A right Royal WEDDING April 20, 2011 We at City A.M. can be a cynical bunch. We confess there have been moments in the run-up to the royal wedding on 29 April that have made us roll our eyes, such as T Mobile’s yawnsome wedding spoof video and the release of the awful-looking William & Kate: The Movie. Others, though, have raised [...]
The Swiss town that’s emerging from the shadows April 14, 2011 ANDERMATT – a sleeping beauty of a village, nestled in the Urseren valley in central Switzerland – is set to be awoken from its slumber and transformed into one of the Alps’ major year-round holiday destinations. The prince in question here is the self-described “town-developer” Samir Sawiris. He plans to revolutionise the town’s tourism industry [...]
A marathon endeavour for Emma Crosby April 14, 2011 The Channel Five news presenter is running the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, raising money for the charity Wellbeing of Women (www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk). She told Zoe Strimpel how she feels to be taking part in one of the world’s biggest sporting events. City A.M.: Why did you decide to run the marathon? Emma Crosby: I decided [...]
Boisdale rings the changes for life in Canary Wharf April 11, 2011 THERE are few restaurateurs who better understand the disposition and dining requirements of the business high-flyer than Ranald MacDonald. Since 1988, when he opened his much-loved restaurant Boisdale of Belgravia, he’s been dispensing hearty Scottish food, superior malt whiskies, Cuban cigars and stonking jazz music to his fellow bon viveurs, all wrapped in a tidy [...]
Melbourne and the Yarra Valley: eat, drink, stay, fly April 3, 2011 WHERE TO STAY The Olsen, set in South Yarra, is one of the Art Series Hotel Group (artserieshotels.com.au) along with the Cullen and the Blackman – each of which are named after renowned Australian artists. The Olsen’s 229 five-star suites are adorned with the works of landscape artist Dr John Olsen, while the interior of [...]
Stylish and discreet, but the food isn’t perfect yet March 29, 2011 5 Pollen Street 5 Pollen St, W1S 1ND Tel: 020 7629 1555 FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £45-£50 WITH Jason Atherton’s much-hyped Pollen Street Social to open next month, this miniscule back-alley behind Hanover Square has been getting more attention than one might expect of such a street. And now – pipping [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 16, 2011 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bob Elfring will join Bank of America Merrill Lynch as head of investment banking for Benelux and Northern Europe in July, where he will be responsible for the growth of the bank’s investment banking franchise. Elfring joins from Credit Suisse where he was head of investment banking for Northern Europe. [...]
A tapas triumph in Covent Garden March 14, 2011 Opera Tavern 23 Catherine St, WC2B 5JS, Tel: 020 7836 3680 www.operatavern.co.uk FOOD HHHHI SERVICE HHHHI ATMOSPHERE HHHHI Cost per person without wine: £35 OPERA Tavern has been opened by the husband and wife team behind two of London’s best-regarded tapas restaurants, Salt Yard and Dehesa. This one’s in Covent Garden, just off the piazza, [...]
Japan quake losses could reach $50bn March 11, 2011 Damage caused by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that battered Japan’s north-eastern coast last night could cost $50bn (£31bn), analysts have said. The tremor, the most powerful to hit Japan in 100 years, and the 7.3m wave ripped through coastal areas and towns such as Sendai and Fukushima at about 3pm local time, destroying [...]
The toast of New York brings a riot of spices to Leicester Square March 2, 2011 IN the Friends episode called The One Where Ross Can’t Flirt (Season Five, obviously), Chandler divulges to Ross that he has scored dinner reservations at Jean Georges to celebrate his ten-month anniversary with Monica. Jean Georges is the Manhattan restaurant owned by Jean Georges Vongerichten, an Alsace-born, New York-based celebrity chef. To have penetrated pop [...]