EVA MENDES AND MAGNUM PLEASURE TEST!

Hollywood starlet Eva Mendes took a trip to the Magnum Pleasure Summit in Istanbul where she launched World’s largest ever study into pleasure and Magnum’s most expensive and indulgent ice cream ever – Temptation (see info below). Magnum worked with “Professor of Pleasure”, Professor Alex Linley, to develop, a test to work out individuals’ ‘pleasure quotient’ (or PQ) in a way similar to how you would work out an individual’s IQ or EQ. As Magnum’s Global Pleasure Ambassador, Eva Mendes was the first to take the PQ test and scored an impressive 160 versus an average of 100. Eva’s PQ test feedback describes her as a pleasure personality dominated by auditory pleasures whilst the social side of her personality means that she enjoys this most in the company of others. To find out your Pleasure Quotient (PQ) and take part in the global study go to www.mymagnum.co.uk

Magnum Temptation

Priced at £1.76 RRP per ice cream, the new Magnum Temptation ice cream is a supremely indulgent addition to the best-selling Magnum range and offers a deliciously affordable bite of luxury. Available in time to give ice cream lovers a truly special treat this summertime, Temptation is a decadent combination of ice cream, sauce and generous inclusions. Designed to look great and of course to give bite after bite of pure personal pleasure.

FABULOUS EVENT- 14-23 APRIL - TWO HOURS TO PLAY - WESTFIELD LONDON

What can you do in two hours? That’s the question posed by Westfield London as the centre announces free car parking for the first two hours of any visit - any time, any day - from April for three months, as part of a huge Spring promotional campaign.

“Westfield London is launching the Two Hours to Play campaign to encourage people to take time out, relax, socialise and discover the great shopping and dining experiences,” Paul Buttigieg, General Manager, Westfield London.

“To support the campaign we are offering free parking because we want shoppers to experience everything Westfield London has to offer – two floors of exceptional shopping from luxury to street from mainstream fashion to boutiques, from home to sports, from electronics and music to books and toys, from supermarkets to extravagant champagne and coffee bars, an entire street dedicated to dining, a variety of entertainment and a Playworld for under 5-year-olds, opening early next month.” Mr. Buttigieg said.

Westfield London has 4,500 car parking spaces across three levels, directly beneath the centre, including 30 spaces for electric cars. Parking in London’s largest car park is made easy with intelligent software that guides motorists to the first available spaces.

Celebrating its first Easter, Westfield London announces a host of activity this April, alongside 280 shops and nearly 50 places to dine. Take your two hours (or more) to experience some of the highlights…

• The Atrium will host a Two Hours to Play event (14-23 April) with four room sets providing inspiration for the different aspects of your life – fashion; living and leisure; health and beauty; outdoor and dining. Live demonstrations, and trend and style sessions will take place in each room, along with fashion advice from the team.

• Or visit the Concierge desks to pick up tailored guides on how to spend two hours at Westfield London. From a trip for Mother and Daughter, to preparation for The Ultimate First Date.

• The giant Lindt Gold Bunny and maze will be in The Atrium (2-11 April). Negotiate your way through the hedgerows to find the Gold Bunny Meadow. Meet the Stilt Walking Master Chocolatier and try his delicious chocolate. A great family experience to raise money for Great Ormond Street.

• Westfield Kids launches with the unveiling of Playworld (10 April). Postman Pat will make character appearances. Children will be treated to meet the Postman himself, and a chance to discover the delights of the new, permanent children play-area for under 5’s. This Easter school holidays Westfield is also launching, Westfield London Kids Club (10 April) and Mummy Mornings (20 April). More information on this will be coming soon.

• Vauxhall, sponsors of Britain’s Next Top Model, will begin their search for the Face of Tigra 2009 in The Atrium (25 April). Girls dreaming of catwalk success will be judged by Lisa Snowdon and Huggy Ragnarsson. The event includes fashion shows, top tips from industry experts, and goody bags.

• Those looking for escapism and a touch of glamour should head to the Fabulous exhibition at the Getty Images Gallery in The Village. Running throughout April and showing the most uplifting, decadent and glamorous moments, from photographers such as Slim Aarons, Justin de Villeneuve, and Terry O’Neill.

To be the first to find out about these and other fantastic events, and get exclusive offers at Westfield London, shoppers can sign up for the newsletter at www.westfield.com/london.

Westfield London

Westfield London is the Capital’s newest retail destination and Europe’s largest inner city shopping centre. It opened on October 30 2008 and is anchored by five stores: Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next and Waitrose, which are joined by over 275 further shops and nearly 50 cafes and restaurants. Westfield London combines the best of the high street with a premium fashion and lifestyle offer, and is the debut UK location for 14 overseas brands. Luxury labels, many of which have never traded in a UK shopping centre before, are housed in a boutique-style setting, named The Village. Services available to shoppers include valet parking, hands-free shopping, home delivery and personal styling, all coordinated by a trained concierge team. Westfield London features a large central Atrium which will be host to cultural and educational events throughout the year. A 14-screen cinema and a community library will open in 2009.

