PRLog – July 12, 2015 – PHILADELPHIA — Jennifer Vanderslice is always thinking ahead to what would be of the most interest to her blog readers, and she is excited to announce that she will be taking her blog to the Big Easy for extensive research of the Beatles for future posts to her website – Beatles Freak Reviews. She will be traveling from July 17-21, 2015.
Tag Archives: beatles
Beatles Freak Review blogger heads to New Orleans in search of the FAB | PRLog
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Tea for Tuesday: Review of Mrs. McCartney’s Strawberry Green Fields
Mrs. Angie McCartney’s Organic Teas
Strawberry Green Fields
Tea(s) From: China
Region(s): Hunan Province
Antioxidant Level: High
Caffeine Content: Low
Once again, I made this tea in a small pot with 2 cups of water for one tea bag. I let it steep for 7 minutes and paired it with a slice of triple chocolate mouse cake from my local Wegman’s market.
Strawberry Green Fields is made from Green tea, Papaya and Strawberry pieces. Like the Liverpool Red tea, it’s the fruity aroma that will be the first thing to hit your senses as you raise the cup for a sip. Despite it’s name and aroma, it’s the green tea flavor that stood out more than anything for me. The fruit taste is there, but I honestly couldn’t have told you that it was made from papaya and strawberry had I not been told.
Strawberry Green Fields is an enjoyable light tea and I don’t believe the extra 2 minutes steeping time in the pot strengthened it any. At first, I thought it was the way I was making the tea, but after having afternoon tea in Philadelphia over the weekend, I realized that liking stronger tea is just my personal taste. When I get the time to enjoy the second teabag of Strawberry Green Tea that came in the variety pack, I will most likely use it in a large cup and forgo the teapot as I tend to like my tea a little stronger.
For more information, go to: Strawberry Green Fields
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Movie Review: Good Ol’ Freda
Good Ol’ Freda was the brainchild of Kathy McCabe and Ryan White who began a Kickstarter campaign on October 11, 2011 in hopes of raising $50,000 to make a movie telling the story of a young, naive, seventeen year old girl who fell in love with a local band in Liverpool and ended up the secretary of the greatest band the world would every know. Within one month, Kathy and Ryan were able to raise $58,000 for this project and in 2013 they release this documentary.
Maybe it was all the hype and hullabaloo that has been made about this film over the past two years, but I didn’t find it to be ‘all that’. I felt as if I spent at least 25% of the time listening to Freda, her family, friends and colleagues tell me how loyal, devoted and honest she was/is and that she would never spill any dirt about the Beatles. Hmm, so what was this movie about? From the magazine clippings about Ms. Kelly that appeared in this film, it doesn’t seem as if we were learning anything about her that hadn’t already been told during her years working for them.
This film left me a little confused as to why it was made and it’s purpose. Near the end of the movie, Freda says she finally decided to tell her story for her grand-children so they would know what she did with her life. Uh…they probably could have learned that from the four boxes of memorabilia and scrapbooks in her attic that we get to see her rifle through throughout the film.
Now don’t get me wrong…Freda is fun to watch and listen to for the 87 minutes of this film as she giggles like a young girl as she reflects back on her years with Eppy, Richie, John, Paul and George. And there is no doubt in my mind that she’s a lovely lady to meet and spend time with over tea or such, but I’m glad this movie wasn’t much longer than it already is.
If you’re a die-hard Beatles fan that has to know absolutely everything about the Fab Four, than this movie is for you and you should buy it and add it to your collection. If you’re just curious about Freda Kelly and her story, you can rent Good Ol’ Freda on Amazon for $2.99 and watch it on your laptop.
You can buy Good Ol’ Freda
Or you can purchase from the Good Ol’ Freda website.
I rate this movie: 3 out of 4 Beetles!
Filed under Movie Reviews
Tea for Tuesday: Review of Mrs. McCartney’s Liverpool Red Tea
Mrs. Angie McCartney’s Organic Teas
Liverpool Red Tea
Tea(s) From: South Africa
Region(s): Cederberg
Antioxidant Level: Medium
Caffeine Content: None – Caffeine Free Herb
My method for making tea: Pour .5 litre bottle of spring water into kettle and bring to boil. Pour water into teapot over teabag. Steep 5 minutes. Pour into cup over 2 sugar cubes. Makes 2 servings.
I chose the teas to review in random order, but I gotta say I’m happy with my first choice: Liverpool Red Tea. This is a rooibos based tea and is caffeine free (something us caffeine sensitive people appreciate). The aroma from this tea is amazing and the elderberry and blueberry really standout as it’s steeping in the pot. Incredible fruity taste, but probably could have steeped a minute or two longer…something I’ll try to remember when I make this again after a hard day’s night.
