Kate Kennedy Charity Ball

If you are heading up to Aberdeen over the next few weeks, the Kate Kennedy Club is hosting the Charity Opening Ball at University of St. Andrews, an event that has become one of the largest and most prestigious black tie events in Scotland.

Blending old and new, Michael Woods, one of the UK’s hottest DJs and producers, will perform with his latest Out of Office act against the stunning medieval backdrop. Other performers include DJ James Matthews and The Brent Flood.

The Opening Ball is in support of Home Start, a local Fife charity which helps families with young children.  There will also be a raffle, with Thomas Pink Shirts, Hunter boots and the Balmoral Hotel amongst the many prizes to be won and all profits will go to the charity. Tickets are selling fast, so if you are interested check out availability with The Kate Kennedy Club direct.

To reserve your ticket, contact Nicholas Worsley at naw9@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Dreaded office ‘team building’ generally consists of an organisation of Secret Santa (or ‘oh god, bloody secret santa’). For those of you fortunate to be unfamiliar with this Christmas office routine, I will enlighten you. Each person picks a name out of a hat of a member of the office. The person you pick is who you have to buy a Christmas present for- usually with a £5 budget. Great- go wild.
£5 restricts you to something pretty rubbish from a petrol station. Or something naff from Primark. So rule number 1 is to not get at ALL excited when your Secret Santa hands you their gift. Generally, you will receive something incredibly useful such as a pen (stolen from the stationary cupboard) or a pot of out-of-date chocolate body paint.

When you are choosing your gift, don’t try and be the joker. It is never that funny. So rule out any ‘bright ideas’ of novelty pants or fluffy hand-cuffs. Nobody wants mental images of the person in bed thanks very much. This is the sole occasion it actually pays to be sensible. Five scratch cards is the best Secret Santa present in my opinion. Or failing that, a mini bottle of vodka and a ten pack of fags.

As tempting as it is, try not to be too personal with your present choices. Giving Coffee Breath Colin 10 packets of Wrigley’s Extra maybe hilarious for you and your colleagues, but probably results in suicidal thoughts for poor Col. The same goes for giving Podgy Paula a work-out video. Even if no one technically knows who bought what, that is no excuse to be a little offensive …… http://www.thehandbook.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=43

Just off Green Park, close to Mahiki, should be the perfect spot for a nightclub.  However, this particular corner appears to be cursed.  It seems countless nightclubs have opened up home here only to be packing their bags soon after.  So will Vendome stand the test of time?  This will be their second venture, with another venue already in Walton Street but Vendome, although managing to create a successful line, seems to have failed with this one. 

Off to an inauspicious start, everyone was left waiting while last minute technical difficulties were settled.  Ushered quickly to a nearby bar for complimentary champagne, the evening descended into more chaos with confusions and elementary mistakes. Finally, when we did arrive in the nightclub, following the snake-skinned banister into the depths of a Brighton-esque dungeon, the room was filled with flashing floor lights and TV screens showing scantily dressed women….I’m not sure what audience Vendome are trying to pull towards this club but the sickeningly sweet cocktails are not the only thing that need serious attention. 

However, word is that Dom Pérignon has teamed up with Vendome to create a booth here and this should inject some much needed class and glamour.  While its sister club in Knightsbridge won the best new bar award this year, with competition for new member’s club being high, this new Vendome may need to up its stakes to make its mark.

HP and Vivienne Tam’s digital clutch

The latest techcessory about to hit the shops is the digital clutch, hot off the catwalk from New York’s Fashion Week.  The special edition bright red notebook is the creation of globally renowned designer Vivienne Tam who joined forces with HP to produce this super-portable mini-laptop.

“When I was approached by HP to create a special edition notebook, I could see the design in my head instantly,” said Tam, who decided on an Asian themed design. The top of the notebook is gleaming red and bursting with peony flowers. This motif is meticulously carried inside the notebook, under the keypad.  The laptop also features a special key that bears the Chinese symbol for double happiness

While some may find the design rather too overpowering – and there are whispers that it might be more  “Hello Kitty” than HP – there is clearly room in the market for growth in this particular area.  Certainly HP’s Mini-Note has appeared to be an enormous success so it makes sense for the company to expand the line.

Tam’s special edition ultra light is expected to hit the stores early next year and it’s certainly worth keeping your eye out for it.  Just keep the dark glasses handy.

The newly converted Just St James used to be the most expensive bank in London and following its revamp the building remains impressive.  Its ornate interior which contains sweeping staircases, marble columns, raised terrace seatings and large balconies is certainly aimed to impress the business client and with its extensive menu they have catered for all tastes.

From Butternut squash soup to braised ox tongue and foie gras there is an eclectic mix of starters available.  For the main course too, there is an equally wide selection, ranging from Dover sole and seabass to gnocchi.  I would highly recommend the angus fillet steak which came with an appetising foie gras butter. Likewise, the comprehensive wine list with its varied choices (it even includes some English white from the owner’s vineyard,) manages to appeal to all palates, although the Brazilian Miolo Chardonnay seems to be a favourite. 

Open for
Lunch from 12.00 – 15.00 and
Dinner from 18.00 – 23.00
12 St James Street, London SW1A 1ER