier polo photographs from the past 30 years was prominently positioned inside the marquee.

Adding glamour to the final match were big-name guests from the worlds of stage, screen, sport, society, and literature. Seen mingling with the impressive crowd in the Cartier enclosure were the likes of HM Queen Noor of Jordan, Boris Becker, Michelle Dockery, Kristen Davis, and Bianca Jagger, where they were served Cartier champagne and a gorgeous lunch created by Mosimann’s.

Rado welcomes Tang Wei as new brand ambassador

There is a lot more in common between the award-winning Chinese actress, Tang Wei and the prestigious Swiss watchmaker, Rado. Both possess dignified grace, reputation for strength and a penchant for pushing boundaries, and the forging of this partnership was done in spectacular fashion in Shanghai, complete with a photo shoot of the beautiful actress wearing the latest high-tech ceramic models from the Rado Esenza Ceramic Touch, Rado HyperChrome and Rado DiaMaster families.

At the event announcing her appointment, Rado CEO Matthias Breschan said, ‘We are very proud to be able to announce Tang Wei as an ambassador for Rado today. She is not only a very talented actress, but also someone who has shown great determination and hard work to achieve success. We admire this greatly and believe that she reflects the values that are important to Rado as a brand. We are delighted to have her as part of the Rado family.’

One of China’s most celebrated and recognisable actresses, Tang Wei has received over 30 international awards. ‘I am very impressed with the new Rado collection. The watches are beautiful and versatile, and also very comfortable to wear. It is also important to me that Rado as a brand is focused on the future, and is known for breaking boundaries and overcoming challenges. I am very happy to become a part of the Rado family,’ she commented on being chosen as a Rado ambassador.