I did encounter one small issue, though, but I’m happy to report that it was easily rectified once I figured out what it was. I had selected Burton’s Rich Tea biscuits to pair with this particular tea and that turned out to be a huge no-no. The flavors just didn’t blend well at all. For the Americans, Rich Tea Biscuits are very similar in taste to Nabisco Animal Crackers. Once I put the cookies aside, the tea was wonderful. I tried to think of what I would pair this tea with, but I came up blank. I was honestly too busy closing my eyes and relaxing to think about it.
This tea can definitely stand on it’s own as a nice relaxing tea in the afternoon or evening without any cakes or cookies. Enjoy!
For more information, go to Mrs. McCartney’s Teas: Liverpool Red Tea
Helpful link about afternoon tea: Afternoon Tea Etiquette – Top 10 Dos & Don’ts
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Beatles Freak Reviews adds new ‘Tea for Tuesday’ feature for summer 2015 | PRLog
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Book Review: “Angie McCartney: My Long and Winding Road”
Phew! That Angie McCartney can talk…and talk…and talk…and talk! But, ya know, it works for her and this book. And she does stop to catch her breathe on pages 156-157.
Angie McCartney has the distinction of being the step-mother of Sir Paul McCartney. This is a role she took on in November 1964, at the height of Beatlemania, when she married Paul’s dad Jim. My Long and Winding Road is Angie’s story. From her humble beginnings, up until present day, Angie tells of her roller-coaster ride of a life and her travels around the world with her daughter (and best friend) Ruth by her side.
Some Beatles fans may be disappointed that at about midway through this book, after Jim’s death, Paul McCartney is rarely mentioned. I personally had no problem with this since Angie and Ruth’s adventures make this book a joy to read, and in the end, you find yourself rooting for both of them.
Angie does spend a great deal of time thanking the VIPs that she has met in her 82.9 years, but not in a bragging type of way. With each celebrity that she writes about meeting, she includes a wonderful story of how they met or a funny story to go along with their continued friendship.
Kindle users can download a copy of this book for just $6.99: Angie McCartney: My Long and Winding Road
For those more dedicated fans, you buy a signed copy direct from Angie’s website for $30.
Or for those of you who may be a wee-bit off your rockers, you can buy a used copy of this book on Amazon for about $75!
I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!
***Note: Don’t miss my new feature starting Tuesday, June 30, when I begin my weekly summer series called ‘Tea for Tuesday‘. Every Tuesday through July and August, I will post a review of one of the nine flavors of Mrs. Angie McCartney’s Organic and Fair-Trade Teas. My hope is that this will help some of my readers in their own process of selecting their own favorite flavor. Or maybe you’ll just buy them all! See you Tuesday…
Filed under Beatles books, Paul McCartney, reviews
Book Review: My Kid Brother’s Band (aka The Beatles) by Louise Harrison
Did I enjoy the book? YES! Louise let’s you into her life to tell you HER story. Along the way, it obviously criss crosses and runs parallel to her brother George Harrison’s life as they grew up together and later when he became a member of the greatest band the world has ever known. The part that most people will not like about this book is that one of Louise’s strongest personality quirks is that her mouth (and fingertips) have no filter on them.
Let me take a moment here and provide my readers with a little background information on the making of this book. A couple years ago, I was introduced to Louise via phone and email (I still have not had the good fortune to meet her face to face, yet). She told me she was writing a book, but that it was more her memoirs than it was a tell all about George. As the year went by, I found out that she had changed her mind and had decided to not publish her memoirs, but to instead, just print a couple copies for her children and grandchildren. I could respect that. Another year passed, and lo and behold, I read that she had decided to publish after all. I immediately pre-ordered my copy.
Since this is Louise’s book, she uses this opportunity it to give many of her personal opinions on politics, religion and her philosophical beliefs. She does include a heads-up that not everyone is going to agree with what she has said, so read it at your own risk of being offended. Was I offended? No. It would seem I have a lot more in common with Louise than I ever thought.
Some of her stories are repeated several times over the course of the book and the readers will become aware that she probably could have used a good editor, but her story is well written and easy to read (if you’re not slamming the book down after reading her opinion of Obama, abortion or the environment!).
The book is probably not the story most Beatles fans want to read since she makes it clear that she will respect George’s privacy even in death and not tell all. I still feel this book is worth picking up and reading for the tidbits about John, Paul, George and Ringo, that Louise Harrison does provide along with her perspective of accompanying the Beatles to many of their shows during their 1964-65 tours of America.
You can order your copy of My Kid Brother’s Band (aka The Beatles) at Amazon.com.
I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles!
