JULIAN'S AUCTIONS TO SELL FURNITURE COMMISSIONED BY MICHAEL JACKSON

JULIAN'S AUCTIONS, LOS ANGELES, WILL PRESENT 'MUSIC ICONS' SUMMER AUCTION TAKING PLACE AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO, LAS VEGAS, ON 25.JUNE. LEADING THE MAGNIFICENT OFFERINGS AND UNPRECEDENTED EVENT IS A DAZZLING SELECTION OF 22 EXQUISITE FURNITURE LOTS COMMISSIONED BY MICHAEL JACKSON FOR HIS PLANNED RESIDENCE IN KENT, ENGLAND, DURING THE 'THIS IS IT' CONCERT SERIES IN LONDON. COLOMBSTILE ARTISANS HAVE SUPPLIED LUXURIOUS HANDMADE ITALIAN FURNISHINGS TO COUNTLESS EMBASSIES, PALACES, HISTORICAL HOMES AND LUXURY HOTELS IN EVERY CONTINENT. JULIAN'S AUCTIONS WILL EXECUTE THE RECREATION OF JACKSON'S KENT HOME FOR THE PUBLIC VIEWING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT NEWBRIDGE SILVERWARE'S MUSEUM OF STYLE ICONS IN IRELAND FROM 16.MARCH THROUGH 30.MARCH AND AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD FROM 14.JUNE THROUGH 25.JUNE. JACKSON'S FANS AND THE PUBLIC WILL EXPERIENCE HOW THE ENTERTAINER'S HOME WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE WITH HIS CUSTOM DESIGNED COLOMBOSTILE FURNITURE ORDERED BY THE ICON HIMSELF. AS A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE KING OF POP, COLOMBOSTILE WILL BE DONATING A GENEROUS PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE ITEMS TO BENEFIT MUSICARES AND JOSHUA'S HEART. IN ADDITION TO THE COLOMBOSTILE COLLECTION, THE AUCTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE MORE THAN 200 ITEMS FROM HIS LIFE AND CAREER AS WELL AS OTHER MUSIC ICONS.

IRELAND'S NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM OPENS IN DUBLIN

BASED IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, THE NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM, DUBLIN, IS A NATIONAL CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THAT TAKES VISITORS DEEPER INTO IRISH AND CELTIC CULTURE TO DISCOVER WHAT REALLY LIES BEHIND THE WELL-KNOWN TALES OF IRISH CULTURAL ICONOGRAPHY; LEPRECHAUNS, RAINBOWS AND POTS OF GOLD. THE NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM IS THE FIRST EVER VISITOR ATTRACTION DEDICATED TO IRISH MYTHOLOGY AND PROMISES TO OPEN UP A FUN AND MAGICAL WORLD FULL OF FASCINATING FOLKLORE AND ENCHANTING STORIES. THE ONE-STORY, 16,000sqft MUSEUM IS STRUCTURED LIKE A FAIRYTALE STORY, WITH 12 INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS EACH TRANSFORMING VISITORS TO THE HEART OF IRISH CULTURAL IDENTITY AND IMAGINATION. EACH CHAPTER REPRESENTS EITHER A PART OF IRISH MYTHOLOGICAL HISTORY OR RECREATES AN EXPERIENCE TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH LEPRECHAUNS. THE RESULT IS A SERIES OF CAPTIVATING, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES, FROM THE FIRST EVER SIGHTING BACK IN THE 8th CENTURY, THROUGH TO MODERN DAY REPRESENTATIONS OF THE LEPRECHAUN IN FILM AND POPULAR CULTURE. AUDIENCES ARE ABLE TO FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO JOURNEY DEEP BENEATH THE ROCKS OF THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, OPEN UP THEIR MINDS TO THE SIGHTS AND STORIES OF IRELAND'S MYTHICAL OTHERWORLD ON A TRIP TO FAIRY HILL, EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A LEPRECHAUN-SIZED WORLD AND JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE RAINBOW TO SEE IF THE ELUSIVE CROCK OF GOLD REALLY EXISTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.leprechaunmuseum.ie

