Our Digital Planet photography competition & exhibition

On Thursday 16th August a new photography exhibition will arrive on the main Brighton Promenade. Brighton is the first stop for Our Digital Planet which will go on to visit five other cities.

The exhibition will include images which demonstrate the positive impact the internet has had on people's lives. The aim will be to intrigue, inform and inspire visitors and encourage people to learn more about how the internet has positively contributed to society.

Plus there is a chance for your photo to be part of the exhibition! Simply upload a photograph which demonstrates what the internet means to you to www.blipfoto.com including a brief description and you could be in with a chance of winning. The winner's photo will be included within the exhibition and they will receive £500 of photography equipment and a personal photography workshop with David Collinwood. The competition is open until 3rd August.

Good luck and hopefully we'll see a Brighton winner when the exhibition arrives on the 16th!

Charlotte

Baroque named Boutique Retailer of the Year

Of course we love our independent retailers but it's always great to hear about local businesses achieving national recognition. Last week Baroque Bespoke Jewellers in the Lanes won the "Boutique Retailer of the Year" Award at the Retail Jeweller UK Jewellery Awards 2012, and here's a snap of the guys collecting their award...

The Awards are the Jewellery industry's equivalent to the BAFTAs and Baroque were originally shortlisted back in April along with 7 other jewellers across the country. The voting process consisted of interviews and a mystery shopper to judge the team's selling & customer services skills. The judges were impressed by the shops individual identity as well as their support of British talent.

Congratulations to the Baroque team from everyone here at LoveBrighton! 

So whether you are looking for a bespoke piece or a designer item pop into Baroque for an award winning experience.

For more details on Baroque go to: www.baroquejewellery.com

Charlotte

Brighton Olympic Torch Relay - 17th July 2012

Being a little disappointed (well very actually!) that for one reason and another I missed the Olympic Torch last night, I got up bright and early to get to the Pavilion for 7.20am for this morning's Torch lighting.

As the bus veered off course into Preston Drove at 7.07am, I had visions of missing it again. Neither a diverted bus or my feet were going to get me to the Pavilion in 13 minutes! Oops.

The torch is alight!

The Olympic Torch Lighting at the Royal Pavilion

I jumped off anyway, and started running down London Road frantically pushing my one year old in her buggy, whose hair by this time was vertical in the wind. I only made it to Preston Circus before we heard the distant sounds of what must have been the relay, so we stopped and stood in what turned out to be a great spot near the Duke of York's Cinema.

As the Torch came by a bit of lump came into my throat - there is something about a large crowd of people all turning out together for a common cause that is quite emotional.

Especially when your one year old is waving a flag with a big smile on her face, as she bounces around to the Freemasons...God speed Olympic Torch!

Oh and thanks to a more organised colleague we did capture the Torch lighting at the Pavilion above, not to mention the rather fabulous patriotic punks below...

Thanks John!

The Olympic Torch as it passes down London Road

The Torch runner - London Road

Patriotic punks turn out for the Torch!

Thank You GB Coca Cola lorry

Dandy Dick at the Theatre Royal Brighton

Every time I go and see a show at the Theatre Royal I think I mustn't leave it so long before I come again. The theatre always has such a lovely atmosphere & it's also a good place for some people watching especially if you happen to be in a box on the Royal Circle.

Last night a couple of us went along the see Dandy Dick, which is the first play to be staged by the new Theatre Royal Brighton Productions and as the play was originally written in Brighton it was certainly an appropriate choice. The story is based around a village vicar who is strongly opposed to gambling, however his quiet home life is disrupted by the arrival of his estranged sister who definitely doesn't share his views on horse racing.

For me the play was pure escapism - this is traditional English comedy at it's best. Don't get me wrong I am a big fan of modern comedy and am already looking forward to the Brighton Comedy Festival in October. However I am also pleased to see that there is still a place for farce and comical misunderstandings. No one is cruel and you know that everything will turn out alright in the end, in a similar style to Jeeves & Wooster or the Ealing Comedies.

Of course the two lead stars - Patrica Hodge & Nicholas Le Prevost - are well known faces and their performances were as good as you would expect them to be, but I am pleased to report that the rest of the cast were excellent as well, and the set design helped to capture the mood.



If you are looking for a night out with no mention of the banking crisis, dodgy politicians or that big sporting event coming up soon then this is for you. The play will be on at the Theatre Royal Brighton until Saturday, of course that is the best place to catch it although if you can't make it then you'll be pleased to hear that the production will be touring the country as well. Go to the Theatre Royal's Facebook page to see more of the production shots.

Charlotte

Image credit - Dandy Dick - Sir Arthur Wing Pinero - Ambassadors Theatre Group © Robert Workman