Do you have a family photo you want to display prominently in your home? Instead of simply having the photo blown up and placed behind a frame, you might consider an increasingly popular alternative. Canvas prints have been available in many parts of the world for nearly a decade now. And as the technology has improved, the price has naturally dropped making canvas prints an affordable option for all.

What is canvas printing? As you may have guessed, it is a process that refers to the professional reproduction of an image on canvas, instead of paper. The process is similar to ink-jet technology in that both machines use liquid ink that is applied through tiny print heads.

However, the machine that is used to produce professional canvas prints (a Giclee) is specially designed to apply fine ink on materials, such as canvas, rather than on paper. (more...)

With the holiday season fast approaching, people are starting to draw up their Christmas lists. For most folks, however, the list will be deposited in a cluttered drawer and won’t see the light of day for weeks. That is because most of us are unabashed procrastinators and we wait until the last possible minute to do our Christmas shopping.

Unfortunately, at that point there is only so much we can find. Fact is, the early bird consistently gets the worm, in this case the perfect gift, when it comes to holiday shopping. Why not make things easier for yourself this year?

You can start by avoiding the stores and doing most of your shopping online. That’s right! Online shopping opportunities grow each and every holiday season as more and more companies sell goods online and competition drives down prices. One gift we have found that will likely work for every name on your list are personalized Christmas ornaments ( Ornament Divine ) by well known designers. (more...)

When you think of culture, art, theatre, architecture, London comes to mind. There are numerous theatres in London playing a variety of fascinating shows. A trip to London cannot be complete without catching one of the famous Musicals in London’s West end.

One trip by the London Tube can give you a glimpse of the musicals and shows playing, the posters lining all the escalators in the tube are a quintessential part of London. While it is easy to travel around London using the various modes of public transport available, finding london accommodation means less time travelling and more time spent having fun!

London offers many options for travellers with all tastes and capacities. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can choose a grand luxury hotel or a moderate Holiday Inn Express, or a small bed and breakfast. (more...)

There are some sights simply not to be missed when in Rome. . Like Big Ben is part of London and the Eiffel Tower a part of Paris, there are some sights that make Rome what it is.

The Colosseum Amphitheatre is one of the must see places in Rome. In ancient Rome, as many as fifty thousand people would have thronged the Colosseum to enjoy the spectacle of gladiator fights or theatre. The once magnificent ruins are now host to contemporary theatre and plays based on the epic battles of Rome.

The Sistine Chapel is another location that one cannot miss when in Rome. This incredible work by Michelangelo is one of the most breathtaking works of art you will ever see. The Pope Sixtus IV commissioned Michelangelo to undertake the work. The entire fresco tells the story of humanity, god and the universe. The Sistine chapel is not just a place of historic and cultural importance but is also a supremely important religious location as Papal conclave is carried out here. (more...)

There are so many reasons why New York is ranked as one of the most popular city break destinations. From the awesome shopping opportunities that can be found across all of Manhattan; to the iconic tourist attractions like The Statue of Liberty and The Empire State building and the fact that this city is the second best in the world for theatre entertainment.

We are going to concentrate on the last of these reasons for visiting the city and the fact that there are many New York hotels located close enough to Broadway to really make a perfect theatre break away.

After London's West End, New York is proud to boast a myriad theatre shows going on at any time. Broadway has most of the well known musicals to enjoy and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have a massive influence here. From Les Miserables to the unforgettable Phantom of the Opera: it really is all here for you. (more...)

New York City is one of the largest and most visited cities in the United States. Every year millions of travellers experience its unique blend of culture, diversity and history. New York is also one of the world’s most popular destinations for businessmen.

Though they are travelling for very different reasons, the businessman and the tourist have something in common — they both need to find a place to stay, which in New York is easier said than done. Don’t get us wrong, there are always vacant hotel rooms in the city, but if you wait to the last minute to plan your trip, you will undoubtedly end up paying through the nose for them.

That is why when you are considering New York hotels or apartments it behooves you to book your accommodation weeks, even months in advance. As you may know, hotel rates in big cities like New York frequently fluctuate, sometimes significantly. (more...)

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and is a city rich in culture, arts and historical significance. Although it is the second largest city of the country, it is sparsely populated. However, there are a large number of museums, theatres, ballet theatres, and numerous other cultural treats for visitors to enjoy.

The theatre district of Amsterdam, the Leidesplein, is known for its eclectic mix of various art forms like contemporary and independent theatre and film, popular cinema, art house cinema etc.

Amsterdam is full of sights of historical importance. There are about 7000 registered historical buildings in the city itself. There are several art galleries and museums, some historical while many contemporary such as the sex museum. Many travellers prefer to stay in an apartment rental as they are cost effective and allow more flexibility and privacy than a normal Amsterdam hotels. (more...)

Theatre is one of the most misunderstood pastimes of our society. They used to be very popular in the 20th century but we have noticed a recent decline in their profitability. Going to see a movie is entirely different than theatre and people often get the two mixed up.

It is much cheaper to go see a movie than it is to sit through a theatre play. The reality is that theatre is much more entertaining than sitting through horrible movies that Hollywood produces today.

Most people usually are looking at their tv guide trying to watch something on a Friday night instead of catching a theatre play at their local theatre. Our society has lost something in translation and unfortunately it is mainly because it is much more profitable to have people go to movies. (more...)

While the notion of theatre and housing originated in ancient Greece, Romans set the foundations of modern theatres and of quality residential constructions. The area with seats would not be only semicircular, but circular, obtaining thus "amphiteatres" like the Colosseum. There was great interest, even emperor Nero was an actor. The quality of the construction was unrivalled and has been a reference ever since.

In Rome also modern apartment buildings were first invented. By the law no more than 6 floors could be built, with top quality fittings, like glass windows. As is occurs in modern times you could rent Roman homes of good quality, well prepared and managed.

The theatrical culture also influenced architecture. Rome's baroque fountains are designed after theatrical stages, the most famous are the Trevi and the Paoline fountains. Even the facade of churches are theatrical, for ex. the Oratory of the St. Philip Neri of architect Francesco Borromini. Naturally also palaces and apartments display highly ornamental decorations, and in turn also the interior of Italian theatres is influenced by the layout of apartment buildings. For ex. the higher area of the spectators is called "la loggia", because their sitting layout resembles that of a house, were you can "lodge".

Are you an aspiring thespian? Do you wish to see your production being featured on Broadway or in Hot Stuff Lifestyle Magazine ? Are you looking for basic tips on theater acting? Read on for some simple techniques and things to remember while acting on stage.

Stage acting is very different from film acting in that it is done live in front of an audience, and the stage itself is your space in which to create your reality. In film, it is possible to take close ups and long shots and create an entire narrative by juxtaposing these shots. However, theater is based on the stage and how the stage is used to create a narrative.

In that sense, theater allows for a different kind of freedom from film. In fact, the two work with very different visual languages. Therefore, acting for film and theater need to be approached in different manners. (more...)

The magic of theatre lies in creating a different reality within the confines of the stage, using the different aspects available to you. These include sound, light, movement and stage scenery. Art direction or production design is therefore an important part of theatre.

The stage is the space with which theatre artists work. Theatre art direction is not just about hanging a few canvases prints on the backdrop. It is a highly complex process with much room for experimentation and creativity.

The scene designer works in tandem with the director and actors to determine the look of the stage. This includes the props, the actual scene and backdrop. Basic design principles regarding colour, composition, light and space come into play and need to be applied here. (more...)