The horror and dread of a work Halloween bash October 27, 2010 DEAR VEXED: As part of a team-bonding initiative, our office is having its own Halloween party on Friday. It’s seen as an important event and has been scheduled for some time. The worst thing is that costumes are mandatory. I loathe Halloween, I hate the idea of wearing a costume and I’m frozen with fear. [...]
OUT OF OFFICE October 27, 2010 BOOK NOW: THE RIVALS Old To the Manor Born compadres Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles are teaming up again for a new production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 comedy of manners, The Rivals. Set in wealthy society in fashionable Bath, the cast of comic characters includes the famous Mrs Malaprop (Keith) and blustering baronet Sir [...]
William Asprey: the luxury king’s baby turns 10 October 26, 2010 IN a world in which global luxury giants like LMVH-owned Louis Vuitton have to close shop an hour early to preserve stock – so great is demand – it’s hard to imagine how a single family-owned shop in Mayfair can keep its head above water. And yet, thanks to the intuition and hard work of [...]
OUT OF OFFICE: HALLOWEEEEEEEN October 26, 2010 SPOOKY CINEMA POP-UP IN RICHMOND Join the Lexi Cinema at a Zippos Circus tent at the Old Deer Park in Richmond for a showing of Edward Scissorhands. Beware of the super-spooky infestations of creatures on top of the tent, and gruesome-looking cast of characters hanging about, including ghouls at the bar. An Edward Allen Poe [...]
The Dorchester comes to Berkshire October 26, 2010 PARK Lane is the anchor of the Dorchester Collection, which has outposts in Beverly Hills, Milan, New York and Paris. The Collection has steadfastly represented the epitome of city centre luxury, proudly urban. Until now. The opening of Coworth Park is the group’s first foray into the countryside, and where better than the rolling polo [...]
A home away from home in Poland’s loveliest city October 26, 2010 IT is a pity that ancient and beautiful Krakow is no longer the capital of Poland – sometime towards the 19th century Polish kings veered towards Warsaw for business but they always asked to return to Krakow for their final resting place, as did many famous Polish saints, poets and bishops. These days, Krakow is [...]
Like a regular Mini – except bigger October 26, 2010 Despite the name, it’s clear the new Mini Countryman is targeted at city drivers rather than country folk. Why? Well, to start with, it doesn’t have a badge anywhere on the car that says “Countryman”. It seems unlikely that Mini’s owners BMW forgot to add it – more likely that it didn’t want to discourage [...]
CAR TALK October 26, 2010 REBUILDING SAAB’S BRAND This is Saab’s new 9-4X, its new crossover car that will be shown at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Size-wise, it will sit between the existing 9-3 and 9-5 saloons and it’s an important car for Saab as it rebuilds its brand. With a turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine and four-wheel drive, [...]
Theatreland’s newest French fancy October 25, 2010 Les Deux Salons 40-42 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD Tel: 020 7420 2050 FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £36 IF THOSE strikes across the Channel are thwarting anyone’s plans for an autumnal French sojourn, don’t worry – France has come to London instead. Les Deux Salons is the latest place to be [...]
THREE OTHER GRAND FRENCH BRASSERIES October 25, 2010 GALVIN LA CHAPPELLE A year after it opened, the Galvin brothers’ Spitalfields restaurant has become an institution for City diners looking for superior French flair. Its sister bar, Galvin Cafe a Vin, lives up to its name with a fabulous wine list, plus formidable food of its own and a cigar terrace. 35 Spital Square, [...]