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Hopes of bringing back lighting, music and events to Ramsgate’s East Cliff Bandstand

Hopes of bringing back lighting, music and events to Ramsgate’s East Cliff Bandstand
East Cliff bandstand Photo Steven Collis

An application to have the East Cliff Bandstand listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been submitted by The Ramsgate Society.

The Grade II listed bandstand on Wellington Crescent, at the top of Plains of Waterloo, was built in 1939 and its listing includes the dance floor, steps and boundary wall with railing.

More than a decade ago the bandstand was refurbished and had coloured lights and a sound system installed.  But it has been several years since the equipment was used following some issues over antisocial behaviour.

There has now been a flurry of activity aimed at bringing the bandstand back into use.

John Walker, from The Ramsgate Society, said: “I had been thinking about the bandstand for a while as it is a bit of a mess and has become overgrown.

“The Ramsgate Society, Ramsgate Town Council and an East Cliff residents group have got together to try and work out a plan to revive it.

“We think it could be turned into an asset for the community so the first thing is to get it listed as an ACV so it is recognised as something the community wants to keep.

“Then maybe it could be transferred to the town council, I can only imagine it is a liability for Thanet council. It could be a good project but needs people to be involved.”

Photo Steven Collis

Ramsgate Town Council discussed reviving the bandstand as part of proposals to improve stretches of the town, particularly the west and east cliff areas, and possibly take on responsibility for some of the assets.

The proposal was put forward at a meeting during the week by councillors Helen Crittenden and Corinna Huxley.

As part of that there is to be a focus on the East Cliff bandstand with agreement that the town council will use miscellaneous funds of between £800-£1,000 for engineers to check the condition of light and sound equipment and estimate a cost to get it running again.

Cllr Helen Crittenden

Cllr Crittenden said: “Corinna and I are really concerned, particularly in East Cliff, about the lack of maintenance in the gardens and public spaces (those not looked after by volunteer groups) and are looking to see how RTC could take over areas from TDC. The idea is to coordinate with the many volunteer groups in a way where we can support them and fill in the gaps between their work.

“The Ramsgate Society has put in the ACV request. Thanet council do not, and will not, have the money needed so the idea is to get responsibility under RTC. It is about finding a way for the bandstand to be brought back into use, working with The Ramsgate Society and other groups – we are due to meet with the Let’s Save Ramsgate Bandstand group in the next couple of weeks.”

East Cliff postcard

Ideas include an attractive light display once more, possibly screening so the area can be used but protected from coastal winds, repairing the dance floor area. having concerts/bands and performances from local groups.

Cllr David Green said some £12,000 was spent on the lighting and sound equipment via funding from his wife Liz in her previous role as a councillor around 10 years ago.

He added: “For a small amount of money this could be a really exciting project.”

Find Let’s Save Ramsgate Bandstand and Make it Something Magical on facebook

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The ROM Is Bringing Back Its Boozy Night Parties With Korean Tea Tastings & Spooky Events

The ROM Is Bringing Back Its Boozy Night Parties With Korean Tea Tastings & Spooky Events

You don’t have to be Ben Stiller in order to spend a night at the museum. The Royal Ontario Museum is bringing back its evening parties, and you can sip boozy drinks and enjoy themed food.

ROM After Dark is a monthly, adults-only event that celebrates different cultures and holidays. The social is re-launching on September 16 with a K-pop themed evening.

RAD: K-Culture will feature the band P1Harmony as well as Korean arts such as calligraphy, music, fashion, and dance. You can get groovy with Toronto’s RPM Dance Crew, sing your heart at out Korean Karaoke, and enjoy animation shorts. Other activities include Korean tea tasting and photo ops at the Hanbok selfie station.

In October, you can enjoy a “Halloween spooktacular” at the RAD: Fantastic Beasts event, which includes admission to the enchanting wizarding exhibit. There will also be a New Year’s Eve bash in December and a romantic evening in February.

Each event offers bar drinks and food from themed pop-ups, so you’ll want to bring your appetite. You’ll also have access to some galleries, so you can explore the museum after dark.