Westfield London, W12, is located just 5 miles from Piccadilly Circus, 20 minutes by car from London Heathrow, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Brighton.

Westfield London has 4,500 car parking spaces across three levels, directly beneath the centre, including 30 spaces for electric cars. Parking in London’s largest car park is made easy with intelligent software and directional lighting, guiding motorists to available spaces. Red and green lights indicate occupied or vacant. Blue lights indicate bays for Blue Badge holders and orange is for parents with prams. Red signs guide guests to dedicated Valet Parking and a welcome lounge.

www.westfield.com/london

AS RECESSION BITES, ARCHITECT LAUNCHES HOUSE WITH ROOFTOP ALLOTMENTS

Affordable housing has been taken to the next level with the unveiling of a new stylish housing model which has rooftop vegetable gardens and requires no heating – with body heat sufficient to keep occupants warm.

UK-based international architects RMJM launched the ‘MiLoft’ design, with its rooftop ‘aloftments’, at the international property market MIPIM in Cannes, France. The concept is targeted at homeowners who wish to experience loft style living, without the need to buy a penthouse, and true affordability both in terms of purchase cost and energy usage.

RMJM – which is experienced in the design of residential accommodation throughout the world – came up with the design in response to ambitious government targets for providing affordable new homes in cities where stock is in short supply and where falling property values are forcing developers to look at new ways of maximising the return on their development.

The apartments encourage social interaction, with communal staircases which are more like garden terraces, featuring plants and trees, and rooftop gardens which give the opportunity for home-grown vegetables. The rooftop ‘aloftments’ also reduce urban surface water run-off, help reduce CO2 emissions and encourage younger residents, more used to urban landscapes, to respect the environment.

In addition to protecting the environment by using zero carbon technology and sustainable materials, the MiLoft design will mean significant savings for homeowners and occupants with minimal energy usage and running costs.

By using innovative ‘Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery’ (MVHR) technology designed by award-winning Max Fordham Consulting Engineers, combined with an exceptionally high level of air tightness, heat generated within the home – such as body heat and heat from household appliances - is reused to maintain indoor air temperature at a constant level. MVHR negates the need for a traditional heating system.

In the summer, the dual aspect, double height loft-style and open plan living space will provide natural ventilation in high temperatures, reducing the requirement for air conditioning for hot climates. Rain water is collected from the roof and redistributed for toilet flushing.

The low cost, low energy residential units will be available in a variety of layouts with one, two, three or four bedroom apartments and can be combined in a variety of configurations to create six storey apartment blocks which will suit most urban locations.

In addition to meeting government targets for sustainability, the new housing model has a low construction cost, starting at £55,000 per unit, and the modular design, with shallow foundations requiring little groundwork, means that the blocks can take only five months to build. Made from responsibly sourced timber with steel stiffeners, the units are designed to fit on the back of a truck for easy transportation from the factory direct to the site.

The MiLoft concept is already attracting interest from politicians and housing executives in the UK and RMJM is now preparing to make the model available in other urban centres which face affordable housing supply issues including Russia, India and the US.

MiLoft is the brainchild of RMJM’s Group Design Director Tony Kettle, who is also responsible for the design of Gazprom’s Ohkta Tower in St Petersburg, which will become the tallest tower in Europe and one of the most low energy high rise buildings in the world as a result of unique technology which minimises the need for heating despite temperatures dipping to minus 30 degrees.

On his MiLoft concept, Tony Kettle commented: “MiLoft is a new model for urban living providing a far better quality of life with the minimum impact on the environment. In a world hit by recession caused by overconsumption and greed, it illustrates that good things need not cost the earth. We aim to revolutionise affordable housing supply across the world.”

www.rmjm.com/

ECOS SHOW HOME OPENS AT AWARD WINNING SITE

Ecos Homes and Pippin Properties open their new show home at the Award Winning sustainable development ‘The Old Apple Store’, Stawell in Somerset. Number 4, The Old Apple Store, is a detached four bedroom property designed and built in a way that limits environmental impact.

Visitors to the show home (viewing by appointment) will be able to see a range of innovative energy saving technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, triple glazing, rainwater harvesting and a passive air ventilation system. The show home will showcase environmentally friendly furniture supplied by Green Woods Furniture, Bristol. Kitchen accessories have been provided by Ecokitchens Online from Taunton and bedlinen from Greenfibres, Totnes. Art will be exhibited by Somerset Arts Week.

The development, which won the RegenSW ‘Best Housing Scheme’, nestles in a pretty village at the foot of the Polden Hills. Three of the five properties have already sold although a detached four bedroom (show home) £399,000 and a terraced three bedroom £299,000 are still available. A first floor balcony at the show home gives views over the adjacent orchard and farmland. The properties have been built to Level 5 for the Code for Sustainable Homes on a former brown field site.

