Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2016: blockbuster works by Marina Abramović, Gilbert and George and Eva & Adele overshadow the brilliant up-and-coming talent June 9, 2016 British sculptor Richard Wilson coordinates the 248th annual Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the world’s largest open submission art show. It’s naturally a mammoth, exhaustive exhibition, taking up most of the RA’s main galleries, its walls crammed with images competing for attention. With more than a thousand pieces on display, how does one begin to digest [...]
Kelsey Grammer interview: the Breaking the Bank star talks about Donald Trump’s hair, running for President and Jared Leto being a clown June 9, 2016 Frasier has always struck me as a sitcom about American masculinity. The title character is a rich, cultured psychiatrist, the archetypal alpha-male for the final years of the 20th century. His brother Niles Crane is the feminine Yin to Frasier’s Yang, and their father, retired cop Martin Crane, is the ageing ideal of manhood past. [...]
How to watch Euro 2016: the best pub, TV, travel and accommodation June 9, 2016 If major sporting events are ostensibly a celebration of those who aspire to being the being the strongest, fastest and most skilful, they’re also a boon for those at the other end of the activity spectrum. The European Championship’s expansion to 24 teams means it now offers greater opportunities than ever before for slobbing in front [...]
The Spoils at Trafalgar Studios review: Jesse Eisenberg’s twitchy performance papers over dramatic cracks June 8, 2016 The Spoils | Trafalgar Studios | ★★★☆☆ You can see why Jesse Eisenberg attracts comparisons with Woody Allen: both excel in playing (and writing) self-obsessed men whose acerbic wit fails to mask their social ineptitude. Eisenberg’s third play as writer-actor – the first to transfer to London – feels like the apotheosis of this: his [...]
Mark Hix feeds 10 with a single trout after coming up short in the river June 7, 2016 Mark Hix continues his fishy adventures in Ireland… (For pt.1 click here) Well, I’m sure you were looking forward to reading how many salmon we managed to land on the river bank on day two of my Galway salmon fishing trip? Well I’m going to disappoint you: between you and I, it was zero. Both Peter [...]
Working Lunch: City restaurant L’Anima near Liverpool Street has beetroot tortellini to die for June 7, 2016 L’Anima means “soul” in Italian and the aim of this City-restaurant is is to provide a glimpse into the very soul of southern Italian cuisine, featuring modern takes on hearty classics. The spring menu revolves around fresh, zesty ingredients like artichoke slaw with cured fish roe, and asparagus with egg and guanciale. There’s also a L’Anima [...]
The Audi SQ7 is a torque monster and the world’s most powerful diesel SUV June 6, 2016 Torque: it’s easy to feel, but difficult to explain. As my physics teacher once told me, “power is the speed you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you”. If you do need to move a tonne of bricks, cemented or otherwise, the Audi SQ7 is the perfect choice. With [...]
Prints charming: How clashing, patterned prints are transforming the drab into the spectacular June 6, 2016 In the City, a full Prince of Wales check suit is considered rather outré, so the idea of an entire outfit made up of garish or contrasting patterns will be anathema to some. But top fashion houses from Alexander McQueen to Richard James disagree – and so do we. Sort of. While we're not sure if [...]
The best vodka: 8 bottles that prove Russia’s finest is a class act June 6, 2016 Vodka is the simplest of all spirits – its name is taken from the Slavic for “little water” – but as connoisseurs of Danish furniture can attest, getting more from less is an art of its own. It may not require months or years of ageing, but it’s a singularly unforgiving spirit, with no juniper [...]
You may love many cars in a lifetime, but you only ever have one first love. For me, it was an Aston Martin June 6, 2016 With 568 British horsepower it’s quite appropriate I should pay a visit to Her Majesty’s stud. Driving down Kings Avenue towards the Sandringham Estate I spotted the stables to the right, a big ‘ER’ embedded in the brickwork, and swung my Aston Martin through the open gate. Within seven seconds a royal protection officer arrived [...]