The events are for ages 19 and older, and tickets for the first social are already available online for $30 per person.

If you’re looking for more fun things to check out at the ROM, you can take a trip to the wizarding world by visiting the Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature exhibit, which features real props from the films.

ROM After Dark

Price: $30 per person

When: Monthly starting September 16, 2022

Address: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON

Why You Need To Go: Experience the museum at night with the return of these boozy events.

Website

Before you get going, check our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

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MLB Live bringing All-Star Week fun to DTLA

MLB Live bringing All-Star Week fun to DTLA

What is your favorite part of MLB All-Star Week? The T-Mobile Home Run Derby and the MLB All-Star Game are the obvious crown jewels, but this year, Major League Baseball is getting ready to take over Downtown Los Angeles with a string of fan events from July 16-19. Here is what you need to know about all the activities that are scheduled to be a part of MLB Live in DTLA.

Capital One PLAY BALL PARK: July 16-19 at Los Angeles Convention Center
PLAY BALL PARK — the world’s biggest baseball and softball festival — will offer something for everyone. This fan-focused event blends sports, music, technology, food and fashion, and will feature some of the greatest MLB players and broadcasters. Tickets are now available to experience everything inside the Convention Center, including games, clinics, exhibits and autograph sessions. Activities outside the convention center are free. Fans can also earn special prizes by utilizing the All-Star Experience Pass throughout PLAY BALL PARK.

MLB All-Star Block Party: July 16-19 on Gilbert Lindsay Plaza
Just outside the Convention Center, the MLB All-Star Block Party will last throughout All-Star Week. This free event will host additional interactive games, free giveaways, music, a beer garden and more.

2022 MLB Draft: July 17 at 4 p.m. PT on Xbox Plaza
All fans are welcome to grab a front-row seat to the future of baseball on Sunday by watching the first two rounds of the 2022 MLB Draft from the heart of L.A. Live. The Draft will be nationally televised on MLB Network and ESPN.

All-Star Creator’s Cup: July 18 at 1 p.m. PT on Xbox Plaza
A first for MLB All-Star Week, the All-Star Creator’s Cup is a fast-paced video game tournament that will feature 16 competitors playing MLB The Show 22 in front of a live audience. The field will be split evenly between top MLB The Show players and popular influencers in online baseball culture. The tournament will also stream live on a number of digital platforms, including MLB’s YouTube page.

All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Mastercard: July 19 at 11 a.m. PT on Xbox Plaza
No city pulls off a red carpet event like Los Angeles, so come see the 2022 MLB All-Stars and their families showcase their style on a classic, 600-foot red carpet which will lead players through a crowd of fans. Make sure you arrive early to get the best sights of this year’s All-Stars and have a chance to take home free giveaways from MLB mascots.

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BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE | Wheat and Honey Events helps couples produce their perfect wedding day – VC Reporter | Times Media Group

BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE | Wheat and Honey Events helps couples produce their perfect wedding day - VC Reporter | Times Media Group

Photo shown above by Innis Casey Photography

by Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer
nshaffer@timespublications.com

The wedding day is meant to be one of the most beautiful, memorable and special events in a person’s life. A lovely location, flowers, delicious food and the betrothed couple bedecked in their nuptial finery are all necessary elements for this most splendid of occasions. But a wedding holds so much more on its tulle-and-lace-draped shoulders. This is a place where the personality, culture and values of the couple take center stage, and no two celebrations are alike.

To truly create the wedding of someone’s dreams requires an extraordinarily personal touch. Such careful craftsmanship is the raison d’etre of Wheat and Honey Events.

“We like to be available to our brides and grooms from the time they hire us until the end of their wedding,” explains owner Annette Kirkhuff. “A lot of people say I’m like a Mama Bear — I care about their weddings as much as their parents do.”

