Romance and street art in the land of the cheesesteak March 10, 2014 Philadelphia, the city of murals: Susie Bearne goes in search of the stories of unrequited love on the overground Philadelphia ain’t just the land of cheesesteaks – it’s now known as the city of murals. Thanks to the Mural Arts Program, set up in 1984 to provide constructive projects for young graffiti artists, the city [...]
Where to go: The city’s top attractions, according to visitphilly.com March 10, 2014 FRANKLIN SQUARE Franklin Square, one of Philadelphia’s five original public squares laid out by William Penn in his original plan for the city, has undergone a dramatic renovation. The park now boasts several family-friendly attractions, including a miniature golf course, classic carousel, burger joint, picnic area and the famous storytelling bench, where you can hear [...]
Wes Anderson’s Hotel is well worth a stay March 6, 2014 FILMTHE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTELCert 15 | By Steve DinneenFour Stars OF ALL the directors working in Hollywood today, Wes Anderson has the surest grip on his material. Every frame bears his unmistakeable indie stamp; he owns every costume, every carpet and cushion, every trundling tracking shot, every expression and intonation. His films feel like they’ve [...]
Restaurant review: Hispania, Bank March 6, 2014 RESTAURANT HISPANIA72-74 Lombard Street, EC3V 9AYTel: 0207 621 0338 FOOD Four StarsVALUE Four StarsATMOSPHERE Four Stars Cost for two with wine: £110 COMBINING the words “Spanish” and “bank” in recent years has been enough to leave a bad taste in the mouth. Yet despite the somewhat portentous association, a group of brave Asturians have taken [...]
Mix it up: From the ashes of prohibition rose the phoenix of The Last Word March 6, 2014 @philip_salter ALTHOUGH cocktails are a global passion, there can be no doubting which country has dominated over the years: the good ol’ US of A. This is despite the highly destructive prohibition on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. The unintended consequences of prohibition were profound – dodgy [...]
Put a Spring in your step March 5, 2014 The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the winter is over. It’s time to branch out and discover lighter options for work Canali lilac cotton shirt Canali’s shirts are made by specialist Italian tailors in Italy. This lilac shade with a contrasting collar and cuffs is perfectly light for spring. £140 mrporter.com Paul [...]
The 4C: fast but no alpha male March 3, 2014 Alfa Romeo’s new sports car looks the part but its performance falls short compared to its rivals THERE’S something lurking in the special pit lane structure Alfa Romeo has built over its test track. Even in silhouette, it’s easy to pick out the rakish form of the Italian firm’s new 4C sports car. It’s waiting [...]
Not convinced? March 3, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… PORSCHE CAYMAN PDK PRICE: £50,705 0-62MPH: 4.9secs TOP SPEED: 174mph CO2 G/KM: 188g/km MPG COMBINED: 35.3mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Five Stars PRACTICALITY Two Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars LOTUS ELISE S PRICE: £37,150 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 145mph CO2 G/KM: 175g/km MPG COMBINED: 37.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Two Stars PERFORMANCE [...]
City Boy at Large: Can a booze-free spa break convert our cynical urbanite? March 2, 2014 He may be more at home in the Emirates Stadium but the Bedford Lodge gives our reporter a well needed break WHEN someone says “spa”, my initial word association-style reaction is to think of the Belgian Grand Prix. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, to give it its full name, is a favourite on the Formula One [...]
The UK’s divided brand shows the cracks in government’s designs February 28, 2014 As the rhetoric regarding the vote for, or against, Scottish independence starts to heat up, for my part I can’t help but look at the situation from a branding perspective – and wonder at the pretty awful job the United Kingdom has done. And before you raise your eyes to the heavens, hear me out [...]