Choose Scotland. Choose a high quality of life. November 25, 2016 | City Talk Scotland is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the world, the history is fascinating, the men are handsome and the whisky is delicious. But don't eat the macaroni pies." JK Rowling says it all. (Although she might not be entirely right about the pies.) Scotland is widely-regarded as an outstanding place to live, and that's [...]
Paint the town blue for St Andrew November 25, 2016 | City Talk Skirling bagpipes, swinging kilts and flying Saltires – they’re a sight for captive eyes in Scotland. But on November 30th the country steps it up as it celebrates our patron saint, St Andrew. For those of you not in the nostalgic north this Wednesday, here are five ways to celebrate #ourstandrewsday from absolutely anywhere. Even in [...]
Allied review: Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard rumours are far more interesting than this weak WW2 drama November 24, 2016 There aren’t many stars left who can be said to have that old-school Hollywood glamour, but two of them unite for this nostalgic World War 2 drama. Brad Pitt plays Canadian spy Max, who falls for a French agent (Marion Cotillard). The pair marry and move to London, raising a child and living a seemingly idyllic [...]
Magnus: this chess documentary charts the genesis of genius November 24, 2016 Of all the sports in the world, competitive chess is not one that inspires Hollywood-style underdog stories. But this tale of the genesis of genius is, in its own way, as compelling as any blockbuster. People of a certain age, of course, will remember the epic battle of minds that was Garry Kasparov vs Bobby [...]
Gavin Turk’s Who What When Where How and Why at Newport Street Gallery is proof he has brains as well as balls November 24, 2016 The double-height room in Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery – recently home to Jeff Koons’ giant Balloon Dog – lies empty save for an English Heritage blue plaque reading “Gavin Turk worked here, 1989-1991”. This is the piece, entitled Cave, that infamously caused his tutors at the Royal College of Art to refuse to present [...]
Your Name: this Japanese body-swap disaster anime is the most beautiful film of the year November 24, 2016 Your Name is ridiculously, heartbreakingly beautiful. Every frame is filled with flourishes that amaze and delight; a sunbeam refracted in a tear-drop, motes of dust swimming in the morning light, the technicolour trail of a mysterious comet. It’s the latest film from the hip young gunslinger of Japanese animation, Makoto Shinkai, and it arrives in [...]
Saturated fats have been shown to lead to heart disease, but the Food and Drink Federation will wait to see what the government rules November 24, 2016 Another study was published about what we should and shouldn't be eating. A high intake of saturated fats is linked with increased coronary heart disease risk, but the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said the industries are waiting to see what the government says. This research published by the BMJ follows the controversial recommendations of [...]
Currys PC World offers deals on TVs, laptops, kitchen appliances, smart toys and more November 24, 2016 Can't make it out on Black Friday to scoop up the latest tech deals? Do not be afeared. Currys PC World has announced deals on more than 3,500 products in a Black Friday event running until 1 December. The electrical retailer's 10-day event has been running since 21 November, but a fresh set of deals will be released on [...]
Bang for your buckwheat – here’s where Londoners say they pay over the odds for dinner November 24, 2016 While there are plenty of budget-friendly food options in England's capital, dining in some restaurants – and in some neighbourhoods – can come with a staggeringly steep price tag. Harden's London Restaurants Guide for 2017, released Wednesday, revealed the results of its 26th annual survey of 7,500 regular restaurant-goers to determine not only which restaurants [...]
Winner of the RIBA International Prize for Architecture is a university in Peru November 24, 2016 The winner of the inaugural RIBA International Prize for Architecture has gone to an engineering university in Peru. The UTEC building in Lima was priased by judges for being a shining example of merging form and function, with its brutalist design the perfect foil for the no-nonsense academic work that takes place inside. The judging panel praised [...]