Bringing a vision to life

Wedding coordinators come in all flavors (and price points), of course. There are those who will help you on the big day, directing florists and caterers, getting guests seated and prompting the walk down the aisle. There are those who will work with the couple for a month or so beforehand, helping to organize and finalize the details. But Kirkhuff prefers to work with her couples for a year or more, to make sure every aspect is handled without a hitch.

Elegance en plein air, perfect for an outdoor wedding. Photo by Caroline Yoon

“I’m not a fan of the ‘coordinator for a month or a day’ model,” she says. “We spend a lot of time together. I need to understand their vision and their ideas.”

Wheat and Honey is based in Simi Valley, but puts on weddings (and other events) all over Southern California. Often, Kirkhuff comes on board once the couple has set a date and booked the venue — although she’s also been the one to help them find their location, too. Regardless of which comes first, Wheat and Honey is involved throughout the entire planning process.

“We work with the bride and groom from the beginning to the end,” Kirkhuff confirms.

Communication is key — to get a sense for what the couple is imagining, but also to get to know them. What do they like and dislike? What are their challenges? What kind of budget do they have, and what are their top priorities? Kirkhuff is fully available to offer advice, support and expertise to hammer out all the details.

With an excellent eye for design, Kirkhuff will execute the look and feel of a wedding that reflects what the couple envisions, whether that’s a sophisticated black-tie affair or a rustically elegant outdoor soiree. But first and foremost, she sees the design process as a group endeavor.

“We like to collaborate with our brides and grooms to make their wedding personal and collaborate on design,” she says. “When they walk away, they can feel like it’s *their* wedding.”

But Kirkhuff’s skills go way beyond the look of the event. She’s fully prepared to guide her clients through every step of the wedding planning process. Where and how to spend their budget, finding the right vendors (from rentals and caterers to photographers and florists to hair and makeup people), where flexibility might be required. 

“We get an idea for a budget and a vision and prioritize vendors — what’s most important? We don’t want any surprises on the day of . . . .[Couples] spend a lot of money on these weddings. They need to be executed the way you talk about.”

Personal touch with years of experience

Kirkhuff grew up in North Hollywood, and came to Ventura County in 2008, working for Command Performance Catering. As the sales and event manager, she flawlessly executed around 150 events a year. A photographer friend, who had seen Kirkhuff in action, noted that she had more to offer than just catering skills. Eventually, she decided to take a risk and branch out on her own.

Annette Kirkhuff, founder of Wheat and Honey Events. Photo submitted

In 2016, she opened Wheat and Honey Events with her daughter, Katie, who had run a small company called A Day to Remember. (Katie now lives in Texas and operates Wheat and Honey Events in the Dallas area.) With years of experience under her belt and a solid reputation for professionalism and customer service, she quickly established Wheat and Honey as a leader in the industry, putting on dozens of wedding, corporate and nonprofit events every year. For 2022, the company has been nominated in no less than three categories — Best Overall Vendor, Best Event Design and Best Wedding Planner — by California Wedding Day magazine.

Kirkhuff’s knowledge of all things related to events no doubt plays a role in Wheat and Honey’s success. But it’s her personal touch and genuine love for what she does that has couples clamoring for her services when they’re ready to tie the knot.

“It isn’t just a job for us,” says Kirkhuff. “I spend a year with the bride and groom and we say goodbye at the end of their wedding. We miss them! Developing the relationships with vendors as well as families is one of the things I love most about this business.”

Planning during a pandemic

“When the pandemic hit, it affected our business . . . along with every other business in the world,” says Kirkhuff. 

The weddings may have been put on hold, but she was still there for her couples, who needed her more than ever. 

“We worked with clients to move their wedding dates into 2021. Some we’d been working with for over 30 months! We all work together in this industry to make this as smooth as possible for our clients.”

Kirkhuff kept busy with some style shoots and mirco-weddings, but never stopped letting her clients know that they were valued and still had her support. Again, that personal touch for which Wheat and Honey Events is known was a balm to many couples nervous about COVID, their weddings and everything else.

