Last week during my bar service at Boulevard, we spoke about Judith Osborn’s paintings. Yeah, I too thought; Judith Osborn? Wasn’t she the one with those funny t-shirts? Yes, that Judith Osborn. Really Zoe Karssen avant la lettre when you think about it. Judith has peace of mind and applied herself to the world of the Higher Arts. And I liked it. So Jet and I made our way to the vernissage at the Amstel hotel, a glass of my favourite, and such a divine croquette, art and great people. Because Judith and Bert (van der Veer, her significant other) are always suffused with merriment. We bumped into our amayzine friend Eva Jinek and her Freek when we entered the hotel. A quick photo moment and then we attacked those divine croquettes like alligators. And that Freek. Such a lovely man. If only because he calls Eva his “liefke.” That alone did the trick. And my daughter was absolutely starstruck when I told her who I’d met. “Freek in het wild, in real life?!”

Frank Houtappels looked MARVELLOUS in his tight suit (“corrective underwear, ladies. I’m up to my chin in Spanx”)

We continued with our tour. Photographer Govert de Roos, couturier Paul Schulten, Judith Zelf, architect Cees Dam, Michiel van Erp (just finished his first drama series, Ramses, which I’m really looking forward to), editor in chief of LINDA specials Iebele van der Meulen, and, another favourite, Frank Houtappels. Frank opened the exhibition and was drowning his nerves, retroactively, with white wine. He looked marvellous in his tight suit (“corrective underwear, ladies. I’m up to my chin in Spanx”) and also whispered to us that he (scenarist) is about to come with an amazing scoop. We’ll patiently wait Frank. But we’re already quite happy with the corrective underwear story. Judith’s paintings hang in the A-bar and the garden room. Go, eat a croquette (or two), and enjoy.