Walk Among The Stars

Having a stroll among the stars might sound like a dream come true as it doesn’t only symbolize one’s ability to rub elbows with celebrities but take a walk along memory-lane.

Not much is known about the origin of the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is a sidewalk baring stars monuments for the icons of the entertainment industry such as the names of  musicians, actors, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, fictional characters, and others. 

Rumors has it that Hollywood Walk of Fame was inspired by the iconic Hollywood Hotel‘s dining room ceiling which marked the favorite tables of its most famous celebrity guests. Others reports state, that Sugarman’s restaurant, inspired the concept because it featured on its drinks menu celebrity photos framed in gold stars.

The first star prototype was unveiled February 1956, featuring a caricature of John Wayne, inside a blue star on a brown background but due to the expensiveness of such concept, they decided to neither use caricatures nor the color blue.

In 1978, for the first time in its history, a star was appointed to an animated character Mickey Mouse.

If you happen to visit Hollywood Walk of Fame, you will remark that while more than 2500 brass stars are humbly embedded in the sidewalk, only one star hangs vertically. In 2002, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce broke tradition following Muhammad Ali’s request as he did not want people to walk on his name, citing prophet Muhammad.

Legendary entertainer Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have a star in all five Walk of Fame categories.

To celebrate Hollywood Walk of Fame’s 50th anniversary in 2010, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce buried a time capsule where it was first conceived. The ceremony was hosted by presenter Bob Barker, it included various items  to be opened in 2060.

Emmanuel Macron The Overachiever

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron, President of the French Republic has been the center of many controversies and stipulations. But one can’t deny the allure of this over-achiever with fascination.

Hereby are some interesting facts to know about the French President:

1. Emmanuel Macron’s parents, Jean-Michel Macron, a professor of neurology and Françoise, a physician, were not religious. At age 12, he was baptized at his own request. He has two siblings Laurent and Estelle.
2. Macron studied at the Jesuit Lycée la Providence in Amiens where he met his current wife Brigitte. He was sent-off to Paris to finish his last year of school at the elite Lycée Henri-IV when his parents found-out about his infatuation with Brigitte Auzière, a married teacher with three children. Macron married, 24 years his senior, Brigitte Trogneux in 2007, after she divorced her husband in 2016.   Macron planned to give his wife an official role within the government, but didn’t following an online petition of nearly 290,000 signatures on change.org.
3. He studied philosophy at the University of Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense, and obtained his DEA degree with a thesis on Machiavelli and Hegel.
4. In 2008, he became a highly-paid investment banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque. After two years, he became a member of the Attali Commission.
5. Macron was the youngest Minister of Economy, since the period of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1962. In 2014, he assumed that role but later on resigned to devote himself to his political party En Marche!.
6. In 2016, he founded a progressive movement, called En Marche!, a centrist, liberal and social-liberal political party in France, which has the same initials as “Emmanuel Macron.”
7. In the history of French Presidential Election, Macron is the youngest president.
8. He was nominated as one of the “Hottest Heads of State Through History: French Presidents” in 2017.
9. Macron is a talented pianist, he studied piano for 10 years.  He is an avid fan of football and attended the 2018 World Cup semi-final and final.
10. In 2016, he published a best-seller titled “Revolution”. His alleged unpublished novel is an epistolary love story about a pianist that plays with time.
11. Brigitte and Macron own a black Labrador Retriever-Griffon dog, Nemo, who lives with them in the Elysée Palace.

One might not agree with Macron’s ways of dealing with things or his political choices, however one has to give credit where credit is due. It takes a hell of a character to achieve greatness at such a young age. Only a great soul would defy the world for love. He has the looks, the money, the power, the status, and the youth to have any woman he desires. With gorgeous women throwing themselves at him on a daily basis, he could have easily replaced his 24 years senior wife with a trophy-wife that would bear his children, however he didn’t. He opted instead to endure the ridicule of peers and brave the world, never taking the easy-way out. Who would have thought that a dedicated ambitious man would be so romantically fearless?! One has to confess that this is something rare, noble and admirable.