When vaccines became available, weddings were back on the books in 2021, and it hasn’t slowed down since. According to Kirkhuff, clients are pleased that things have opened up even more in 2022, with mask mandates dropped, for example. But there are still conversations to be had in the wake of the coronavirus

“We talk a little bit about if COVID hits again,” she explains. “We have clauses in our contracts to protect our clients, too. And of course, we are fully compliant with all health and safety regulations.”

Hospitality heart

A few things Kirkhuff emphasizes again and again about the wedding process: Communication is incredibly important, and the vision of the wedding couple is paramount. Kirkhuff also feels very strongly that the betrothed should be able to *enjoy* their big day . . . not feel stressed out about it. From start to finish, Wheat and Honey Events will guide, advise and support clients through every aspect. As Kirkhuff states on the company’s website: “We at Wheat and Honey Events . . . allow you to be a guest at your own event.” 

“A wedding coordinator and planner needs to have a hospitality heart,” Kirkhuff insists. “Couples should see happy faces from all the vendors and guests to make sure their day is a loving day. And they need to know that it’s all organized — so they can relax.”


Wheat and Honey Events, annette@wheatandhoneyevents.com, 805-624-9350, www.wheatandhoneyevents.com

 

SIDEBAR

hed// Trends for 2022

Annette Kirkhuff of Wheat and Honey Events is quick to say that every wedding is as unique as the people getting married, and trends can be hard to determine. But there are a few things that seem to have become popular the last few years.

 

dek// White on White

“White is really big . . . People are doing a lot of white weddings, with white colors and white florals, or mixing white with soft florals.”

She attributes some of this to the prevalence of Pinterest and Instagram, both of which are “huge in our business.” A bride sees a photo of something she likes, and tries to emulate that. And on these platforms, “white has been big these last two years.”

 

dek// Colored suiting

Interestingly enough, she is seeing more color showing up in menswear, and a move away from high formality.

“I’ve seen a lot of tuxes with color . . . and more casual weddings with cocktail attire rather than black tie.”

 

dek// Sleeves in style

For wedding dresses, Kirkhuff says, “Trending right now are sleeves. A lot of brides are able to have sleeves that are detachable — so that they can take them off for the reception, for example.”

 

dek// Breaking with tradition

As relationships and conventions have changed, so have wedding couples and parties. Weddings for same-sex or nonbinary couples are on the rise, and attendants run the gamut.

“A couple of my weddings have had flower boys and men rather than flower girls. I’ve also seen bridesmen and groomswomen.”

 

dek// Live musicians with DJs

“I’m finding a lot of brides and grooms bring in a live DJ — maybe a drummer or another musician playing while the DJ is spinning.”

 

dek// Food for thought on food trucks

Food trucks have grown in popularity, particularly for outdoor and more casual weddings, but Kirkhuff cautions against jumping too quickly on this particular bandwagon.

“Food trucks don’t work for traditional weddings,” she says. “They don’t have people serving the guests and taking care of them. Sometimes the bride and groom don’t feel like food is their priority, and that’s fine . . . However, it’s important to have really good service no matter what you’re eating.”

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National Gallery of Art Bringing Back Night Events This Spring

National Gallery of Art Bringing Back Night Events This Spring

A night at the museum!

The National Gallery of Art is bringing back its special evening program this spring. But, for the first time, the events will be held at the museum’s West Building.

The National Gallery will be opening its doors to the public from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 14, May 12 and June 9. The events will feature music, performances, pop-up experiences and art-making activities, according to a press release. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

The events are free, but registration is required. You can get tickets for the April 14 event here. Registration for May and June will open one month in advance: April 15 and May 13, respectively.

Each night’s event will have a different theme: Flowers After Hours for April 14, Prom for May 12 and French Connections for June 9. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a nighttime visit to the museum’s new exhibition Atlantic Histories, which opens on April 10.

Masks and proof of COVID-19 vaccination are not required but they’ll let visitors know if there are any updates to the policy, NGA said.

The events mark the gallery’s first in-person programming since 2020. Previously, NGA Nights used to be held on the East Wing, but that building is closed until June for renovations.