Dancing the day away: The Piano Works bottomless brunch

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As you might’ve noticed, here at Frost we have a penchant for prosecco filled bottomless brunches. What could beat it? A bottomless brunch with live music, of course. We headed to Farringdon to give The Piano Works ‘Brunch to the Beat’ a try and, whilst initially nervous as we first entered the lair, we quickly embraced the atmosphere and partied the day away.

At £50 per person, the bottomless brunch includes a two-course meal and two hours (none of that 90 minute malarkey) of unlimited drinks. Choose to wet the whistle with either prosecco, pink Italian sparkling wine, Aperol Spritz, Bloody Mary or mocktails.

You’d be hard pressed to find staff who support your quest for completely embracing the ‘unlimited’ part of the Brunch to the Beat experience too. Each time your glass is edging towards the dangerous ‘half full’ territory (yep, we’re eternal optimists), the suited and booted waiters are at your side, ready to serve and encouraging the party.

Although you can choose to purchase just the drinks at £35 a head, the quality of the food is not to be ignored. The chicken and waffles were the perfect mix of sweet and savoury and the crunchy, smokey batter that encased the chicken was packed with flavour. For dessert, it’s a modest list of options but they’re certainly fan favourites – sorbet, waffles, fruit salad or the pancake stack.

Above all else, it’s imperative we talk atmosphere. This bar is often packed with large groups of hens, stags and party people (which usually guarantees a good time) but the sheer brilliance of the on-stage professionals is something else. Music starts at midday with two piano vocalists, followed by a full band at 1.30pm. Once the band has bowled in, the party intensifies.

Playing only the audience requests with a fantastic jazzy twist to just about everything, the artists become the pied pipers, drawing crowds to the dancefloor with tantalising ease. To top this experience with the metaphorical cherry, it’s a no holds barred kind of affair, with all types of requests welcome. During our experience, we heard Ben E King, Jackson 5, Ellie Goulding and Lewis Capaldi – what more could you want!?

By the end of the session, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be dancing like you’re 18 again on the dancefloor at 4am. Although, the reality is that it’s 4pm, the harsh light of day awaits outside and the hangover is starting to prepare for its inescapable appearance… we wish you luck.

To make a booking for The Piano Works’ Brunch To The Beat, visit the website.

 

 

Exploring Inspirational Casino Destinations

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There’s nothing quite like going on a great vacation, getting away from our daily routine and doing something completely different, leaving our homes behind to explore new horizons. Not only is the experience believed to be good for our physical health, but it’s also said to be good for our mental wellbeing, as we focus entirely on the pursuit of leisure and leave the stresses of our occupations behind for a while.

Given that online gaming has become such a popular activity over the last decade or so, with the ability to enjoy casino games from the comfort of our own homes, that too has become the inspiration for vacations, as impressive resorts spring up in exotic locations around the world. 

Using this as the theme for a vacation packed with excitement and the opportunity to discover something new, let’s take a look at two Asian countries aiming to attract gaming tourists with their own unique cultural flavor, along with a look at the “entertainment capital of the world” that inspired them.

Las Vegas – America’s Casino Culture Capital

First-time visitors to Las Vegas are usually filled with awe and excitement – some are even overwhelmed by just how much there is to take in. Even if you’ve visited before, this location is continually in a process of change and evolution, ensuring that anyone venturing there will never repeat the same experience twice. Likewise, with so much to see and do, it’s virtually impossible to experience everything the Nevada hotspot has to offer in one trip.

One of the keystones upon which Las Vegas has constantly prided itself is offering entertainment of every flavor and variety, meaning there’s always something to suit any taste – whether that’s sampling the finest cuisine from internationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, hitting the casinos, or taking in some of the diverse range of shows. 

Musical stars of the past have always been popular here, but the city is now considered a modern music mecca for the younger generation, given that hip-hop star Drake has a residency with XS Nightclub at the Wynn Las Vegas resort. He is just one of many recent chart toppers such as Lady Gaga, Pitbull, and Gwen Stefani, with scheduled residency dates at different Las Vegas venues through 2019.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: Las Vegas: “The Entertainment Capital of the World”

Although such acts underline how Las Vegas is evolving more to cater to the rapidly increasing number of millennial visitors, some entertainment in the city almost seems like a permanent fixture. As they always have, the huge casinos still offer an abundance of gaming activity, from card games such as blackjack and poker in several variants to the dancing dice of craps or the bouncing ball in the roulette wheel and to slot machines of every theme you could possibly imagine.

