We are headed to LA.  The Royal Wedding is done and the bunting has been divided out like pieces of the Berlin wall were 20 odd years ago.  “I was there and that’s my bit of jack to prove it.”

We are going to LA to continue the celebrations of all things British, only this time in Uncle Sam’s back yard.  It’s Brit week in Beverly Hills.  Yes, as if the Royal Wedding were not camp enough, we are transporting the stiff upper lip to Hollywood.

The Stephen Webster boutique/art gallery and bar on Rodeo Drive is hosting two Great Brits.  The gallery is showing for the first time in the US some specific work of the photographer Duffy, who along with Terry O’Neill and David Bailey, was one of the photographers who captured the spirit and the characters of London in the 60’s & 70’s.  Twiggy, the Krays, Michael Caine and the E type Jaguar are amongst the people and things immortalised by the trio at the time.

The link with myself, (because there has to be one), are the pictures taken by Duffy of David Bowie - one of my musical heroes and subsequent influences on my work.  Some of the images on show are original unseen pictures capturing the build up to and final images of the brilliant Bowie album Aladdin Sane.  Other works tell similar scenarios around the Lodger and Scary Monsters albums.  Personally, I can’t wait.  The show will run for 6 weeks.

As if that weren’t enough, we have gone to great expense in the form of many martinis to collar one of the UK’s most celebrated and influential chefs, Mark Hix, known to many as the genius behind the menus of some of London’s best restaurants; The Ivy, Scotts, Caprice and J Sheeky’s.  Over three consecutive nights, Mark will be cooking British classics in the No Regrets lounge above the store.  Unfortunately, we can only seat 24 people per night, but if this one goes down well we have every intention of making him a regular.

That’s about it from my side.  My Blackberry is being taken away from me.  Bye for now.

SW