Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The extended Times Square area, also called the Theatre District, consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after The New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly erected Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Times Square, nicknamed “The Crossroads of the World” and “The Great White Way,” has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.[1]
The northern triangle of Times Square is technically Duffy Square, dedicated in 1937 to Chaplain Francis P. Duffy of New York City’s “Fighting 69th” Infantry Regiment; a memorial to Duffy is located there, along with a statue of George M. Cohan, and the TKTS discount theatre tickets booth. The stepped red roof of the the TKTS booth also provides seating for various events. The Duffy Statue and the square were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[2]
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square
New York Times square
Westminister Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London, England (UK), located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth realms. The abbey is a Royal Peculiar and briefly held the status of a cathedral from 1546 to 1556.
Westminster Abbey is a collegiate church governed by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, as established by Royal charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1560, which created it as the Collegiate Church of St Peter Westminster and a Royal Peculiar under the personal jurisdiction of the Sovereign. The members of the Chapter are the Dean and four residentiary Canons, assisted by the Receiver General and Chapter Clerk. One of the Canons is also Rector of St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, and often holds also the post of Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. In addition to the Dean and Canons, there are at present two full-time minor canons, one precentor, the other succentor. The office of Priest Vicar was created in the 1970s for those who assist the minor canons. Together with the Clergy and Receiver General and Chapter Clerk, various Lay Officers constitute the College, including the Organist and Master of the Choristers, the Registrar, the Auditor, the Legal Secretary, the Surveyor of the Fabric, the Head Master of the Choir School, the Keeper of the Muniments and the Clerk of the Works, as well as twelve Lay Vicars and ten of the choristers and the High Steward and High Bailiff. There are also forty Queen’s Scholars who are pupils at Westminster School (the School has its own Governing Body). Those who are most directly concerned with liturgical and ceremonial matters are the two Minor Canons and the Organist and Master of the Choristers.
Mykonos
Mykonos (English: /ˈmi:kənɒs/, Greek: [ˈmikɔ̝nɔ̝s], Greek: Μύκονος) is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of 85.5 km2 (33 sq mi) and rises to an elevation of 341 m (1,119 ft) at its highest point. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet the needs of its population. There are 9,320 inhabitants (2001) most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which lies on the west coast.
Mykonos is one of the most cosmopolitan islands in Greece, known for its diverse and intense nightlife as evidenced by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Mykonos is also known for its beaches. The island has an international airport, and is a frequent destination for cruise ships.
Archaeological finds indicate that the Ionians settled on Mykonos in the early part of the 11th century BCE. More recent discoveries have uncovered remnants in Ftelia beach from the Neolithic Kares tribe dating back to as far as 3000 BC.
In Greek mythology Mykonos was the location of the battle between Zeus and the Titans, and the island was named in honor of Apollo’s grandson Mykons. During these ancient times, Mykonos, due to its proximity to the then highly populated island of Delos (situated about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away), became very important as a supply island and possibly as a getaway location for Delian citizens. The island was once very poor, and the people tried to survive on fishing and stock breeding on the harsh land. A major industry was also ship construction. Tourism has turned the economy over since it started in the 1950s and the locals have a double attitude towards this: it may have saved the economy but some also feel that it has taken over too much.[1]
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, [tuʁ ɛfɛl], nickname La dame de fer, the iron lady) is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris[10] and the most-visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named for its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair.
The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. Upon its completion, it surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930; however, due to the addition in 1957 of the antenna, the tower is now taller than the Chrysler Building. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France after the 2004 Millau Viaduct.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift, to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
The Venetian, Las Vegas
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino is a luxury hotel and casino resort situated between Harrah’s and The Palazzo on the east side of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, NV, United States, on the site of the old Sands Hotel. The hotel tower contains 40 stories and rises 475 feet (145 m). The Venetian is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The Venetian also serves as the seat of the corporate headquarters for its parent company. This hotel features a life-like replica tower of St Mark’s Campanile in Venice, Italy.
