Zacharanda and me: the true story of an accidental YouTube sensation October 31, 2012 IT WAS on the eve of Obama’s 2008 election victory that a friend of mine, quite inadvertently, became a YouTube “sensation”. Adam Smith, who at the time worked as a reporter for the Birmingham Mail, had flown himself to Miami to campaign for Barack Obama (because Miami was: “where the party’s at. I was hardly [...]
A superlative-defying Range Rover October 30, 2012 I’ve only been driving Land Rover’s new Range Rover for five minutes and already I have had to swerve to avoid a man running down the motorway. Not across the motorway you understand but down it, as if he is pretending to be a car. Driving the new Range Rover in Morocco is challenging. Pedestrians [...]
Make sure you have a blast this Bonfire night October 30, 2012 FRIDAY Brockwell Park A fireworks showcase organised by Lambeth Council. Doors open 4pm and the display will begin at 8pm. Free to attend. Streatham Common A second show by Lambeth Council, running parallel to the Brockwell Park display (see above). Bishops Park Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s event opens at 6pm, with fireworks on at 7.15pm. [...]
All fireworked out? October 30, 2012 Seize the Day at the Wellcome Trust Friday 2 November The Wellcome trust is hosting a macabre night looking at our experiences and relationships with death. Activities will include coffin decorating and a near-death experience. There will also be talks on throughout the four hour event. Doors 7pm. The event is free but some talks [...]
Hirsutes you, sir October 29, 2012 The boom in male grooming continues apace – and according to Braun’s new ambassador Andrew Davis, it isn’t all about tapping into one’s inner metrosexual, despite what some brands would have you believe. You’ll be forgiven for not recognising Davis’ name, but if you’re a fan of the respective looks of Tom Cruise, Tinie Tempah, [...]
Cheap doesn’t always mean bad but be prepared for a challenge October 29, 2012 bottleopener@cityam.com THE £5 bottle of wine has long been a staple in everyone’s shopping baskets but that’s changing. Today’s 20 per cent VAT and the general impact of inflation is quickly making it nothing more than a distant memory. With that in mind, accompanied by six City A.M. readers, I set on a quest to [...]
Give Tequila another chance October 29, 2012 City A.M.’s resident cocktail expert Tequila has a bad reputation. The mere sniff of the spirit invokes Proustian recollections of nights out that went very bad. Many a youth has been misspent licking salt off the back of a hand, downing a shot of questionable tequila and sucking on a wedge of lime. It’s a [...]
Work up a sweat and prepare for a challenge in this Egyptian paradise October 28, 2012 REMEMBER that week back in August, the one just after the Olympics when it wasn’t dark by 5pm? The Eurozone crisis had gone on its summer holidays and the whole of London — starry eyed with Team GB’s success — was convinced that being an Olympian was the best job ever. I do. Partly because [...]
Skyfall takes Bond to new heights October 25, 2012 FILM SKYFALL Cert 12A | **** AFter deftly eluding MGM’s creditors and safely delivering the Queen to the Olympic opening ceremony, James Bond is out of bankruptcy, off diplomatic protection detail, and back on the big screen for a superbly crafted and confident action thriller. With a dangerously unpredictable enemy bent on vengeance, Sam Mendes’ [...]
Hotel interiors need not be dull and predictable – just ask Kit Kemp October 25, 2012 I want to pique the imagination of even the most jaded businessman,” says Kit Kemp, design director and co-founder of Firmdale Hotels, the group that includes the buzzy Soho, Covent Garden and Charlotte Street Hotels. “If I can do that for a second, then we’ve achieved something.” Pique, she definitely does, with her love of [...]