Attention all Fry & Laurie fans out there (and I know there are quiet a few of you!). According to The Guardian, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie will reunite this fall for a documentary on the Gold channel about their careers and partnership. This retrospective, tentatively titled Fry & … [Read more...]
Malcolm McLaren: Punk’s Eccentric Uncle
April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last week the music world lost one of its visionaries - Malcolm McLaren, former manager of the Sex Pistols and punk visionary. He died on April 8th at age 64. [picappgallerysingle id="2326803" align="center"] McLaren was quite the colorful character in the British music scene. He took the … [Read more...]
Brit Celeb Radio #5 – Britain’s Youngest Female Medium
April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
There was no time for Brit Celeb chatter on this weeks show on LA Talk Radio. We were too absorbed by our very special guest Rachel Marie Walsh who at 21 is Britain's Youngest Female Medium. Rachel shares how she discovered her special gift and had a special message for Leo (our roving … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: A Love Letter to London from My Recent Trip
March 23, 2010 By 8 Comments
Dear London: Thank you for your outstanding hospitality at the end of February. You did a great job introducing yourself to my father who has never visited before. Your streets were clean and the Tube mostly on time (I still enjoy its communication system and apologizes for even being a minute … [Read more...]
Calling all British Music Fans!
January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Voting is open for 3 categories in the 2010 BRIT Awards. The BRITS, aka the British Grammy Awards, celebrate the best of British music. You don't have to be British to vote. To register and vote visit the BRITS website. In my opinion, the most important category is BRIT Album of 30 … [Read more...]
This Week in British Music: Coldplay, Susan Boyle, Royal Mail
January 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Starting this week, I'm starting a semi-regular music news update. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Here is what happened this week: Rock Mail Thanks to the Royal Mail you'll be able to lick some of rock's best loved albums. Yesterday, January 7th, a new collection of special … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Inside the Hard Rock Cafe Vault in London – Check Out The Beatles Memorabilia and More!
January 2, 2010 By 1 Comment
Normally when I travel I try to avoid all chain restaurants - except for the local Hard Rock Cafe. I don't go for the food, nor do I go because it is familiar restaurant. I go for the rock'n roll. As a huge music fan, the HRC is sacred ground. Each restaurant brings music history alive and … [Read more...]
The British Music that Rocked My Noughties
December 18, 2009 By 3 Comments
As we come to the end of another decade, it is rather common to take stock of what had transpired, the awesome and the should be forgotten. This week I found myself reflecting on the music I discovered and enjoyed. The 2000's (or the Noughties as the BBC calls it) saw me graduate high school, go to … [Read more...]
Susan Boyle: She Dreamed the Dream
November 29, 2009 By 2 Comments
The summer of 2009 belonged to Susan Boyle. The Britain's Got Talent runner up became a YouTube hit the moment she showed up on stage looking slightly frumpy and opened her mouth, shocking everyone with her fantastic voice. [picappgallerysingle id="7120460"] The first time I saw the famous clip … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Explore History by Following the Blue Plaques
October 19, 2009 By 3 Comments
London is a history lover's playground. Besides all the major locations like Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey, almost every neighborhood and block has been witness to famous people and events. If you look closely, you'll see on many houses a round blue plaque. These blue plaques are … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: All You Need Is… a Beatles Master’s Degree
October 12, 2009 By 1 Comment
If you've been following my column here on Anglotopia, you know I am batty for all things Beatles. Practically every book, film, video game, you name it, I have devoured it. Needless to say, my curiously was piqued when I saw that Liverpool Hope University is offering a new Master's degree in The … [Read more...]