Filed under Beatles books, Beatles-freak, George Harrison
Review: Hard Day’s Night Treatment at Lush Spa (Philadelphia)
“Inspired by the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool, this Beatles-themed treatment takes away any tension. Gentle passive stretches and comfy pajamas send your busy brain into a golden slumber.” – Lush Spa
Lush Spa Philadelphia
I admit that I’m not fond of massages. They always have left me disappointed in the end because I am just too high strung to actually relax for them. Put that together with several masseuses who talk, talk, talk through the entire massages and I usually walk out feeling like I’ve just wasted a whole lot of money! But when I received a gift certificate from my dear friend Lisa for this treatment, I couldn’t help but get excited.
Lo and behold…this Hard Day’s Night Treatment at Lush Spa, my friends, is what a massage was meant to be! With a soundtrack of Beatles song interpretations playing in the background, there is no talking done except for a few request such as to turn over, scoot down and then to meditate at the end. This experience was a true pleasure. If you’re modest…not to worry! The entire time you’re dressed in a pair of over-sized flannel pajamas. With a combination of passive stretching and pressure point massage, this treatment fills the complete 75 minutes that it advertises.
But it doesn’t end there. After your treatment is done, you return to the sitting area where tea and shortbread cookies await you. You are also presented with a gift bag that contains a Golden Slumbers Bath Bomb so that you can continue your relaxing experience when you get home.
My massage therapist was a lovely young woman named Stanette and she had just returned in May from four months of required training at Lush headquarters in Poole, UK. She loves her job, she loves the company she works for and she gives you an amazing experience. The store itself, was packed full of customers when I arrived.
There are over 900 Lush stores throughout the world (including a spa in Liverpool, UK!), but there are only two Lush Spas in the United States where you can experience the Hard Day’s Night Treatment. They are:
LUSH Spa Lexington, 783 Lexington Avenue, NYC
LUSH Spa Philadelphia, 1525 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
My advice to all you Beatles Freaks out there is to find the closest Lush Spa to you and schedule an appointment so you too can float away. It is a bit pricey, but well worth it. If you’re one of the thousands of Beatles fans that attends the Fest for Beatles Fans every year in metro New York City, you may want to make this little luxury a part of your Beatles weekend. I’m actually looking forward to going back someday and letting my worries melt away again.
This is a sample of all the songs that are played during this treatment. Imagine having a your hands massaged during “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and a scalp massage during “Golden Slumbers”.
I rate this Fab Four experience: 4 out of 4 Beetles!
Filed under Gifts, Hard Day's Night Spa Treatment, reviews
Book Review: “The Private John Lennon” by Julia Baird
The Private John Lennon: The Untold Story from His Sister
It’s always refreshing when you can read a first-hand account of someone’s life from someone who was actually there to witness it. Much like Cynthia Lennon or May Pang‘s books, Julia Baird brings the reader into her and her families’ private lives to give you a glimpse of what it was like being John Lennon’s sister. Those facts or times that she is unable to recall or know as fact, she’s gone about finding those family members and friends who can fill in the blanks for her and her readers. It’s during her research that Julia uncovered several family secrets that help Lennon and Beatles fans better understand the world that John grew up.
This is a story of unbelievable tragedy. Even if she wasn’t related to one of the Fab Four, one has to agree that they would not wish Julia’s losses throughout her life on anyone. She tells of Cynthia’s kindness towards her and her sister Jackie after the loss of their mother and she tells of the embarrassment she felt at her brother John’s strange behavior after taking up residency with Yoko.
After reading this book, it becomes obvious what John saw in Yoko. He was returning to the strange, controlled world that he had always known growing up. Thank you Julia for telling your story.
If you’d like to read this book on Kindle, it’s available as an ebook in it’s UK title –Imagine This
I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!
Filed under Beatles books, John Lennon
Book Review: “Can’t Buy Me Love” by Dan McNeil
I discovered this book after the author Dan McNeil followed me on Twitter. There is a picture of the book-cover in his Twitter banner. After looking up the synopsis on Amazon, I thought it sounded interesting enough to download the eBook and give it a read.
This story is based in early 1964, just as the Beatles were about to invade America. It follows the premise that there were no crimes committed in New York City the night the Beatles appeared for the first time on the Ed Sullivan show on February 7, 1964.
The main characters in this book are four adorable, lovable and awkward ex-bank robbers that will keep you entertained throughout this book. McNeil takes you step by step through their plans to pull off one more bank robbery, while injecting humor, sex and touching moments into his story. And though this is one more Fab Four fan fiction book, he stays pretty damn true to the story of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan show while still mixing them into the antics.
You will laugh. You will have a tears in your eyes. You will enjoy this light read.
Available for $2.99 as an ebook at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles!
Filed under Beatles books, Fan Fiction
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