Film review: Get Hard is a technically well-tooled comedy March 27, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★☆☆ In Get Hard, James King (Will Ferrell) is a rich, clueless trader whose life falls apart when he’s convicted of fraud and sentenced to 10 years in San Quentin State Prison. With 30 days to get his affairs in order James hires Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart), the manager of his local [...]
Film review: Cinderella is kitsch, colourful and just about adequate March 26, 2015 Cert U | ★★★☆☆ The idea of remaking Disney classics is interesting, and when done with spirit and creativity the results can be worthwhile – just check out Glenn Close in 101. Director Kenneth Branagh’s pastiche of the 1950 animated classic Cinderella is not a slavish reproduction, but it’s sufficiently similar that it still seems [...]
Something for the weekend March 26, 2015 DRINK! SUNDAY LOVE Head to The Old Queen’s Head on Essex Road, Islington on Sunday night for one last chance to keep the weekend alive. Admission £1. UNWIND! KING’S CROSS FETE King’s Cross may usually be a transport hub but this Saturday it’s a family destination, with everything from live music to oversize chess. Free. [...]
The Brits are catching up to the French, says Le Pont de la Tour head chef Tom Cook March 24, 2015 Tom Cook tells Melissa York that French food doesn’t have to mean heavy A Salade Lyonnaise is a very traditional dish that we serve in the Grill, which is a sort of brasserie with lighter, more traditional dishes than the fine dining restaurant. During the winter we have two or three salads on there, [...]
Mix it up: Take a tipple – it might even be good for your health March 24, 2015 As any good doctor will be all too ready to tell you, alcohol is bad for you. They’re right, of course – up to a point. Too much of the stuff is ruinous. But you can also drink too little. While ten cocktails a day may destroy your life, one in the evening might be [...]
Car review: The Volvo XC90 is still one of the best March 23, 2015 Around 15 years ago Volvo hit the jackpot with its first full-size premium SUV, prompting a stampede of “active” families to dealerships seeking seven seats, upmarket looks and a lofty driving position. The XC90 combined thoughtful detailing with the usual Volvo attributes of rock solid build and impeccable safety. It sold so well that the [...]
Not convinced? March 23, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW X5 XDRIVE 25D SE PRICE: £45,250 0-62MPH: 8.2 secs TOP SPEED: 137mph CO2 G/KM: 154g/km MPG COMBINED: 48.7mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3.0 SDV6 HSE LUXURY PRICE: £38,810 0-62MPH: 5.8 secs TOP SPEED: 164mph CO2 G/KM: 192g/km MPG COMBINED: [...]
Return of the photo maestro: Elliott Erwitt comes back to London March 23, 2015 Elliott Erwitt bore witness to some of the 20th century’s most important events. He photographed Marylin Monroe, Jack Kerouac and Che Guevera. He was present at President Kennedy’s funeral and on the set of numerous classic movies during the 50s and 60s. But he’s equally well known for his photographs of ordinary people. Some of [...]
Why Namibia has the best safari in Africa March 22, 2015 When it comes to seeing game in the wild, Namibia beats South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe Everyone has their ultimate fantasy destination. Ever since I peered out of an aeroplane window on a flight to Cape Town and saw the endless terracotta sand of the Namib Desert, Namibia has been mine. Now I was actually [...]
48 hours in… Antwerp March 22, 2015 WHERE TO GO Don’t miss out on the Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts. It contains the world’s largest collection of Rubens in the world, which is worth the admission fee alone, and it also has a great collection of modern painters including Magritte. kmska.be WHERE TO STAY Boulevard Leopold is the grandest B&B you’ll [...]