Showcasing just how much the casino culture is impregnated in the very essence of this city, the latest and most innovative slot machine games are among the first things tourists will observe at McCarran International Airport when they arrive. Amongst them, you might even see slots featured around headline entertainment acts with resident shows in Las Vegas, such as uniquely comedic magical duo Penn and Teller at the Rio hotel, or the legendary Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage resort. Don’t be surprised to see slot games like these appearing soon at your favorite online casinos either, if they haven’t already.

Whether it’s visiting the fabled “Sin City” to enjoy gaming at the buzzing casinos, take in shows featuring some of the latest trending artists of music and the stage or as a base from which to explore the natural and man-made wonders in this part of Nevada, there’s certainly always something new to discover in and around Las Vegas.

South Korea – Gangnam Style

Given the ultra-modern and urban high-tech appearance of South Korea, especially the capital city of Seoul, it’s sometimes easy to forget this is a country steeped in history and tradition. Unmissable when visiting the city is taking in the magnificence of Gyeongbokgung Palace, enjoying the tranquility of Jogyesa Temple and the surrounding parks or admiring the traditional architecture strolling through Bukchon Hanok Village and delving into quaint little stores.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: The Urban Center of Gangnam in Seoul

Seoul is also renowned for its vibrant nightlife and the locals love to enjoy themselves, often visiting several destinations during a typical night out on the town. The most popular districts are Itaewon, Hongdae, and of course, the glistening urban center Gangnam. This location sparked an international craze with a “style” of its very own, which shows how much Koreans love to party and dance the night away.

If gaming is going to be part of your nighttime experience, it’s also in Gangnam where you’ll find the Seven Luck Casino, one of the largest gaming hotspots in South Korea and only open to foreign visitors. This is part of a grand overall complex in the center of town which includes the world-class InterContinental Seoul COEX hotel alongside Asia’s biggest basement shopping mall. 

Japan – Rising Sun of Change

One of the hardest parts about planning a trip to Japan is usually choosing which part of the country to visit. There are so many natural wonders to discover, cultural and historical marvels to explore, or vibrant urban centers in which to immerse yourself. Deciding where to base a vacation brings up countless and equally wonderful options. One thing you won’t find in the Land of the Rising Sun yet are the integrated casino resorts that have already started appearing with such success in other countries around Asia.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: Historic Wakayama Castle in Provincial Japan

However, they are coming to Japan thanks to recent changes in legislature which promises to bring Las Vegas style gaming to three locations around the country. As they’re the biggest urban centers, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka are expected to be at the forefront of bidding to be potential destinations. However, and perhaps more appealing for adventurous travelers, provincial areas like Hokkaido and Wakayama are also very keen to be chosen as integrated casino resort destinations.

It will certainly be well worth staying tuned to the bidding process for where the integrated resort casinos will be based, because Japan as a country never tends to do anything by halves, having already insisted that the chosen locations will boast some of the biggest and best entertainment facilities in the world. In the meantime, tourists visiting the country and keen to experience the Nippon equivalent of slot games we enjoy in the west, might want to try visiting the bustling Pachinko parlors.

Whichever these destinations takes your fancy, there’s always something new and different to enjoy. Don’t forget to do plenty of research before you travel and most of all, have a great time when you get there!

 

Sponsored Post. 

I was Abused & Called a Bitch For Travelling in London With my Children

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Traveling in London is not fun for anyone. With children it is even harder. I have previously written about the hell off traveling with children in London but today things got a whole lot worse. On the way back from an important appointment I got on a bus. There was a wheelchair user (who should always be given priority, and I always do) and then space for the pram. There was an older woman sitting there and I asked her to swing her legs round. I was worried I would get her toes.

She ignored me so I asked again. After the third or fourth time she looked at me, pursed her lips and shook her head. At this point a person on the bus told me this woman had just fallen on the bus. Okay, I said. I did not know that. I began to get off but the wheelchair user kindly moved further back so I could fit my pram in easily.

What happened next was truly shocking.  One woman had got up and was trying to help. Which is fine. But there was an older man who kept telling me to get off the bus. As well as older woman. The both started abusing me saying I should not be on the bus and that in their day they walked everywhere. The man said I should get off and run behind the bus and get some exercise. The women (who was separate from the man) was saying the same thing. I told them I had a right to use public transport and they had no idea how hard it was traveling in London with a pram. They continued to shout and abuse me. The woman who was on her feet and initially tried to help got very domineering when the bus moved off. I had to reach out and stop my four-year-old from falling over. She told me ‘look after my son’ and ‘go sit down’. While doing this she actually grabbed me and tried to push me in the direction of the seat.

When I told her I could look after own son she got offended and told me she was just trying to help. I told her she was a good person and thanked her as I did not want to escalate the situation. I told her I did not need anymore help.The wheelchair user needed to get off and I moved the pram and apologised to him and his carer for the uncomfortable experience, They were really lovely.

