Paris on Valentine’s Day a cliché? Not at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée February 13, 2023 THE WEEKEND: Long-stemmed Jacqueminot roses. Flutes of fizzing Feuillatte. Boxes of bonbons by Belgian chocolatiers. A romantic weekend in Paris. You may call it cliché, but I call it classic. Besides, everyone knows Paris is a good idea—especially now, when there are new reasons to pay a visit to the City of Love. THE STAY: [...]
Why the Turkey earthquake shouldn’t stop you booking a holiday in a disaster zone February 12, 2023 The crisis in Turkey reminds Justine Gosling of her trip to the Dominican Republic after the hurricane hit in 2022. Her message is that visiting countries affected by natural disasters – safely, of course – can help strengthen their economy. Donate to the Disaster Emergency Committee appeal here to help the search for survivors and [...]
Donatello at the V&A is a once in a lifetime chance to see a true genius February 10, 2023 “The greatest sculptor of all time” is a hefty title to live up to. “Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance” makes a hearty case for it in this expansive and thrilling exhibition. It’s curated in partnership with the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, which have [...]
The BRIT Awards 2023: Who will win, and will Harry Styles triumph after Grammys? February 10, 2023 It’s the biggest night in British music this Saturday – the BRIT Awards 2023 land in London. The BRIT Awards have certainly had their fair share of controversy this year. After going genderless on the awards front in 2022, this year there are no females nominated for the Artist of the Year award, which critics [...]
A naughty midnight swim at the top of The Shard? That’s Valentine’s Day sorted February 9, 2023 Let’s get this clear: Valentine’s Day is a commercialised hellscape. A disastrous day ruled by anxiety for those of us not in couples. If you’re not smooching your partner in a twee restaurant, making valiant waiters interrupt you to take your order, does Valentine’s Day even exist? It’s not that I mind romance, I just [...]
You Netflix review: Penn Badgley’s psychopathic killer moves to London – but is it any good? February 9, 2023 You Netflix review and star rating: ★★★☆☆ You on Netflix started as an interesting rumination on social media, Penn Badgley’s Joe Golberg skulking around New York murdering people who gave away too much online in-between his penchant for reading high brow books. Now they’ve brought the formula to London, where The Shard and Tower Bridge [...]
Harry Styles’ Grammys outfit wasn’t radical: Bowie did it better 50 years ago February 9, 2023 If you have an ounce of sense or taste, you will look at the red carpet for the Grammys, if at all, the same way that less enlightened 18th century thrill-seekers paid to be shown round the Bethlem Royal Hospital. Those you observe are to be pitied, to be sure, but you are viscerally aware [...]
Carmen at the ENO: It’s back… again! February 9, 2023 Another year, another Carmen. The English National Opera, having secured another year of Arts Council funding in 2023, starts off the season with Bizet’s beloved opera. Carmen and Don José’s boy meets girl, girl spurns boy, boy kills girl, love story still satisfies the desire for operatic tragedy, even in director Calixto Bieito’s updated production. [...]
Tanning Tatum’s abs return for Magic Mike’s Last Dance February 9, 2023 Magic Mike has been the most surprising global franchise of the past decade. What started as a gritty, semi-autobiographical journey through Channing Tatum’s early days as an exotic dancer has spawned sequels, a worldwide stage show, and a forthcoming TV series. Now, hot off the success of 2022 hit The Lost City, Tatum is back [...]
Composer Burt Bacharach dies age 94 February 9, 2023 Burt Bacharach, the composer of classic pop songs including I Say A Little Prayer and Walk On By, has died at the age of 94. His publicist confirmed to the PA news agency that he died surrounded by relatives at home on Wednesday, and said Bacharach’s family requested privacy at this time. The songwriter and [...]