The Venetian is (along with the adjacent Sands Expo Convention Center and The Palazzo Hotel and Casino Resort) part of the largest five-diamond hotel and resort complex in the world with 4,049 suites, 4,059 hotel rooms, and a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) casino.[1]
On November 26, 1996, eight years after it was bought by Sheldon Adelson, the Sands Hotel was imploded to make way for The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. Ground was broken April 14, 1997.
The resort opened on May 3, 1999 with flutter of white doves, sounding trumpets and singing gondoliers, with actress Sophia Loren joining The Venetian Chairman and Owner, Sheldon G. Adelson, in christening the first motorized gondola. Built at a cost of $1.5 billion, it was one of the most expensive resorts of its kind when it opened.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Venetian_(Las_Vegas)
The Mechanic
The Mechanic is a 2011 American action thriller film starring Jason Statham as the title character. It is directed by Simon West, is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name that starred Charles Bronson. Statham stars as Arthur Bishop, a professional assassin who specializes in making his hits look like accidents, suicides, or the acts of petty criminals.[2] It was released in the United States and Canada on January 28, 2011.
The film opens following a man as his plane lands at a private hangar and he makes his way to his mansion with his armed guard escort. The man changes into his swimwear and proceeds to get into his private pool to have a swim. As he swims he notices his watch at the bottom of the pool and swims down to retrieve it. An unknown man grabs the swimming victim and holds him under until he dies. The assassin, Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham), then uses the chaos that follows to take a careful route out of the mansion and to a nearby river where he jumps in and makes his escape. Back home, Bishop meets with Harry McKenna (Donald Sutherland) whom Bishop regards as a friend and mentor figure. Harry pays Bishop for his work in Colombia and discuss Harry’s son Steve McKenna (Ben Foster) before parting ways.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mechanic_(2011_film)
Gnomeo and Juliet
Gnomeo & Juliet is a CG-animated send-up of the William Shakespeare tale of star-crossed lovers that’s set in the world of … plaster garden gnomes. And it’s chock full of songs by Elton John, who also executive produced the film. Bear with me. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Set in Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon, this 3D film directed by Shrek 2’s Kelly Asbury follows feuding neighbors Mr. Capulet (voiced by Richard Wilson) and Miss Montague (voiced by Julie Walters), whose rivalry has even extended to their respective garden gnomes (with one set colored red and the other blue). But can a forbidden romance between a Red (Juliet, voiced by Emily Blunt) and a Blue (Gnomeo, voice of James McAvoy) bring the two sides together and end the feud (as well as rewrite the grim end of Shakespeare’s original)?
The voice cast also includes Michael Caine as Juliet’s father Lord Redbrick, Jason Statham as Gnomeo’s nemesis Tybalt, Maggie Smith as Lady Bluebury, Patrick Stewart as Bill Shakespeare, Ashley Jensen as Juliet’s confidante Nanette, Stephen Merchant as Paris, Matt Lucas as Gnomeo’s pal Benny, and Jim Cummings as the plastic pink flamingo Featherstone.
Like most people, I didn’t think much at all when they first heard of Gnomeo & Juliet. But it turns out it’s less like Hoodwinked! and more like this year’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, another toon with low expectations that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It could become the next Shrek-size franchise (and with the potential of increasingly charmless sequels); of course, unless it finds an audience it will be the new Igor.
Letters to Juliet
Letters to Juliet is a 2010 American romantic drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael García Bernal, and Franco Nero. This was the final film of director Gary Winick before he died of brain cancer. The film was released theatrically in North America and other countries on May 14, 2010. The idea for the film was inspired by the 2006 non-fiction book, “Letters to Juliet,” by Lise Friedman and Ceil Friedman, which chronicles the phenomenon of letter writing to Shakespeare’s most famous romantic heroine.
Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is an American young woman who works for The New Yorker and is a fact checker. To put some spark in her life, she decides to go on a ‘pre-honeymoon’ with her chef fiancé Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal) to Verona. However the workaholic Victor is unmoved by the romance of Italy and utilises his time to do research for his soon-to-open restaurant, ignoring Sophie. The lonely Sophie discovers by chance an unanswered “letter to Juliet” by Claire in the 1950’s — one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover’s Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by the “secretaries of Juliet”. She answers it and soon enough the now elderly Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Verona with her handsome barrister grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan), who works for human rights.