ROYAL COUPLE VISIT BARNSTAPLE SEA CADETS

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TOOK A FEMALE CADET BY SURPRISE RECENTLY WHEN HE ASKED HER IF SHE WORKED FOR A STRIP CLUB. PRINCE PHILIP PUT THE UNUSUAL QUESTION TO ELIZABETH RENDLE AS HE AND THE QUEEN MET CADETS AT WYVERN BARRACKS IN EXETER, DEVON. HE ASKED WHAT SHE DID FOR A LIVING AND SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE WORKED IN A NIGHTCLUB TO WHICH THE DUKE RESPONDED: 'IS IT A STRIP CLUB?' OBSERVING HER SHOCK AND SURPRISE HE DISMISSED THE SUGGESTION SAYING THAT IT WAS 'PROBABLY TOO COLD FOR THAT ANYWAY'. RENDLE, OF BARNSTAPLE IN DEVON, WORKS AS A BARMAID IN A NIGHTCLUB AND IS AN ADULT MEMBER OF THE BARNSTAPLE SEA CADETS. SHE SAID: 'I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BUT I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD. OBVIOUSLY I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T WORK IN A STRIP CLUB. IT WAS A JOKE AND WE WERE ALL LAUGHING WHICH DREW EVERYONE ELSE'S ATTENTION TO US. I DON'T THINK HE PUT HIS FOOT IN IT, IT WAS A JOKE AND I DIDN'T TAKE ANY OFFENSE. I THINK HE WAS JUST PUTTING PEOPLE AT THEIR EASE.' THE ROYAL COUPLE'S VISIT TO WYVERN BARRACKS WAS PART OF CELEBRATIONS OF THE 150 YEARS OF THE CADET MOVEMENT. THE QUEEN, WEARING A BRIGHT PURPLE DRESS COAT AND HAT, CHECKED OVER EQUIPMENT AND WATCHED FENCING AND CLUB DISPLAYS AS THE CADET BAND PLAYED. STAFF SERGEANT RYAN BRAUNTON-TURNER, 16, SAID THE QUEEN ASKED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD. 'SHE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD THAT WE TOOK CONTROL AND SHARE LEADERSHIP', HE SAID. 'IT WAS QUITE AM EXPERIENCE MEETING HER, ONCE IN A LIFETIME.'

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM TO PRESENT RAPHAEL'S 'THE WOMAN WITH THE VEIL'

RARELY LENT FROM THE PITTI PALACE IN FLORENCE, ITALY, RAPHAEL SANZIO'S PAINTING 'THE WOMAN WITH THE VEIL' IS MAKING ITS LAST AMERICAN APPEARANCE AT THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM. RESPONDING TO LEONARDO DA VINCI'S 'MONA LISA', RAPHAEL DEVELOPED HIS OWN IDEA OF BEAUTY IN THE PORTRAIT, WHICH WAS COMPLETED AROUND 1516. THE WOMAN APPEARS IN MANY OF HIS IMPORTANT WORKS AND SOME BELIEVE SHE WAS RAPHAEL'S LOVER, EVEN THOUGH HER VEIL IN THE PAINTING INDICATES THAT SHE IS MARRIED. IT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED THE MOST FAMOUS PAINTING IN THE WORLD.'LA DONNA VELATA', THE ITALIAN TRANSLATION, WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 27.MARCH THROUGH 6.JUNE. THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM AND THE NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART WERE THE ONLY OTHER AMERICAN MUSEUMS TO EXHIBIT THE PAINTING ON THIS HISTORIC TOUR.

NEW YORK CITY TO RETAIN RIGHTS TO 'TAVERN ON THE GREEN' NAME

THE RESTAURANT HAS BEEN CLOSED, THE FURNISHINGS, ARTWORKS AND MEMORABILIA HAVE BEEN SOLD OFF BUT THE TAVERN ON THE GREEN STILL LIVES ON IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MANY DINERS WORLDWIDE. NOW A JUDGE HAS DECIDED THAT THE CITY CAN KEEP THE 'TAVERN ON THE GREEN' NAME. THE AP RECENTLY REPORTED THAT US DISTRICT JUDGE MIRIAM GOLDMAN CEDERBAUM RULED THAT THE CITY AND NOT THE DEBT HOLDERS OF THE BANKRUPT RESTAURANT HAS THE RIGHTS TO THE NAME. THE NAME ITSELF HAS BEEN VALUED AT AN ESTIMATED $19 MILLION. A THREE-DAY SALE BY GUERNSEY'S AUCTION HOUSE IN JANUARY OFFERED MORE THAN 25,000 ITEMS WITH THE VALUES FROM $100 TO $1.2 MILLION, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WENT TO ERASING THE PRIOR OWNER'S $8 MILLION DEBT. THE JUDGE SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CITY HAD LICENSED THE FACILITY AND HAD A HAND IN HOW THE RESTAURANT WAS RUN, INCLUDING REGULATING THE HOURS AND MANNERS OF OPERATION, IT WAS THE OWNER OF THE NAME. LAST SUMMER THE CITY AWARDED THE LICENSE TO RESTAURATEUR DEAN POLL WHO PLANS TO OPEN A NEW RESTAURANT IN THE SPRING AFTER SPENDING $25 MILLION OF REFURBISHMENTS. LAST YEAR, RESTAURANTS AND INSTITUTIONS PLACED TAVERN ON THE GREEN SECOND IN THEIR LIST OF THE 100 HIGHEST GROSSING INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS IN THE US WITH 2008 SALES OF OVER $34 MILLION.

