Britweek 2016 Rocks!

By Laura Medina

 

Of course Britweek stalwarts, Harry Hamlin and Joely Fisher, showed their moral support for the midway point for the two-weeks Britweek cultural love fest, the Britweek Gala.

"Dancing with the Stars" Mark Ballas made the red carpet with his new music duo, Alexander Jean, with his fiancee,  singer-songwriter, B.C. Jean.

Hollywood's latest break-out starlet is veteran character, Timothy Omundson, from ABC's hit song-and-dance fairy-tale farce, "Galavant."

After whipping up desserts for Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, Chef Darren McGrady finally got his due on the red carpet.

He served Princess Diana's favorite Bread & Butter Pudding (it's creme burlee topped with caramelized toast) as the official Britweek Gala dessert.  Boy, did folks devour that up!

One of the many Brits spearheading Britweek is Nigel Lythgoe.

He jumped up on the media riser, among the photographers, to chat with ole friend, talk show host, Ross King.

Britweek's Gala, through the mid-way point, at Santa Monica's Fairmont Miramar Hotel was transformed into a dream British garden party where full-fledged sofas, couches, ottomans, and coffee table were presented and used as a lush patio furniture.

Last night's refreshers were "The Queen's Cup" where you have your choice of Premium Ginger Ale or Light Ginger Ale or Sparkling Lemonade then use either one of them to splash it on top of The King's Ginger Liqueur and cranberry juice, an equally viable choice to Pimm's No. 1 Cup, in a highball glass.

Mixing stronger Fever Tree's Ginger Ale with The King's Ginger Liqueur is good what ails you when you're dealing with a lingering bout of Coachella Cold/Flu.

At each and every table is a mini kettle pot of English potatoes chips, instead of bread baskets.

Last night's dinner was a taste of home, a banquet buffet of uniquely British cheeses, Cornish pasties, fish and chips (fried chunks of cod and french fries), bangers and mash-sausages and mashed potatoes, drizzle over with onion sauce.

With the passing of David Bowie, this year's Britweek theme is Britweek Rocks!, celebrating the British Rock and Pop, highlighting the best, spanning fifty years, beginning with The Beatles.

Last night did more than celebrate nostalgically about the past, but of what's current in British Pop Music, like hip-hop artist, Fiction.

Always a pop star in the UK, Chesney Hawkes headlined the concert with an acoustic guitar set...

Then, legendary music producer and manager, Pete Asher, tied up the concert gala with hits from the Sixties.  

Britweek Rocks!