Charlie and Sophie take an instant dislike for each other with Charlie behaving very brusque with Sophie while she is very sarcastic with him. On the other hand, Claire is still looking to rediscover her long lost love, Lorenzo Bartolini. Sophie, thinking Claire’s story might help her in her writing career, decides to help her in her quest. What happens next is a story of romantic twists and turns. They look for many Lorenzo Bartollinis. After many days of searching, they find that a Lorenzo Bartolini has been dead. An angry Charlie blames Sophie for his grandmother’s sadness. He yells at her, stating that she does not know what real loss is, which causes an upset Sophie to walk away. Claire, seeing the little dispute, tells Charlie that he was wrong and that Sophie’s mother had walked away from her when she was a little girl. The next day, Claire insists that Charlie apologize to Sophie at breakfast, and he does. After dinner, Sophie goes out with Charlie and talks to him about love, when he accidentally kisses her. The next morning, it is their last day of searching for Claire’s long lost love. On a whim, Claire points out a vineyard to Charlie and asks if he could stop by so the three of them can have a farewell drink for Sophie. As Charlie drives down the road, Claire sees a young man who looks exactly like her Lorenzo. She yells at Charlie to stop, and he complies. They discover that the man is Lorenzo Bartolini’s grandson. Claire and Lorenzo reunite after fifty long years.
Back in New York, Sophie and Victor decide to break up. Sophie returns to Verona to be at Claire and Lorenzo’s wedding. She finds Charlie there with another woman, Patricia, and runs out. Charlie comes to find her (in a classic balcony setting) and she admits she loves him, but tells him to go back to his date. Telling Sophie that the woman was actually his cousin Patricia, not his ex-girlfriend Patricia, he tells her he loves her and wants to be with her. He accidentally falls off the balcony and they kiss as he’s lying on the ground.
Dear John
Dear John is a 2010 American romantic drama-war film starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. It was released theatrically in North America on February 5, 2010. The film was directed by Lasse Hallström, and it is an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’s novel of the same name. This dramatic warm movie was the first Sparks adaptation not to be distributed by Warner Bros. It follows the life of a soldier (Channing Tatum) after he falls in love with a young woman (Amanda Seyfried). They decide to exchange letters to each other after he is deployed to the war.
Despite receiving negative reviews, the film made a strong box office performance, knocking off Avatar after seven weekends in first place and grossing a total of $112,157,433 worldwide. The film was released on May 25, 2010 on DVD and Blu-ray.
Burlesque
Alice (Ali) Rose (Christina Aguilera) is a young small-town waitress with an especially strong voice. In order to escape her poverty, she quits her job and goes to Los Angeles. After a fruitless day of searching for jobs in her new home, she happens upon at a burlesque bar and becomes enthralled with the whole concept. She tries to persuade the owner, Tess (Cher), to let her go on stage but Tess won’t hear her out. Ali meets the friendly bartender Jack (Cam Gigandet) and starts to waitress for him because she knows this is where she belongs.
Later, Tess auditions Ali and hires her as one of the dancer to replace a newly pregnant beautiful dancer named Georgia (Julianne Hough). One night, Nikki (Kristen Bell), the most famous dancer in this bar, gets drunk and is not allowed to perform by Tess, so Ali takes her place. Nikki cuts the music out of jealousy, but Ali impresses everyone with her own voice. She becomes the new star of the bar and earns it a reputation.
Ali had some dates with a successful businessman named Marcus (Eric Dane) before she realizes that her true love is Jack, with whom she has shared an apartment since her hotel room was robbed. Meanwhile, running out of money, Tess is worried that she has to sell the bar to Marcus, who intends to tear down the club and build a skyscraper. Finally, Ali helps Tess solve the problem by selling the air rights of this place to another businessman. Tess has financial resources and Ali stays at the bar as its most valuable star.
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