The Little Cardiff Blog

"I'm just a backwoods Barbie In a push-up bra and heels I might look artificial, but where it counts I'm real Yes I can see how I could be misjudged upon first glance But even backwoods Barbies deserve a second chance" Dolly Parton is such a treasure, I've always had a real soft spot for her. After watching an interview or two with Dolly it's impossible not to warm to this smart and savvy businesswoman who has worked her way up from nothing, but always remained humble. She radiates charm and always champions being true to yourself. With Dolly's name at the top of the bright, glittering gold posters dotted around town plus the intriguing addition of a past Love Island winner in one of the main roles, 9 to 5 was a musical I knew I wouldn't want to miss. 9 to 5 features original music and lyrics by Dolly and is based on the 1980 film of the same name. Facing an excruciatingly awful amount of sexism and sexual harassment in wor...

A new wave of pop-ups, residencies and supper clubs have been trickling into the Cardiff food scene over the past couple of years and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. At a time where committing to a lease for a permanent restaurant is increasingly tricky, due to the rising costs (we've sadly said goodbye to some cracking restaurants in the city this year), the kitchen takeover is proving to be a viable option for an emerging chef looking to build their brand. I can see the appeal - there’s a huge sense of freedom in it - chefs have complete control over their menu, as well as the ability to test out dishes in an intimate environment, getting face to face feedback. ------------------------- I’d noticed Chef Tom Martin 's name cropping up over local social media channels throughout the past couple of months. His cooking style has been influenced and shaped through experience in some top London restaurants as well as through his work in kitchens in ...

'On Your Feet!' is an interesting one! A biographical jukebox musical based on the life of Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio; I must admit I thought this was a surprising choice for a UK run. Speaking with people of varying ages and backgrounds before attending on the night, none of them could name a Gloria Estefan song, least of all me. After reading into it, it sounds as though whilst she has sold over 120 million records worldwide across a 40 year career, her fanbase over here is rather niche - so a slightly risky choice for a musical. Nevertheless, it looked to be a fun, energetic show and I was keen to find out how well her story lent itself to a dramatic adaptation. 'On Your Feet!' proved to be a lively, uplifting musical, but was overall quite patchy and it won't be one that will stick in my mind. We meet a young Gloria who resides in Miami with her mother, father and sisters having fled revolutionary Cuba. Much of Gloria's time is spent...

Sandy's a brunette, the T-birds are the Burger Palace boys and 'We Go Together' comes on in the middle of the story, rather than right at the end. Have they taken our most beloved musical film and messed it around just to annoy us? Nope....Grease (in case you didn't know already, in which case apologies for sounding so patronising) in fact debuted on Broadway a fair few years before it became the 1978 classic we are all so fond of. The 2019 stage version is a brilliant amalgamation of the more saccharine on-screen adaptation and its grittier, more stripped-back predecessor, which blew me away when I attended the press night earlier this week. If you get the chance, I urge you to book tickets at the Wales Millennium Centre , there are still some left for the matinees. Photo I took during the mega mix at the end! I adored how this version of the story felt like more of the ensemble cast, it wasn't the Sandy and Danny show. Time on stage was dedicated to mo...

Visit the Etsy shop Since December last year I’ve been sporadically googling ‘ name necklace uk’ ‘dainty name necklace’ ‘rose gold personalised name necklace’ and other variations, on a quest to find the perfect little necklace with my name on it. Bit like the one Carrie wore in Sex and the City. I'd ordered one online last year, but it just didn't match the image I had of what I wanted in my head. The tone of the rose gold looked cheap, it was too chunky and it was swiftly returned back to Amazon. I looked around a bit more and found that every necklace with a seller based in the UK either had a strange font or was far too garish. It’s such a simple idea for a piece of jewellery, I was shocked at how hard it was to find a good one! I stumbled across  Caitlyn Minimalist’s Etsy shop  a couple of months ago. She’s based in the US, so it meant £15 delivery and I was reluctant to pay it, on top of the necklace (it was in the sale when I paid, down to £24 I think...

Review: Annie at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff {Cardiff Theatre/Shows/Things to Do} When I stepped into the Wales Millennium Centre on my way to see  Annie , it was the busiest and most bustling I'd ever experienced it! As a musical running during school holidays with children leading the cast, it was to be expected I suppose. I've heard of the musical and film from years ago (have never seen either!) and know it's an award-winning a smash hit, but I didn't know it was still as popular as this!  Set in the 1930s, Annie is the story of an 11 year old girl living in an orphanage in New York. It's not the nicest of places, to say the least - she and the other orphans are scrubbing the floors all the time, surviving on 'hot mush' for every meal and worst of all, have to put up with a horrendous guardian who should definitely not be in charge of looking after one child, never mind a whole troupe of them.  Craig Revel Horwood was unrecog...

Review: The Customs Shed at Novotel Cardiff {Cardiff Food & Drink} (Invited to dine in return for social content) The Customs Shed   is located in the Novotel Cardiff, just a ten minute walk from central station. I think more people need to know about this place - it’s underrated and such a good choice if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre for some tasty food.  My friend Sophie (and dining partner for this meal, along with Sabrina ) commented in her post recently that people tend to regard hotel restaurants as dull and uninspiring. The use of local products and ingredients teamed with the relaxed, trendy decor here definitely set it apart from that general perception.  I liked the bright, airy setting and the high ceilings. Tables are quite far apart from each other, so if you work nearby you can have some space, bring your laptop and have a bite to eat on one of the comfy armchairs and sofas. Also would work well...