The Robin Hood of the Art World

Like Robin Hood, the legendary heroic outlaw, Banksy is an anonymous film director and street artist, whose street art is politically fueled with usually anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment slogans. He often portray rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and elderly.

Ironically, highly revered by the rich-crowed he so bluntly disdain to the rich, Banksy satirical and controversial art, combines dark humor and graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique.  To this day, the real identity of the art vigilante Banksy remains unknown, with some speculating that it could be either Robert Del Naja or Robin Gunningham.

In 2018, footage recorded of artist Robin Gunningham roaming the area in which later on several Banksy art appeared fueled the rumours that it might be him. Furthermore, several Gunningham’s associates and former schoolmates have corroborated this rumour.

However, during the same year, some believe that DJ Goldie  accidentally revealed in an interview with Scroobius Pip’s Distraction Pieces podcast that Banksy is none other than Robert Del Naja, the 52-year-old member of trip hop trio Massive Attac. In the interview he was cited as saying “No disrespect to Robert; I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he has flipped the world of art over.” Some detectives claimed to have matched up Massive Attack’s touring schedule with appearances by art by Banksy.

The press has long speculated as to how much Banksy is worth, with some saying he is net worth is approximately $20 million.

Banksy’s street art might be for free but it gets him the coveted attention he needs in order to sell unique pieces which sometimes are spray painted onto canvas or cardboard.  It might interest you to know, that having his graffiti on any estate triples its value, with the Daily Mail suggesting the £300,000 end terrace could have tripled in value thanks to the artwork.

Banksy’s Robin-Hood like nature was best portrayed when he sacrificed a staggering amount of money for the sake of laughing at the rich who are willing to pay gruesome amounts of money for the simplest pieces. During one of his painting auctions, bidders and Sotherby’s staff watched in complete horror as that the Banksy’s painting sold for £1,042,000 shreds infront of the full crowd. The day after the sale he updated his website with an image of an auction house and the people bidding on a picture with the written words ‘I Can’t Believe You Morons Actually Buy This S**t’.

Celebrities’ Spirits

You solemnly find actors or entertainers in the alcohol business, but in recent years, there has been a surge in famous people launching their own line of spirits rather than their own perfumes.

Hereby is the list of those A-listers who pride themselves on launching the finest booze on the market, one that captures there spirit and emulate their taste.

Casamigos Tequila

By actor George Clooney

Casamigos is a tequila company co-founded in 2013 by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman. It was purchased in June 2017 by Diageo for US$700 million plus up to a further $300m based on the brand’s performance.

Aviation Gin
By actor Ryan Reynolds

Aviation Gin, is an “American dry gin,” brand produced in Portland, Oregon, by founders Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian in 2006. In 2012, it was awarded by Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded Aviation American Gin a 97-point rating, the highest rating the magazine has given to any gin.
Actor Ryan Reynolds acquired a stake in the brand from Davos in February 2018

Longbranch Bourbon
By actor Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey and Master Distiller Eddie Russell teamed up to create Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon Whiskey. As reported by The Spirits Business, Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO at Campari Group, said: “Matthew McConaughey has been ingrained in the Wild Turkey brand as creative director for several years now.“As a lover of Bourbon, and an integral part of the team, it was a natural next step for Matthew to partner with Eddie to create a new product for Wild Turkey.

Heaven’s Door Whiskey
By singer Bob Dylan

Heaven’s Door Whiskey is a collection of American whiskey co-created by Bob Dylan. Drawing on the rich tapestry of Bob Dylan’s art and music, Heaven’s Door.

Danny DeVito’s Premium Limoncello
By actor Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito launched his own brand of Limoncello with its own theme song.

The story behind how it all started is actually pretty hilarious, Danny DeVito got drunk on Casamigos Tequila and then went on The View to rent and vent in a scandalous way to the public. The resultant infamy turned out to be beneficial as it allowed him to launch his brand.

Skinnygirl
By actress Bethenny Frankel

Created in 2009 by TV star Bethenny Frankel for ready-made cocktails, the range now includes three wines, each of which promise to contain just 100 calories per 5-ounce serving.