“We aim to design and build comfortable, healthy homes that use minimal energy and water for living” commented Lucy Durnan, Director of Ecos Homes.

The show home features triple glazing throughout and solar photovoltaic panels (PVs) on the roof, used to generate electricity for lighting and fans. A rainwater harvesting system has been installed to collect water for washing clothes and flushing toilets. Solar thermal panels on the balcony roof heat the water, with back up from an automatic wood pellet burner. The house has an abundance of south facing glazing that is designed to draw natural light into the heart of the home. It is highly insulated with a combination of sheep’s wool (within internal walls and floors), warmcell (recycled newspaper) and diffutherm (wood fibre board).

Extra features include a home office space, secure bike storage, an
electric car charging point and access to a new allotment garden within the village. Natural flooring has been used throughout the homes. Each property has a hand crafted shaker style kitchen in sustainable timber with the latest Energy saving appliances. Natural solvent free paints and oils have been used throughout the house. Each property comes with a 10 year Zurich Building warranty.

To visit the show home contact the Ecos Team 01458 254350. Viewing strictly by appointment only. See website for dates www.ecoshomes.co.uk Visit Ecos Homes at Homes for Good 2009, Westpoint, Exeter (Stand no. 4).

THE OPERA QUARTER – LONDON VISITORS’ NEW FAVOURITE DESTINATION
2009 is an exciting time for the Opera Quarter, Covent Garden’s historic food quarter as it becomes the destination for savvy visitors to London.
The credit crunch’s one silver lining is that more visitors can now afford to visit the UK and more Brits are choosing to holiday over here rather than fly abroad. As such London is buzzing, nowhere more so than the Opera Quarter, Covent Garden’s food quarter.

Once part of Covent Garden’s famous fruit and flower market, today the Opera Quarter is the destination for affordable quality drinking and dining in the West End. PLUS it is home to this year’s most exciting theatre debuts: the fabulous Tony Award Winning Spring Awakening (Novello theatre) and Cameron Mackintosh’s exciting new production of Oliver! (The Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Both of which have been receiving rave reviews. It is also home to the multi award winning Lion King which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Once quite forgotten the Opera Quarter is undergoing a revival. It now boasts some of London’s finest restaurants, traditional pubs, cool bars, and specialist food emporiums. All of which cater to the theatre-going crowds and visitors on a budget with special pre/post theatre and very reasonable prix fix menus. The Opera Quarter’s cafe culture means there is always somewhere open for a bite to eat or glass of champagne whether its 12 am or pm.

New openings for Spring 2009 bring an international flavour to the area with the deliciously healthy Sagar, South Indian Vegetarian restaurant and Hi Sushi’s four floors of Japanese style drinking and dining. Or, you can go French with stylish brasserie Le Cafe de Jardin or Paris chic Cote Bistro, winner of Best Value Restaurant in Britain in the 2009 Good Food Guide (the affordable sister restaurant of the Ivy).

You can enjoy a Turkish mezze in a rooftop garden where Thomas de Quincy wrote ‘Confessions of an English Opium Eater’ at Sofra or, a post theatre late night supper and Jazz evening at PJ’s. Meat lovers should check out Sophie’s Steak House where they serve snacks and cocktails in the NYC style bar until the early hours. Those on an American vibe should also try Christopher’s American Bar & Grill.

If you’re in a party there are a number of private dining rooms available in the area and Boulevard offer pre theatre drinks and canapés for groups. In addition you can avoid the interval scrum at the theatre by booking your interval drinks in one of the area’s beautiful historic pubs such as The Opera Tavern, Nell of Old Dury (an old favourite of Dr Samuel Johnston’s) or the Coach & Horses, which serves the best un-pasteurised Guinness in London.
Whatever your dinner plans food lovers will enjoy a walk around the area and a visit to the specialist food and drink emporiums including gourmet nirvana The Market Quarter and Elton John and Kate Moss’s favourite the Primrose Bakery where you can enjoy afternoon tea and homemade cakes. If you’re looking for lunch or a gourmet snack then head to the Boulevard Deli where you can warm up with a rotisserie chicken or roast beef sandwich with homemade bread.

A visit to the area is not complete without a trip down confectionery memory lane at Hope & Greenwood, Purveyors of Splendid Confectionery specialist in retro sweets – a bag of traditional candy cane or liquorice is sure to help get you in the Dickensian spirit for Oliver! (In fact fans of Dickens’ may be interested to know it is here in the Opera Quarter that the great writer had his magazine offices for over 20 years.)
For more information about the Opera Quarter, details of all the restaurants, bars, pubs and food emporiums in the area, news special offers and events please visit our new website: www.operaquarter.co.uk/ where you can sign up to win Opera Quarter goodies.

OTHER EVENTS OVER EASTER
Please see last weeks News which featured lots of ideas for going out and having fun over the Easter weekend.

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