Staying afloat in zero gravity is the way to beat City stress March 9, 2010 MY abiding image of floatation therapy has always been Absolutely Fabulous’s Edina Monsoon thrashing about ridiculously in a tank in her bedroom. I think she ended up keeping a dolphin in it. Back then, the idea of relaxing by lying in a puddle of water inside what looked like a giant plastic egg seemed just [...]
OUT OF OFFICE March 9, 2010 BUTTERWORTH AT THE BRIDEWELL Find out how Jerusalem playwright Jez Butterworth made his name with the Tower Theatre Company’s staging of his acclaimed earlier show, Mojo, a scintillating tale of Soho gangsters. Until 13 March, Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, Fleet Street, EC4Y 8EQ. Tickets £11 from www.towertheatre.org.uk. MOTHER’S DAY AT THE MAY FAIR HOTEL Daughters [...]
Supercars go green March 9, 2010 FOR the last few years, the supercar brands largely ignored the move towards greener motoring. Instead they have continued to produce products and concepts that followed the traditional performance car development trajectory – they got faster, more powerful and generally more obnoxious. Only smaller carmakers including Koeniggsegg and Fisker Cars felt the need to experiment, [...]
Be inspired by these luscious Oscar dresses March 8, 2010 THE problem with the Oscars is that the razzle dazzle of the red carpet fizzles all too quickly once everyone is indoors and the awards actually start up. The speeches often go on too long and say too little, there are all those unglamorous, more minor awards (I don’t know about you, but I struggle [...]
Riverside views and posh Euro nosh March 8, 2010 Battery 34 Westferry Circus E14 8RR Tel: 020 8305 3089 Cost per person without wine: £55 YOU have to really want to go to Battery to make it inside. In the Phillipe Starck-designed space formerly occupied by the now-defunct restaurant Ubon, it’s at the top of a building within the cloistered Four Seasons complex in [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS March 8, 2010 TURKISH WINES AT TIKE A hit among the upwardly mobile of Istanbul, Tike opened last year to the delight of City folk who like a good bit of meat with fresh warm hummous.?Now a wine list has been added, which features Turkish grapes as well as a selection of more traditional varieties. A unique opportunity [...]
THREE OTHER RESTAURANTS WITH KNOCK-OUT VIEWS March 8, 2010 RHODES 24 Gary Rhodes’ Michelin-starred establishment sits on the 24th floor of the City’s highest building, so – unless the windows were blacked out – it would be hard to find better views at any restaurant in London. Ogle the rooftops and the shiny sides of skyscrapers while you sup on well-executed British haute-cuisine. Tower [...]
All hail the queen of Savile Row March 7, 2010 KATHRYN Sargent is the first female master cutter on Savile Row. This is the most senior role at any bespoke suit-maker, the person responsible for meeting the client, sizing them up and making the pattern for their suit. Better yet, Sargent holds it at Gieves and Hawkes, the Row’s biggest operation with its most sizeable [...]
Games, guns and gyrating girls in Sin City March 7, 2010 FAHVE bucks? Girl, for five dollars yew can take as many pictures as yew want. Come on over, and get yo’ man over heyah too.” This was Elvis talking. Yes, Elvis. Tinted shades, jet-black jumpsuit, rhinestone belt, sideburns you could iron clothes on. Standing on a street corner. A few minutes previously, we’d been inhaling [...]
TRAVEL NOTES March 7, 2010 Oporto, Portugal gains new luxury hotel This five-floor, sustainably-built hotel has been carved into the hillside using a terraced effect mirroring the vines of the neighbouring Douro Valley. Views (each room has a terrace) take in the Douro River and the UNESCO world heritage site of Oporto with its cobbled streets, trams and beautiful spires. [...]