PRINCE OF WALES CELEBRATES BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET'S 20th ANNIVERSARY

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND LADY SARAH CHATTO RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AT A STUNNING GALA. THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE ROYAL PERFORMANCE DUE TO THE ILLNESS OF A BAD BACK. THE PRINCE, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET (BRB), ENJOYED EXCERPTS FROM THE NUTCRACKER, ROMEO AND JULIET, CARMINA BURANA, AND BALLET CHANGED MY LIFE: BALLET HOO! AT THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME. HE WAS TREATED TO PERFORMANCES FROM STUDENTS OF ELMHURST SCHOOL FOR DANCE, THE BIRMINGHAM-BASED VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRB, OF WHICH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL IS PATRON. DANCERS FROM THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ALSO TOOK TO THE STAGE DURING THE TWO AND HALF HOUR PRODUCTION. DURING THE INTERVAL, THE PRINCE UNVEILED A PLAQUE AT THE THEATER TO MARK THE OPENING OF A NEW EXHIBITION OF ARTWORK COMMEMORATING TWO DECADES OF THE BRB. IN A FORWARD TO THE PROGRAM FOR THE PRODUCTION HE WROTE: 'NEVER AFRAID OF TAKING A CREATIVE RISK, THIS IS A COMPANY WHICH CREATES AND PRESENTS WORKS THAT IS EXCITING AND TECHNICALLY EXCELLENT AND ULTIMATELY AIMS TO INSPIRE AND DELIGHT AUDIENCES, MAKING ACCESS TO DANCE EASY, AFFORDABLE AND ENTERTAINING.' 2010 MARKS BRB'S 20th YEAR IN THE CITY SINCE THE COMPANY, PREVIOUSLY SADLER'S WELLS ROYAL BALLET, MOVED FROM LONDON IN 1990, A MOVE DESCRIBED AT THE TIME 'THE ARTS COUP OF THE DECADE'. THE PRINCE DESCRIBED THE MOVE AS 'A WISE DECISION'.

AGO TO PRESENT 'DRAMA AND DESIRE: ARTISTS AND THE THEATER'

LUST. PASSION. MURDER. MANY OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS OF THE 19th CENTURY SHARED A PROFOUND FASCINATION WITH THE THEATER AND ITS THEMES OF TRIUMPH AND DESTRUCTION, LOVE AND DESPAIR. THIS SUMMER, THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO (AGO), TORONTO, GIVES CENTER STAGE TO KEY ARTWORKS BY SUCH ARTISTS AS EUGENE DELACROIX, JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID, JEAN AUGUSTE DOMINIQUE INGRES, WILLIAM BLAKE AMONG OTHERS IN A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TITLED 'DRAMA AND DESIRE: ARTISTS AND THE THEATER', OPENING 19.JUNE AND CONTINUING THROUGH 26.SEPTEMBER. CONCEIVED BY GUY COGEVAL, PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEE D'ORSAY IN PARIS, THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES OVER 100 PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND THEATRICAL MAQUETTES FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUSEUMS, INCLUDING THE LOUVRE, THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, THE MUSEE D'ORSAY, THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM. THE AGO HAS COMMISSIONED GERARD GAUCI, SET DESIGNER FOR TORONTO'S OPERA ATELIER, TO MAKE DRAMA AND DESIRE AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER. VISITORS WILL ENTER THE EXHIBITION BY WALKING 'ONSTAGE' THROUGH A LIFE-SIZE 18th CENTURY SET; THE WORKS WILL BE DISPLAYED USING ENHANCED LIGHTING, SOUND AND VIDEO COMPONENTS AS WELL AS INNOVATIVE THEATRICAL DEVICES; AND A FULL-SCALE RE-CREATION OF AN EARLY 20th CENTURY THEATER MARQUETTE WILL MARK THE FINALE OF THE EXHIBITION. 'WE WANT OUR VISITORS TO FEEL AS IF THEY ARE ONSTAGE ALONGSIDE THE SUBJECTS OF THESE EXTRAORDINARY WORKS', SAID A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AGO. 'THESE WORKS RARELY LEAVE THEIR HOME INSTITUTIONS, SO WE ARE ESPECIALLY HONORED TO BE THE SOLE NORTH AMERICAN VENUE FOR DRAMA AND DESIRE.'
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.ago.net