cmt

You're right! I forgot that I found a bunch of Fodors threads via Google. I first noticed them when I did a casual search re some topic that had come up during some nasty arguments on Fodors, and sure enough I found the very thread that i'd been reading that had led me to do the Google search. All the natiness was there, too, for all the world to see.

I think WITHIN the context of Fodors, this thread is fairly private, because most people ignore it. But I realize anything we post on the Internet is far less private than conversations on the old party-line phones. We have potentially millions of "parties."

yk

111op- I cannot believe I stumped you!

cmt- would love to see your pictures. here's my account: ykfodorsathotmaildotcom

It's hard to give a hint, and I guess the clue is a bit obscure.

The food substitute is a sweetener, and it's first letter is "C".

One will not find the designers information unless one gets on the company's french website.

111op

Oh yes. The net is useful, but it's quite public.

I don't think that I can ever run for public office.

111op

Well, yk, you've certainly stumped me before.

I'll see what I can do.

yk

Another hint: This product was featured in the March 04 newletter of a Parisian *concept* store. (It is not that easy to search for the March newsletter though...)

111op

But are these sugar dispensers?

"Set to become a selectors item, check out the new sugar dispensers created by Candarel featuring five fantastic individual designs from the likes of Christian Lacroix, JC de Castelbajac, Kenzo, Lagerfeld Gallery and Sonia Rykiel."

http://www.colette.fr/news/03_04/letter_03.html

It's funny. I did think that Lagerfeld had something to do with it, and while searching, thought of a clue involving Lagerfeld. Maybe some time down the road.

yk

Yes. Canderel is aspartame, a sugar substitute. The tablet form comes in a dispenser, which the designers decorated the dispenser.
http://www.canderel.fr/

111op

Ok, after that clue, I think that I can use a more obscure clue as well. Actually, it's not that obscure, if you're m_kingdom, but (s)he is not playing.

Clue: They're both famous for their (object: 5 letters).

1. Person 1 (2 words, 4, 4) apparently started her first shop in this neighborhood (9), home of this very important person (2 words, 4, 5), before he moved to (3 words, 3, 7, 6). She shares her first name with a literary heroine by this author (2 words, 4, 6).

2. Person 2 (2 words, 6, 7, 3rd = "a") was born in (2 words, 6, 7). He owes part of his popularity and fame to this TV series (4 words, 3, 3, 3, 4).

Hint: The object is key. To do this, figure out what the TV show is (hint -- people here discussed it at one point. It was very popular, but I never saw it).

111op

I did it again. 3rd letter of Person 2's last name = "a".

yk

I figured some of it out so far.
Object is SHOES

#1. Emma Peel (shares the same first name as Jane Austen's Emma), Belgravia
Don't know who the other person is who lived in Belgravia.

#2. Manolo Blahnik born in the Canary Islands. TV series is Sex and the City. [How can you possibly have not seen the show, esp when you live in NYC?]

yk

Tony Blair? He moved to Ten Downing Street?

111op

Wow. That's very good.

You're almost there. It's Emma blah.

Not Belgravia. But this will be obvious once you get the last name of Emma.

Actually I hardly watch TV these days. And I don't have HBO. The show is on reruns though, I know. The funny thing is that for the longest time, I thought that the show is called "Sex in the City." It was very recently when I realized it's "and" and not "in." Duh.

111op

By the way, Belgravia should be a posher neighborhood than Tony Blair's old neighborhood (which I think is accessible by the Northern Line, unless I'm mistaken).

yk

I got confused (due to lack of sleep). It should be Emma Hope (I even got on her website before I typed in my wrong answers).

111op

Yes. Blair's old neighborhood is Islington.

I guess I've to leave very soon, so I probably won't be involved in the next clue. Have a nice weekend.

yk

So it is Islington - where Tony Blair lived. I thought I got Tony Blair wrong when I found out he was from Islington, but it turns out it was the neighborhood I got wrong.
Maybe I should go take a nap!

The m_k hint was misleading... there's no way I would associate m_k with Islington; though I guess she is quite a "shoes" person.

111op

During my last trip, I kept telling my friend I want to go to Islington, and she kept saying, "There's nothing there."

Well, m_k claims to own a flat in Mayfair, or somewhere like that, didn't (s)he? It's posher than Islington. Obviously Belgravia is very posh too.

yk

This architect, born in (country: 6), is currently most famous for winning the design for (building: 3 words: 5,5,6 *not in europe & not yet built*).

One of his other buildings (a museum) received great acclaims when it was finished (building: "6 Museum" in city: 6)

One of his "movable" architecture (2 words:8,5) will be on display in (city: 4) in 2005. The city is the (title: 4 words: 8,7,2,7) for 2005.

Name:
Architect: 6,9 ("L" = 1st of last name)
Country he was born: 6 ("L" = 3rd)
Winning building not in Europe: 5,5,6 ("L" = 4th of first word)
Museum: 6 museum
City of above museum: 6 ("L" = 4th)
Movable architecture: 8,5
Display in 2005 in City: 4
Title of the City for 2005: 8,7,2,7

"L" came from Manolo Blahnik.

I think I have given enough hints...

111op

My access runs out in a few minutes (internet cafe) and then I'm going to see a movie.

But it's Daniel Libeskind, born in Poland. Jewish Museum in Berlin.

I don't know the rest though without a Google search.

Have fun. Whoever completes the clue can just give the next one. I'll check in later.

111op

Is the winning building WTC? I mean, I'd guess it's something to do with it. But didn't he only design the Freedom Tower? I thought Childs (?) has something to do with the rest?