In Honour of World Gin Day

As you may or may not know, today is World Gin Day and as such, I thought I'd share with you a few little things I won from the lovely folk at Harrods and Hendrick's.  The competition was in aid of the launch of The Great Gatsby - Harrods also had a 1920s themed pop-up bar around the time the film was released.  After answering a quick question on Al Capone, the prizes were mine - all mine!  Ahem.  I didn't really know what I'd won as I was enticed by the words 'Hendrick's Cocktail Kit' and looked no further - I then subsequently forgot I'd won.  So when two boxes blazoned with "Harrods" turned up, I was quickly reminded.

 

Ripping open the boxes (well not really ripping, I'd just done my nails) I was amazed to see how much stuff they'd sent...

 

A teapot and four cups and saucers

 

A bottle of Hendrick's (of course), a Nuance cocktail shaker with a beautiful Streamline Moderne shape and a bar spoon (which I have needed for a long time)

 

 

Cocktail bitters traveller's set from The Bitter Truth

 

 

The Classic Cocktail Bible by Allan Gage, The Hendrick's Cucumber Companion (a book on how to prepare various cucumber garnishes) and a pack of playing cards

 

 

 

Field Guide to Hendrick's, two copies of the book Etiquette for Gentlemen and the Radio 4 dramatisation of The Great Gatsby

 

 

Thank you very much to Hendrick's and Harrods, I shall have a most pleasant World Gin Day with all of these goodies.  Cheers!

Fall in love with Gilda, but stay for Rita

 

As any fan of the Godesses of the Silver Screen will tell you, Rita Hayworth is up there with the best of them.  Her gorgeous red hair (helped a little by Columbia Pictures), stunning smile and effortless charm made Rita, born Margarita Carmen Cansino, the most popular pin-up of World War II.

 


"Men fell in love with Gilda, but they wake up with me"

 

As such, it comes as no surprise that British Film Institute (BFI) has decided to hold a Rita Hayworth season (starting on the 1st June), which showcases some of her greatest performances committed to film.  Some highlights include the two films she made with Fred Astaire: You'll Never Get Rich (1941) and You Were Never Lovelier (1942), in which she demonstrated her considerable dancing abilities and which she described as 'the only jewels of [her] life'.  Also showing is the classic Gilda (1946), in which Rita played the ultimate screen siren and Cover Girl (1944) which saw her paired with Gene Kelly.

 


One of my favourite pictures of Rita

If you fancy seeing Rita up on the big screen, then make sure you get yourself along to BFI Southbank.  As an added bonus, if you use the code 'vintagenews' when booking, you can get £1.50 of your ticket price (apart from Tuesdays when tickets are only £6 anyway).

 

There will also be a competition on The Vintage News website to win a pair of tickets to the show of your choice, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

 

What is your favourite Rita Hayworth film? Are you planning to see any of her films at the BFI?

Competition time!

As I imagine you all know by now, I work for the Vintage News and this week we are running a competition to win a rather fabulous new album.  What could be better just before Christmas?

If you’ve read our review of The Jazz Age by The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, we’re sure you’re all eager to hear it.  Well, you are in luck!  We have one copy to give away to subscribers of our website.  Not already subscribed? Just click here and fill in the form.

After you’ve subscribed, to be in with a chance of winning just answer the following question:

Which 1927 collection of illustrations is the album artwork taken from?

hint: it might be worth taking another peek at the review ;)

Email your answer to newsdesk@vintagenews.tv with ‘The Jazz Age Competition’ as the subject

The competition ends midnight, Friday 21^st December and the winner will be announced before Christmas – good luck!