Tag Archives: Queen Elizabeth II

Fashion

North America’s Most Famous Photographer Lists California Hideaway

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via our friends at toptenrealestatedeals.com.

Annie Leibovitz’s Picture-Perfect California Hideaway Is For Sale

Annie Leibovitz – Self-portrait, c.1990. Auction passed via Galerie Bassenge (Dec 2010).

North America’s most famous living photographer, Annie Leibovitz, had quite the surprise when she bought her 65-acre home and farm in 2019 and learned that North America’s most famous photographer of the 20th century, Ansel Adams, had photographed one of the farm’s barns a century ago. It was the perfect metaphor for her purchase of The Hideaway in Bolinas, California.

Annie Leibovitz – Queen Elizabeth II. Sold for $27,500 usd/ $37,600 cad via Phillips (April 2012).

Leibovitz is renowned for her intimate portraits of celebrities for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. She did Mick Jagger, Adele, Linda Ronstadt, Queen Elizabeth II, Bruce Springsteen, The Blues Brothers, and the Barack Obama family.

Her snapshot of John Lennon wrapped around Yoko Ono, taken just a few hours before his death, is one of Rolling Stone’s most famous cover images. And her photos of then 15 year old Miley Cyrus sparked controversy and marked a turning point in the young singer’s career.

Leo DiCaprio with Swan 1997 by Annie Leibovitz

Declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, Annie is the first woman to have a feature exhibition at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery. Born in Connecticut and based in New York, the self-described “California Person” purchased a 65-acre home and farm, known as The Hideaway, in Bolinas, California in 2019, hoping to spend more time on the West Coast, where she had majored in photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. But with her three young adult children on the East Coast, Annie has decided to list the property for sale at $8.9 million usd/ $12.8 million cad.

With her new property dating back to the 1800s, Leibovitz spent over $2 million usd/ $ 2,736,000 cad on improvements, which included several structures: a home with four bedrooms, a guest house, a caretaker’s residence, and a converted garage.

The original, vintage rotary dial phone was retained in the renovation.

A previous owner, Hardly Strictly Blue Grass founder Warren Hellman, added a recording studio and a performance venue with a banquet hall to the property.

An equestrian’s dream, the complex has impressive horse facilities, including a 100′ x 200’ all-weather riding arena and a top-of-the-line, seven-stall barn with exposed beams and an attached office. Spectacular rolling hills and verdant pastures provide fodder for horses, cattle, or other livestock.

Last but definitely not least: gorgeous views of Bolinas Lagoon, Stinson Beach, Mount Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, and the surrounding countryside add even more allure to the picture.

What might be described as the perfect California location on Bolinas Bay, Bolinas has a small-town atmosphere but is only an hour’s drive north to San Francisco. Known for its reclusive residents, Bolinas is only accessible via unmarked roads. The Hideaway is close to bird and seal sanctuaries, botanical gardens, great spots for kayaking and surfing, and the charming Bolinas and Stinson Beach towns. Almare Falls, one of only two beach waterfalls in the continental United States, is accessible via the California Coastal Trail. Other celebrities hiding away in this uniquely beautiful, secluded area include director Joel Coen, actress Frances McDormand, chef and restaurateur Alice Waters, and Third-Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins.

The listing is held by Alexander Fromm Lurie at Compass. Photo credit: Jacob Elliott, courtesy of Compass.

Culture

Long Live Our Noble Queen

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As the world mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we undoubtedly acknowledge the scope of her public service for over 70 years. She is one of the most recognized and famous people on the face of the earth. 

My parents travelled to England when I was young and could (hope to) catch glimpses of the Royal Family, including the Queen, outside Buckingham Palace. My family, one could say, became Royal Watchers. Years later, I’d be hired by former MPP Toby Barrett UE who I quickly learned harbored profound respect for Queen Elizabeth II.

Shortly after officially becoming our longest reigning Monarch, Toby penned a newspaper column that began with: “Queen Elizabeth II is the only British Monarch in history properly trained to change a spark plug!” As Toby said at the time, the statement exemplified the character of our Queen.

Elizabeth learned to change a spark plug at 18 (during the Second World War) after joining the British Army Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. She served as an army truck mechanic and as an ambulance and army truck driver.

Elizabeth carried an incredible responsibility throughout her life, beginning at a young age. Upon taking the throne in 1952, she witnessed enormous social change. At 25, Elizabeth became Queen, and was officially crowned at her coronation two years later.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth visited Canada more than any other country – 22 times. She must have had a special place in her heart for our country and its people, as she was known to refer to Canada as home. From the outpouring of sentiments, the feeling was indeed mutual. 

On September 8th, the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after physicians placed her under medical supervision. Later in the day Thursday, news spread that the Queen had passed away peacefully in the afternoon. A sad, solemn day.

Queen Elizabeth II officially made Liz Truss Britain’s prime minister two days before her passing. Truss would become the 15th prime minister to meet with the Queen. The meeting was at Balmoral Castle, in the Scottish countryside, where Boris Johnson first arrived to begin the power transfer. The first prime minister the Queen met with during her reign was Winston Churchill – a leader I often quote.

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Truss described Queen Elizabeth II as the rock on which modern Britain was built and continued by saying that she had “provided us with the stability and strength that we needed.” In times of adversity, the Queen has steadied nations with her strength and stoicism – the embodiment of a true leader.

Succession plans have long been in place, and the Queen’s son, Charles III, will become King. As an aside, I met Prince Charles and Camilla a few years back at a function in Toronto. It was a cheeky meeting and one I will never forget. 

While we all come to grips with the passing of a lady who impacted our lives in ways, we did not realize, Britain is preparing to usher in a new era in the nation’s fascinating history. Britain, Canada and the Commonwealth will undoubtedly embrace the King and offer him loyalty and devotion, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished.

For the Silo, by Bobbi Ann Brady MPP Haldimand-Norfolk