Latest news with #EarthaKitt
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Angels could have been the Blue Lancers. Where did iconic name come from?
"We love the Navy Flight Demonstration Team" doesn't have the same pizzazz as "We love the Blue Angels". But that's what the beloved Blues were known as when formed in April 1946. There were plans to give the team a snappier name, according to the website and the "Blue Lancers" was originally proposed. "Blue Lancers." Doesn't quite do it either, does it? Maybe it's just me but that conjures up visions of overdone dandies. − though the dashing flight suits the Blue Angel pilots wear today are pretty fancy looking too. Yes, Blue Angels fits perfect for the flight squadron headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola since summer of 1955, a fitting description for those graceful, jet-powered fleeting visions that trace and pierce our Gulf Coast skies so often. But where did the Blue Angel name come from, though honestly it almost seems inherent? Personally, I always figured it had something to do with 1930 Marlene Dietrich (ask your grandparents) flick "The Blue Angel." That's not it. According to the Blue Angels official website, the "name was picked by the original team when they were planning a show in New York in 1946. One of them came across the name of the city's famous Blue Angel nightclub in the New Yorker Magazine." Also known as "The Blue Angel Supper Club,'' an integrated nightclub founded in Manhattan in the early 1940s that hosted such notable artists as Eartha Kitt, Florence Desmond, Pearl Bailey, and so many more, including a personal favorite, Edith Piaf. So that's the history of the Blue Angels name. But... See, there are other stories out there in the Internet ether too. Stories heard through the years by former Blue Angels team members. Stories that offer alternatives to the origin of a name known worldwide, an enduring, symbol of pride to Americans in the United States. On June 8, 1955, the Pensacola News Journal published an article by reporter Odell Griffith, a Marine Corps veteran who had witnessed the raising of the U.S. flag at Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima during World War II. The article, which was about the Blue Angels performance highlighting Pensacola's Fiesta of Five Flags celebration that year, noted that the Blue Angels received the name "during the Cleveland Air Races when Arthur Godfrey, famous TV and radio personality, in observing the aviators said 'they looked like Blue Angels'. The name stuck and since they have been known as the Blue Angels." We asked former Blue Angel pilot and former Pensacola Mayor John Fogg about the name. Surely, he knew. Fogg served as a Marine Corps fighter pilot flying 200 combat missions during the Vietnam War, and flew with the Blue Angels in 1973-1974. He served as Pensacola's mayor from 1994 through 2009. "I've heard one story that some lady was watching them fly and said 'They look like Blue Angels" (exactly what the News Journal reported that Arthur Godfrey said. "But I don't know for sure." Different origin stories. Which one do you believe? (Me, I'm not going to argue with the U.S. Navy.) This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels name origin has different theories
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Popular BBQ restaurant set for return in Ayr with pub to be transformed
The popular Homestead Smokehouse restaurant is set for a return just two and a half years after it closed. A former Ayrshire restaurant is set for a return after closing its doors two and half years ago. Homestead Smokehouse in Ayr closed the doors to its former premises on Alloway Place on Hogmanay in 2022. Just two and half years later, they are back and set to take over the former Retro Bar and Cactus Jak's on Miller Road. The company has continued trading since closing the restaurant, bringing their signature BBQ cuisine to functions and events throughout Ayrshire. Signature dishes served at the restaurant before its closure included including freshly ground burgers lathered with cheese, streaky bacon, tender pulled pork and smoked brisket and Ayrshire's foodies will be gearing up to get a taste once again. Updating customers, Homestead Smokehouse said: "The rumours are true. "We've heard the whispers and it's time to set the record straight. Yes — a brand new restaurant is coming and it's ours. "You better believe it's going to be bigger, better and smokier than ever. Smash burgers, real BBQ, killer cocktails. Let the countdown begin." Opened in 2020, the popular Alloway Place restaurant was running for just over two years before it closed. Prior to closure, it was Ayr's number one restaurant on Tripadvisor and earned a Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice award in 2022. Retro Bar, situated below LA Bowl on Miller Road, was open for less than a year after first welcoming customers in July 2024. Previously it had been Cactus Jak's between 2008 and 2011 and Miller's American themed bar before that. Back in the 1970s it was the Darlington Hotel, and featured international cabaret with the likes of Eartha Kitt, Lena Martell, Tommy Cooper and Vince Hill.