The man kept aggressively calling me a bitch. The older women said in her day they folded the pram up. All well and good but my 1-year-old was in the pram. Did she want me to juggle the children all the way? The man continued to abuse me, telling me to walk, calling me a bitch over and over. I told him to stop calling me a bitch or I would call the Transport Police and report him. The third woman who initially had tried to be helpful kept telling ME to be quiet even though I begged the two other people to stop talking and let it go. The third woman ended up getting off. They continued to abuse me and call me a bitch until my son started to cry. Only then did they stop. My son told me he was sad. I comforted him and told him everything was okay.

This is not okay. I was bullied and abused by three people in front of my children. I had a hellish journey getting there and only had a short time before I could give my son a quick lunch and then get him to nursery on time on the way back. We can do better than this London. We are better people. I wished the people abusing me love and light in their lives because I refuse to contribute to the pain and suffering in this world. I apologised to the woman who had fallen. I want love in the world, no hate. We can do better. We can be better. Our children are watching us.

Baby To Love has produced a fabulous range of musical box toys for the babe in your life by Annie Clarke

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Baby to Love is building a reputation for original, innovative and trend leading products.

Frost Magazine asked our prime ‘tester’ Miss Delilah to give her considered opinion. Now. Miss Delilah, heading towards 2 years old, is not backward in coming forwards with an emphatic no, so  we’re all pretty scared when the product displeases. Arghhhh – head for the hills.

No such problem this time. She found Jean the Toucan in the garden, having flown in overnight from the rainforest, flap flap, then a glide. (They’re not very good at flying apparently). She also found Jean easy and manageable to handle with her tiddly hands. In part due to the size, but also Jean’s soft texture and rounded shape. The musical box toucan, is, to be scientific, squidgy, much like Miss Delilah in a good mood. Gulp.

The music is tucked away inside Jean, and the tune is Over the Rainbow – very appropriate for a toucan when you think about it. In fact, this is a hallmark of Baby to Love – the thought that goes into these products.

To produce the music, someone with bigger hands has to pull the cord which is situated, if one might be indelicate, at the bottom of the toucan. Miss Delilah hadn’t the strength to pull it, but perhaps it’s as well, or it would have been going all day.

Each animal has a different melody, but all are tranquil to keep things under control, and clearly this range of music boxes is helpful for sensory development: vision, hearing, and tactility. I think too, that it stimulated Miss Delilah’s curiosity, and we found a toucan in a book, which she was able to relate to.

All in all, a thumbs up, from our rather scary tester – phew.

Do think of one for any new babies on the horizon, or that one year old birthday present. One of these animals will be sure to please. The packaging, incidentally is gorgeous, with a carrying handle, and wallpaper ‘innards’ displaying all the animal music boxes. Light to send as well.

Designed and developed in France Baby To Love are committed to the quality and safety of their products, to achieve only the best results.

The Musical Animals (Madeleine, Jean, Achille, Luca and Vincent) will be available buy online for £30.95 https://www.babytolove.co.uk/product/jean-the-toucan/

Baby to Love 

Annie Clarke’s new series, The Girls on the Home Front is published by Arrow on 29th May.

F.I One Memoirs of a Forensic Investigator By Jack V Sturiano

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F.I One Memoirs of a Forensic Investigator By Jack V Sturiano

This memoir by Jack V Sturiano is perfect for fans of CSI and forensic science. It is full of haunting stories that stay with you. Not for the faint-hearted. One of the most haunting stories is how Americans buy guns, go to the grave of their loved ones, and then just kill themselves. It makes the job easy as the receipt is still in the box, but it is very sad.

Imagine working at the morgue for twenty-four years. Every corpse has a story. This is a first-hand account of the real world of forensic medicine. It’s not the book, radio or television version, which from Poe to Holmes to Morse is entertaining fiction, but very little to do with the reality that’s being presented in these memoirs of a forensic investigator who did the work for twenty-four years. Every one of these stories has at the core an actual event witnessed by the author. Nothing is made up. It presents an alternative to all the fiction that is a billion-dollar industry. The mood, tone and emotion are included in each narrative, for their power and each filtered through the sensibilities of the forensic investigator. After a couple of hundred suicides, the minute you walk through the door you can smell the bad ones. Something an old doctor once told me about diagnosing patients, “When you hear horses’ hoofs, don’t think Zebra’s”. Like little slices of life, this memoir is presented as a collection of short stories written in the style of O Henry, Ambrose Bierce and HL Mencken.

Available here.

