Picture Yourself There

Miss Great Britain

If Eurovision didn’t sate your appetite for outlandish spectacle, take heart: a feast for the eyes is in store tonight as the grand final of Miss Great Britain takes place at Grosvenor House in London. Fifty of our nation’s finest specimens will be vying for the crown – on stage it might be all about wishing for world peace and loving children and animals, but we reckon backstage the (fake) claws will be out and the hairpieces will be flying.

Caustic comic Joan Rivers will no doubt add an acerbic edge to the fluff as the evening’s host, while GMTV and X factor presenter Ben Shephard is more likely to provide a bit of eye candy for the girls. Perhaps bizarrely, on the judging panel will be Christine Hamilton – if you’re wondering why a woman who was once the face of British Sausage Week is now casting the votes at this British institution, remember that there’s a lot about this competition which won’t make much sense…

Let's hope that this year's winner doesn't go the same way as fallen star Danielle Lloyd. Get the Grosvenor House NavPix here…

Cookie, Melbourne

Here at Picture Yourself There, the phone’s ringing off the hook. Well, not literally, but I can’t think of an appropriate email analogy… anyway, we’ve got another reader suggestion for you today, provided by Jo from Manchester who recently took a trip to Melbourne:

I’d been exploring the city for a while, and was amazed at just how many great bars, cafes and restaurants there were.  One of my favourites was this place. It looked a bit scruffy but interesting from the outside. Inside it was brilliant. It kind of reminded me of places  at home- like the Corner House in Manchester, or even Aflex Palace, back in the day. On the first floor was a fantastic bar called Cookie where you could either lounge around and soak up the atmosphere or spend a night on the tiles if you were feeling livelier. The next floor was just as striking, full of fashion and unusual gifts for those in need of a shopping spree. But the really amazing thing about this fairly indifferent looking building was the stunning rooftop cinema on the sixth floor. Here, there really was something for everyone all under (and on) one roof, and I felt like this one venue really reflected the vibrant and eclectic nature of the city.  Really loved it.

Thanks very much to Jo for her email. Get the Cookie NavPix here, and don’t forget to send us your own suggestions!

FA Cup Final, Wembley

Following the clearly critical situation when a number of the stadium’s seats turned pink, football fans across the nation will be relieved to hear that the first FA Cup Final will still take place at the new Wembley today! Set to be a truly momentous clash between the two teams we either love or love to hate, Chelsea and Manchester United will battle it out for the Cup.

Who are you backing? The calm, collected machine cultivated by Mourinho? Or Ferguson’s flash-harrys? Hopefully Jose’s fur hasn’t been too ruffled by his recent and embarrassing brush with the pet police – no doubt his rival fans will be reveling in his canine capers (expect plenty of jokes about Chelsea’s bark being worse than its bite, Chelsea being a dog’s dinner… etc).

Get the Wembley NavPix here…

Navman Loves

What with the next Bank holiday rapidly approaching, we at Picture Yourself There think you should consider a mini break in the Big Apple. Extravagant? Not necessarily. Check out our favourite NavPix for this week, and you’ll see what we mean…

That’s the best thing about sharing NavPix, you see – as well as the beautiful landscapes, the fascinating tourist spots, the amazing tucked-away boutiques and coffee shops that regularly appear on the library, we occasionally find something that really makes us chuckle. We love the Big Apple, a little shop – and iconic attraction in Mumbles village - at the edge of Bracelet Bay in Wales, and think you will too. It’s much more lifelike than the Gherkin, don’t you think?

Antony Gormley, Hayward Gallery

Beginning today at the Hayward Gallery: Antony Gormley presents a series of new works, alongside a selection of pieces from the last 30 years, in his Blind Light exhibition. Described by the artist as a ‘climatological experiment but also a sociological one’, (read more here) you might understand the focal point of this show in more prosaic terms – a box of fog.

However, don’t presume that this is just another self-congratulatory act of deliberate weirdness by another fashionable contemporary artist – the light chamber is designed to provoke wide ranging and powerful emotional reactions from visitors. The disorientation will prove frightening and claustrophobic to some, while others will feel free and euphoric. Come on, what do you mean you 'don't get it'?