News24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
20 questions with actress Denise Zimba
We put actress and TV presenter Denise Zimba on the spot in our rapid fire series. 1. What's the one app you can't live without? Spotify. 2. How would you spend R1 million in 24 hours? Travel to Tokyo, get spa and cosmetic treatments, buy the coolest gadgets and fashion, go to the street markets and eat as much as I can, and sleep at their fanciest hotels. 3. Which song always makes you dance? Rock with You by Michael Jackson. 4. Which three people (dead or alive) would you invite to your fantasy dinner party? Eartha Kitt – Her upbringing is a sad story, but she came out on top and understood life and its complexities. I would love to sit with her, hear about her journey and pick her brain. Marylin Monroe – I want to hear all the scandals and secrets of Hollywood's elite, over margaritas, and to thank her for standing up for Billie Holiday. Nina Simone – I would love to have her teach me music, how to play the piano. She was one of the best musicians in the world, but because she was black she lost out on what could have been the greatest journey of her life. 5. Which fictional character would you love to play in a movie? Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. I would love to see a black woman playing that badass action character. 6. If you could relive one day from your past, which one would it be? Being with a special person dear to me, who has passed on, the true love of my life. I would do anything to go back and fight for us. 7. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? Walk into the room knowing you carry the light of God, fearing no man, and knowing that God will always protect you and make way. 8. What's your most-used emoji in chats and why is it your favourite? The laughing emoji. I'm always cracking jokes and sending the most hilarious memes to everyone. 9. What's the most delicious thing you've ever eaten? A really good spaghetti bolognaise, followed by the perfect vanilla coconut cake. 10. If you could own a holiday home anywhere in the world, where would it be? Marbella in Spain. 11. What's your all-time favourite book? The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav. 12. Who's your biggest inspiration in life? Me. Because I know my story better than anyone, and what I have overcome inspires me to be better and greater. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Denise Zimba (@missdenisezimba) 13. What smell instantly takes you back to childhood? My mom's cooking. 14. Other than your current career, what would your dream job be and why? A travel writer – being paid to travel the world and experience luxurious places and review them. 15. Sweet or salty snacks – which do you crave more? Salty. Crackers with tuna or salmon and salsa topped with sriracha sauce. 16. If you had to compete in a reality TV show, which one would it be? Love Island, lol. To kiss all the boys I like, and stress all the girls out. Knowing it's all a game, and being entertained by those taking it seriously. 17. Name a movie that always makes you cry, no matter how many times you watch it. The Notebook. 18. What's your most irrational fear? Burning alive. 19. If your life had a signature catchphrase, what would it be? 'Here we go again! Time to put your big girl panties on.' 20. If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three items you'd want to have? A ton of wet wipes, tampons and a picture of my baby girls. Show Comments ()
Mint
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
BECAUSE YOU MATTER
'It's all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.'―Eartha Kitt Credit : UNSPLASH Page 2 Once hunted nearly to extinction for their fur, sea otters had dwindled to just 2,000 by 1911. Thanks to global conservation efforts, their population has now surged to around 100,000. Credit : PINTEREST Page 3 Coral and jellyfish, both Cnidarians, sting enemies and lack brains, with coral often mistaken for a plant but actually an animal. Credit : PINTEREST Page 4
Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
What I learnt attempting to do luxury Lake Como for less
I've always lived beyond my means, enjoying luxuries I can't afford. This has led to two things: first, marrying someone with even more expensive tastes than mine, whose moisturiser bill alone could feed a family for a week. Second, it's the reason I identify with one of my favourite songs: Eartha Kitt's Champagne Taste. For those unfamiliar, it's a story about a poorer man trying to court the singer by fulfilling her expensive tastes on a budget she describes as 'beer-bottle pockets'. The most scathing lines are: 'Do you wanna take me cruising on an ocean liner, to places I long to see?/Well, with my champagne taste and your beer-bottle pockets/ Don't forget to write me when you get there in your row boat/ When you've paddled across the sea without me.' My identification with Kitt's pain couldn't have been more evident than when I chose to surprise my partner for his 40th birthday with a trip to one of the world's most glamorous and expensive destinations, Lake Como — somewhere we'd always longed to go. Recent holidays had included a beachfront suite at a five-star resort in Goa and a staffed private villa with friends in Morocco. But now with eye-watering mortgage payments to make and a resolution to be less extravagant to cover them, I resigned myself to having to stick to a three-star budget. That would mean none of the trimmings: no luxurious lake-view hotel with terrace, premium rental car or fine dining. When we boarded our easyJet flight to Milan and were faced with a sea of orange, I longed for the calming blue of British Airways, but the price we paid was £480 rather than BA's £700, including the more expensive easyJet seats (ie the front row). As I sipped my bloody mary in a brand new Airbus, I realised what a no-brainer it was to go budget. The staff were lovely and the flight departed and arrived on time. What more do you need? It wasn't long until my blissful budget breeziness turned into a no-frills nightmare. To save money I'd booked a rental car via a comparison website, getting a deal on a Fiat 500. I'd worried about fitting my overweight frame and luggage into such a small car, but ultimately the price of £42 for five days — and the Italian heritage — convinced me that there was no better vehicle for our Italian adventure. • Lake Como v Lake Garda: which one should you visit? Unfortunately I'd used American Express to pay on a comparison site, but Goldcar doesn't accept Amex for the in-person deposit. After a couple of hours of negotiating we were in danger of missing our birthday dinner reservation, so were forced to accept that sometimes cheaper isn't better and that we'd have to take the train to Como, digging deep into our new budget-friendly selves. I loathe trains in the UK, and certainly didn't want to take one on holiday. What a fool I was. Although the plastic seating was decidedly less glamorous than the interior of the pearly white Fiat 500 I'd envisaged, it was absolutely fine as a means to get us to our destination — on time too. After a quick change at Saronno, we were in Como within 90 minutes, for £20 between us. • 10 of the best hotels in Lake Como for 2025 Pulling our luggage along in the intense heat, I did miss the air-con of a car, and having sweat rolling down my face wasn't quite the entrance I'd planned. Then we walked past the stunning five-star Albergo Terminus hotel, and I pondered whether my next budget-based decision would be a hideous mistake. During peak season the sort of room we dreamt of would cost £500 a night, so I'd opted for another first — a one-bedroom self-catering apartment. I'd never understood the appeal before. For us, holidays mean a lovely hotel, breakfast, and linen changed daily. So as we unlocked the door to our lakefront pad on Viale Geno, I was relieved to see my partner's face light up. It was beautiful, with a wooden kitchen, Fifties-ish decor and a private balcony looking directly on to the lake. Our joy made me wonder if I'd been wasting thousands on hotels over the years. For an equivalent suite with a balcony we'd have spent £3,000 for four nights. This apartment was £900. What fools we'd have been to spend more. Alas, the rental car problem and walk to the apartment meant we didn't make it in time for our pre-booked birthday meal. It was now after 10pm on my partner's 40th, during peak season in a busy town where reservations were essential. There was nothing for it but to take a chance. We strolled into Como centre and broke the number one rule of any savvy traveller by walking into the first restaurant we saw, near the station, in the most touristy part of town. We sat lakeside in Ristorante Cervo and ordered in dread, watching tourists file along the busy thoroughfare, expecting a cold culinary atrocity. But to our delight, out came a piping hot pizza, worthy of the finest Italian trattorias in the world. The pepperoni was perfect, the tomato tantalising, the mozzarella mouthwatering, the base brilliantly crispy. They even brought us a birthday cake ( It was an unexpectedly wonderful end to a day fraught with foreboding. • 11 of the best villas in Lake Como I was starting to question every piece of travel advice I'd ever given myself. Budget airlines are OK? Rental cars aren't needed? Hotels aren't necessary? Eartha Kitt is wrong? But could we sustain this low-cost loveliness for the rest of our trip? I was determined to know, so the next day I decided to push myself into an even more extreme discomfort zone: a picnic. I loathe picnics. I don't like sitting on the floor, drinking warm wine with congealed dips and stale bread, nor the grass stains on your bottom. I prefer a proper smart restaurant with upright seating. There were plenty around, but they were expensive. So off we trotted, full of hope, to what reviews say is Como's best sandwich shop: Passion. We took our prosciutto, cheese and salad sandwiches, plus beers, to a shaded area of the lake to rest, relax, and fully participate in the picnic lifestyle. Was it the most fabulous lunch I've had? No. But it came with a priceless view that stopped us looking at our phones; we just talked and took it in. (I did get a grass stain on my cream chino-ed backside, but you can't have it all.) What you can have, with a budget mindset, is a trip that makes you more creative and adventurous. With no car in which to go off exploring, we rode the town funicular instead, (£3 one-way; ascending 700 metres to the pretty village of Brunate. By driving, we wouldn't have been able to experience so many Italians elbowing everyone out the way to get to the seat with the best view of the mountains. Nor could we have admired the village's Bellavista hotel with its ornate ceilings. Had we been staying in a luxury hotel, would we have even gone out? We might well have stayed put to get our money's worth. Luxury rarely inspires bravery. And bravery was what we needed on our final day, when we decided to head over by ferry to Bellagio. After going out for a check on the usually chaotic ferry queue, we discovered many departures weren't happening that day (as is often the case), so we decided to take the hour-long bus journey instead. No money in the world would have made me miss seeing my partner turning green as we hung on for dear life while the driver went Formula 1 along narrow lakeside roads, flinging passengers around with every hairpin bend. Some were whooping with fear; I was doing so with delight. Not only was it cheap, but the entertainment was thrown in. I'm not sure many would describe this bus-shaped rollercoaster, with the constant fear of a watery death, as 'entertaining', but I certainly found it so. We spent the afternoon browsing Bellagio's amazing shops, including Quelli della Pelle, where we bought a set of garlic-shaped, hand-painted salt and pepper shakers,and enjoying our customary afternoon beer with a view, this time at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Then we took the slow ferry back to Como — a nearly two-hour cruise passing the attractive villages of Tremezzo, Lenno and Cernobbio. At about £18 it is quite possibly the cheapest and best Como sightseeing trip you could want. Passing gorgeous villas and hotels with the sun on our faces and the breeze through our hair, we were blown away by the lakefront art nouveau architecture. It was a low-cost experience we simply wouldn't have had by road. As our trip ended, we didn't even consider taking a taxi to the airport, instead opting for the train again. We'd been truly bargain-basement brainwashed. Eartha Kitt may have been fabulous in so many ways. But will she ever truly know what her champagne tastes made her miss out on? Cristo Foufas travelled independently. Four nights at the Lake Front View on Viale Geno is from £875 ( Fly to Milan