I Know Who You Are by best selling author of Sometimes I lie – Alice Feeney Review by Natalie Jayne Peeke

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Aimee Sinclair is that face in the crowd , you recognise her but not too sure where from .

Aimee is a actress and pretending to be someone else is all she has ever known . As a young girl she adopted a new name , birthday , home and even new parents.

In the present she is unhappily married to Ben Bailey, he is jealous and cruel not to mention jealous of her acting career .

One day Aimee comes home to find Ben gone: his keys , phone , wallet and even his coat remain . Aimee calls in reinforcements in the shape of the police. Only to learn that her bank account containing thousands of pounds has been emptied, by none other than Aimee herself . She would remember closing her bank account. Surely ?

More and more incriminating evidence comes to light, even footage of Aimee, but is it truly her? Is she suffering from stress Induced amnesia?

A highly addictive read, you are left to question everyone and everything . And just when you finally think you know how the story is going to end , everything gets thrown on its head.

Published by Harper Collins
Paperback- £7.99
eBook- £1.99
Audio- £12.99

 

Natalie Jayne Peeke: http://www.thebookwormmother.co.uk

THE TRUTH ABOUT BULLYING – ALEXANDER WALLIS

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Jane Cable: Last week I received an email from an author I used to know when I lived in Chichester. I remembered him as a warm and principled man, a youth worker who’d written a fantasy book with a moral message. He’d contacted me to let me know he’d written a novel about bullying, aimed at teenagers and children. Not my normal read, but I clicked the link to I H8 Bullies anyway. Then I clicked on ‘look inside’. I read two pages and I was compelled, yes, compelled, to buy it.

It’s written from the point of view of a teenage lad in rich yet accessible language. The voice rings true. Alex’s blurb says it’s written for kids who don’t like books, and at only 66 pages short I can believe it. I also think it should be compulsory reading. Which is why I asked Alex to write this article for Frost.

 

The truth about bullying is that it can rarely be stopped.

The act of undermining others is a survival strategy – however maladaptive – which feeds vampiric ego at the target’s cost. Its excesses are applauded by those who don’t want to be next in the firing line and whose silence (or laughter) serve to timidly collude. Organisations enable rather than contain its flourishing, hierarchical lines supporting those who narcissistically abuse their power.

Nowhere can bullying be better studied than in a school, where adolescence stirs thicker the drama and thinner the consequences. A fully-stocked armoury is available to the teenager who bullies, from opportunity to physically aggress (within the relatively less punitive micro-society of the school discipline system), to ample places to regularly do it and the chance to capture and further torment on social media.

School anti-bullying programmes lean towards ‘awareness raising’, as if this phenomena is not already deeply understood. Since Goliath took up against David, humans have recognised that superior size, privilege or opportunity presents the risk of some throwing their weight around more than they should.

Interviewing students helped me to better understand the experience from the target’s view. Bullying somehow forces an intense self-examination, our own inner critic immediately jumping ship to add to the gang of detractors. Targeted students were not just conscious of the way they looked, but made to think deliberately of how they walked or talked. Thrown into a deep self-critique which often stemmed from an already sensitive and self-conscious life position.

When I began writing I H8 Bullies, my thoughts were initially on my own school experience, decades earlier. Old school bullying more often took the form of a thump to the ear, a pounding by some bigger boys (which we had sometimes provoked) and, at worst, the wave of a penknife.

Bullying feels more enduring and emotionally damaging now. Social media provides means to shame a person that is only limited by the imagination and which can endure long beyond the school bell. It can follow a person from place to place, preserving images better forgotten.

Sometimes the only factor under a target’s control is how they themselves react (or don’t). The quiet dignity of preserving your own values, even if you are still discovering for yourself what you think and feel. Bullying can rarely be stopped but it can be survived. It is about winning the battle within, and that is what the story of I H8 Bullies is all about.

Alexander Wallis is a youth worker for Sussex Against Bullying and the author of I H8 Bullies.

 

 

The Lemon Tree Hotel By Rosanna Ley

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The Lemon Tree Hotel By Rosanna Ley

The weather is hotting up and this glorious, sun-drenched novel from Rosanna Ley should make its way into your suitcase. This is perfect feel-good escapism.

A story about love, family secrets, and a little piece of heaven . . .

In the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. For Chiara, her daughter Elene and her granddaughter Isabella, the running of their hotel is the driving force in their lives.

One day, two unexpected guests check in. The first, Dante, is a face from Chiara’s past, but what exactly happened between them all those years ago, Elene wonders. Meanwhile, Isabella is preoccupied with the second guest, a mysterious young man who seems to know a lot about the history of the old convent and the people who live there. Isabella is determined to find out his true intentions and discover the secret past of the Lemon Tree Hotel.

Available here.