Many thanks to Richard Bryant for today's image. If you’re ready to lose yourself in art, get the Hayward Gallery NavPix here…

Elysee Palace

As you will know, the charismatic and fiery-tempered Nicolas Sarkozy today arrived at the Elysee Palace to take over from President Jacques Chirac. Due to receive the launch codes of the French nuclear arsenal from the departing leader, we hope Sarkozy’s short fuse won’t affect his work. He recently beat Segolene Royal to the title, despite the widely-reported fact that she looked really rather good for her age in a bikini.

Sarkozy has been described as a magnetic and compelling politician, whose charm has won him several supporters - something we in the UK aren’t necessarily accustomed to, then… hopefully a few more stints on breakfast TV sofas will add a little sparkle to Gordon Brown’s persona.

Get the Elysee Palace NavPix here…

Molotow, Hamburg - reader favourite

Here at Picture Yourself There, we love it when people tell us about their favourite places. Today, we had a recommendation from Sally in London town, who recently found a great bar in Hamburg:

Whilst on a very dry business trip in Germany recently I found myself in Hamburg on a Saturday night.  Not being able to face the thought of a night in with room service and an evening of German telly, my colleague and I ventured out onto the streets of Hamburg in search of some fun. 

We came across, the Spielbudenplatz, in the heart of the city’s red-light district which offers a wide selection of colourful bars and clubs, where we fell into Molotow.  On the ground floor is Meanie Bar, a quirky looking place with autumnal tree wallpaper adorning the walls and a relaxed vibe; it’s a great place to have a drink before the party gets going in the basement.

Downstairs is a darker affair but equally cool and extremely orange. The bar area leads through to a live music and club venue where acts such as the Gossip, The Rakes and Jamie T have all played recently.  We saw instrumental and eclectic band The Earlies play, and very good they were too.  Saturday night also plays host to Motor Booty a popular club night in Hamburg with a great rocky and indie playlist to shake your ‘mooty booty’ to.

Molotow is a great place to find yourself in whilst in a foreign city.  The crowd and staff are approachable, friendly and very, very cool but not in an intimidating way.  I passed on the recommendation to a friend who was in Hamburg a few weeks ago and he had a brilliant night there.  Not only was the manager of his favourite band working behind the bar (which apparently he does from time to time as he likes the place so much) but he also made some new German friends and ended up at a party with his newly found comrades.

Thanks very much to Sally for her ideas. What about yours? Get the Molotow NavPix here...

N Power Test Series

All eyes are on the once-golden boy of English cricket, Freddie Flintoff, as the first test between England and the West Indies begins on Thursday. Cricket’s most colourful character, whose team didn’t have the greatest start to the year and who has been accused of partying a little too hard now and again, will surely be hoping to shine in the clash.

However, Flintoff’s Achilles, erm, ankle prompted captain Michael Vaughan to speculate earlier this week as to whether England’s all-rounder would be fit enough to play at all. Flintoff reported ‘a couple of twinges’ in Australia, while Vaughan himself is to be left on the sidelines suffering with a dodgy finger. And I thought it was footballers that were supposed to be big girls’ blouses…

Only kidding fellas – best of luck. Get the Lord’s NavPix here…

Cannes Film Festival

Described by the Hollywood Reporter as ‘the granddaddy of all film festivals’, Cannes begins its 60th festival this Wednesday 16th May. Begun in 1946, after the declaration of World War 1 postponed the original premiere, it has become one of the most prestigious events in the art world, with contributions from many different European countries offering an insight into the individual culture and artistic direction of each.

Oh, come off it. We know that all these events are about one thing, and one thing only – GLAMOUR. Who really cares who wins the Palm d’Or? We’re never going to watch that three-hour art-house flick by that unpronounceable director and his unknown cast (especially if there are subtitles), but we’re darn sure going to have a look at the gossip columns to see who has the best dress.

If you fancy a bit of celeb-spotting, slap on some St Tropez and get the NavPix here…

British Sandwich Week

Open? Club? Sub? Toasted? White, brown or granary? However you like it, it’s time to celebrate everybody’s favourite lunch today with the beginning of British Sandwich week. Whether you’re a cheese and pickle fan, or more of a crayfish and avocado kind of person, why not extend your repertoire and try a few new flavours in the next seven days? We think that the toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with cream cheese from Alan’s Kitchen, here, look a little special...

On the NavPix library, you’ll find a whole host of great places to grab a sandwich. We like the Blues sandwich bar in Camden – and if you’re sick of sandwiches by the time you get there, you can tuck into the range of pies and pasta on offer. And, if it’s a sunny day, there are places to sit outside.

Get the NavPix here...