Why Ferrari’s 458 Spider is a true Italian stallion March 5, 2015 I was in Paris the other week to attend the sale of France’s most talked-about barn find; the classic car collection of Roger Baillon, who made and lost a fortune building trucks. Discovered last year in appalling condition were about 100 of the rarest and most beautiful cars of the 20th century. For four-wheel aficionados, [...]
Alastair Campbell on winners: Are there any left in the Labour party? March 5, 2015 When the political satire In The Loop came out in 2009, the Culture Show did a segment in which the critic Mark Kermode watched the film with Alastair Campbell. Afterwards, a sourfaced Campbell delivered his verdict: “I didn’t find it terribly funny.” Kermode said he had sympathy with any representation of politics as venal and [...]
Gastro events to keep foodies happy in the run-up to spring March 3, 2015 From the best grilled cheese sandwiches in London to the World Food Market in Devonshire Square, there are plenty of great culinary events taking place this month CINNAMON KITCHEN: Brighten up your winter by throwing paint at your colleagues or friends at Devonshire Square’s Cinnamon Kitchen, which will have a dedicated “party pod” to get [...]
Mix it up: Fire up afternoon tea with some gin in your teacup March 3, 2015 Ritual is one of life’s pleasures. Whether it’s the morning coffee or the whisky before bed, familiarity breeds contentedness. The best thing about rituals is that they’re easily appropriated. Even if you’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas or Holi, there’s nothing to stop you giving thanks or presents. Of course, some rituals are better than [...]
The Ivy’s 100th birthday refurbishment: What does it take to reinvent a classic restaurant? March 3, 2015 On 5 January, The Ivy closed its doors. Then it took them off completely. What was probably the most iconic restaurant in London – the hangout of choice for everyone from Joan Collins to Damien Hirst – is now a building site. Planks of wood straddle gaping holes in the ground, wires dangle overhead and [...]
Cool running March 3, 2015 Get back on the road with Adidas’ new range of science-inspired sneakers January’s a write off, and February is just too damn close to January. March is when you should really start pounding the tarmac to get in shape for the warmer months. Thankfully, trainers this cool help make the hard work seem less like… [...]
Car review: Going topless with the BMW 2 Series Convertible is as liberating as ever March 2, 2015 BMW’s rebranding of its motors continues with the arrival of the 2 Series Convertible. So, what used to be the old 1 Series Convertible is now the shiny new 2 Series drop-top. Got that? Good, because despite the rather iffy weather, the UK is a strong convertible market for BMW. This 2 Series will fit [...]
Not convinced? March 2, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 200 AMG SPORT PRICE: £34, 750 0-62MPH: 7.3 secs TOP SPEED: 149mph CO2 G/KM: 158g/km MPG COMBINED: 41.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Three Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars AUDI A3 CABRIOLET 1.8 TFSI S TRONIC SPORT PRICE: £30,745 0-62MPH: 7.8 secs TOP SPEED: 150mph CO2 G/KM: [...]
From cocks to horses: Introducing the tenth artwork on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth – Hans Haacke’s Gift Horse March 2, 2015 From the innuendo-baiting giant blue cock that’s stood proudly atop the Fourth Plinth for the last year or so, to Marc Quinn’s moving marble rendering of artist and phocomelia sufferer Alison Lapper, artworks on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth have provoked admiration, derision and debate for 16 years. Now onto the tenth commission, the Fourth Plinth [...]
A stunning glimpse into Japan’s past along the magnificent Nakasendo Way March 1, 2015 Japan’s sleek Shinkansen has been the country’s fastest mode of transport since it launched 50 years ago, its aerodynamic nose slicing through the rugged landscape. Before that, if you wanted to quickly traverse the country you would take the Nakasendo Way, one of five ancient highways built during the Edo period (1603-1868). Winding through the [...]