Why You Need to See QI According to Me…and John Hodgman
September 19, 2009 By 3 Comments
If you don't mind, I'd like to continue my Stephen Fry lovefest for just one more week. I love QI. It is hilarious and informative. It can be rude. But it is so fantastically British. Featuring a panel of celebrities (Alan Davies is a regular, semi-regulars include Jo Brand, Phil Juppitus, … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: An Ode to Stephen Fry
August 24, 2009 By 5 Comments
Writer. Actor. Director. Comedian. Television presenter. Game show host. Twitterer extraordinaire. National Treasure. Stephen Fry is all of that and more; a Renaissance Man of our time. A man who's brilliance knows no boundaries. Some even think of him as our modern Oscar Wilde. This … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: It was 40 years ago today…
August 8, 2009 By 1 Comment
It is one of the most iconic album covers of the 2oth century. On August 8, 1969, John, Paul, George and Ringo gathered at the crosswalk outside Abbey Road Studios in St. John's Wood to take their last album cover photo. Little did they know that with the click of a camera, they just created … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Upcoming Movie – The Damned United
August 1, 2009 By 1 Comment
I'm not really a fan of football. But I am a fan of Michael Sheen and British movies. So that is why I am excited to see The Damned United about Brian Clough's 44 days as manager of Leeds United. There are so many British movies that we never see here in the States, so I am rather surprised … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Seeking Employment – Kaiser Chiefs
July 21, 2009 By 4 Comments
Continuing with the theme of bands with European ruler names, let me introduce you to Leed's own Kaiser Chiefs. The Kaiser Chiefs are a fun band. Some of their songs contain social commentary a la The Kinks, but for they really sound like a group of lads who are having a great time. You can tell … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: The Day History Totally Blew My Mind
July 6, 2009 By 1 Comment
Everytime I find myself in London, I always make a point to visit new locations instead of visiting the old standbys. Last June, I found myself with a day and a half in London. By chance I walked by the Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, and noticed that I could go in, … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Rock and roll weekend, anyone?
June 12, 2009 By 1 Comment
We all have our lists of things, our bucket list if you will, that we want to accomplish during our lives. For me, attending a music festival in the UK is very high on the list. The Brits love music festivals. These weekend concerts usually involve not only music, but camping, drinking, rain, … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: New Sherlock Holmes movie trailer released
June 6, 2009 By 4 Comments
Recently the trailer for Guy Ritchie's new film, Sherlock Holmes, staring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law was released. As a Sherlockian, I am eagerly awaiting its release this Christmas. But after watching this trailer, I think I am going to have to suspend my knowledge of the stories and … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Inside the Pages of British Music Magazines
May 22, 2009 By 1 Comment
Not only do I love to listen to British music, I am a huge fan of their music magazines. Maybe my Anglophile view on life has clouded my vision, but I really believe their magazines are superior to ours, including Rolling Stone. (And for the record, I am a subscriber to RS.) There are three major … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Introducing Franz Ferdinand
April 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Franz Ferdinand (via last.fm) Music has been invaded by Franz Ferdinand. No, not the Archduke of Austria, but four guys from Scotland. Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, Bob Hardy and Paul Thompson make up this smartly dressed quartet formed in 2002. You may ask yourself, "Did they really name … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Interactive Literary London
April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
What do you get when you take Google Maps and British literature? A fantastic website marking the location of more than 400 books set in or about London on Google maps! Running throughout 2008, the Get London Reading campaign encouraged Londoners to make more time in their busy schedules for … [Read more...]
Just how round was Henry VIII?
March 6, 2009 By 1 Comment
When you ask most people what comes to them when you mention Henry VIII, two tidbits come to their minds: 1. That whole saga with 8 wives 2. He was a rather, um, portly man. 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension to the throne. Throughout the year, I am sure that … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: Inside the Brit Awards
February 13, 2009 By 2 Comments
This month the best of music will be not only be honored at the Grammy's on Sunday, but at the BRIT Awards on February 18th. Started in 1977, the BRIT's, an acronym for British Record Industry Trust, is the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. Like the Grammy's, it is a … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: My Top 10 Favorite British Bands
January 30, 2009 By 3 Comments
As mentioned in my introduction a few days ago, I love British music. To kick off my weekly column, I'd like to share with you my top 10 favorites. 1. The Beatles Hands down my favorite group of all time, regardless of country. The Lads from Liverpool rocked my early musical world and … [Read more...]
Anglophile in Exile: My Anglophile Story
January 21, 2009 By 3 Comments
By the time I was in middle school, I was a self-proclaimed Anglophile. My love for all things British developed out of an introduction to The Beatles and Sherlock Holmes, both of which I am still greatly passionate. On whim, I picked up a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories when I was in the … [Read more...]
Introducing our Anglophile in Exile – Mary Kate
January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment
We have another new columnist joining the Anglotopia team. I'd like to take a moment to introduce you all to Mary Kate. Mary Kate is a passionate Anglophile who is in love with British Music. She's going to write about various Anglophile topics, but will mainly focus on British Music; a subject I … [Read more...]
British Pound Exchange Rate
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.