Autumn 2008
www.urbanlife-magazine.com
LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE
COMPETITION
Win a weekend trip for two!
The best indulgences money can buy!
NEW FILM SECTION: GUY RITCHIE THE BIRTH OF COOL
PALLADIUM Read our exclusive coverage of the next big thing in luxury goods
MOTORING SPECIAL: A round up of the London Motor Show
AZAM EXCLUSIVE: ARTIST, BANKER, ADVENTURER…
Read about the former city high-flyer who is taking the contemporary art scene by storm… FASHION
TRAVEL
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ART & CULTURE
MOTORING
TECHNOLOGY
NIGHTLIFE
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The time is now. The place is Malaysia
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Helping orphaned baby orang-utans to learn survival skills in special sanctuaries…Limitless undiscovered beaches, dive-sites and marine parks on two oceans…Endlessly delicious food influenced long-ago by traders from neighbouring countries... Tribal dances of grace and passion, backed by gongs and bamboo flutes that
a
profoundly echo Malaysia…
For booking contact your local Travel Agent For more information please visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020 7930 7932 Tourism Malaysia 57 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DU email info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk
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URBAN LIFE AUTUMN 08
GREETINGS,
AND WELCOME TO WHAT IS OUR MOST EXCITING ISSUE OF URBAN LIFE TO DATE!
Firstly we are very proud to have not one, but two exclusives in this edition – the first being the feature on Palladium, a precious metal that is making a significant impact on the luxury goods market in the USA. If you haven’t already, you will soon start hearing about this fantastic luxury commodity, just be sure to get your name on to the top of those waiting lists in New Bond Street, as the collections will get snapped up fast! And, secondly, it gives me great pleasure to introduce a personal friend, Nasser Azam, who is currently one of the hottest artists to watch for in the UK contemporary art scene. Currently the artist-in-residence at the Dali Universe, I encourage you all to read the article by Andre Gayle and then go and see his work, especially the 20ft tall bronze sculpture that is the newest addition to dominate the South Bank skyline. For the rest of the features, it seems our Luxury Gifts Guide has gone down pretty well from the last edition. So we’ve decided to make it a permanent feature. And, of course, with the new Film and Entertainment section, we will be covering a lot more of the red carpet events and bringing you the celebrity angle that many of you have requested. There will be a few high-profile interviews in future editions, so watch this space. Our Fashion section is now truly under way, with the emphasis being on the seasonal and topical, so expect to see a lot more editorial content combined with our bespoke shoots, while the Health and Beauty section will be back in full swing as of the next edition as well. I’d also like to add that our recent re-launch has been very well received, and for that I would like to thank you, our readers and subscribers (and advertisers, of course!). Please do keep your feedback coming, as it helps us to constantly strive to improve the magazine. After all, this is your city and this is your magazine…
YOURS Ataur Rahman Editor-in-Chief editor@urbanlife-magazine.com
06 URBAN LIFE
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URBAN LIFE AUTUMN 08
CONTENTS 12
LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE Urban Life’s guide to some of the best gift ideas
16 26
FASHION Summer-Autumn seasonal style
30 34 38
URBAN LIFE EXCLUSIVE: PALLADIUM A It’s big news across the pond, and it’s about to hit the UK in a similar fashion. Find out what makes this little known metal so precious TRAVEL Jersey – a weekend of sun, sea and sailing… MOTORING A round-up of the 2008 London motor show URBAN STAR: AZAM Our cover story on the former City Banker who is one of the rising stars of the British contemporary art scene
44
ART & CULTURE Three of the top must-see exhibitions for you to put in your diary
46 50
TECHNOLOGY Urban Life guide to the hottest gadgets
54
RESTAURANT REVIEWS Will and Nick try out Centonove and One Lombard Street
57 58
COMPETITION Win a weekend for two to Combe House!
URBAN SCENE Funky Nora’s guide to the hottest nightspots in town
58
CARTIER POLO The event that was the highlight of the summer season
62
GUY RITCHIE With the coming release of his new film, the maverick director hits the headlines again, Andre Gayle reports
64
THE BIRTH OF COOL From Miles Davies to Heath Ledger’s Joker; the coolest characters on the big screen
16
64
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Most people drive to the airport Some people drive to the aircraft Most people rush to catch the flight Some people leave when they’re ready
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Expedient Jet Charter - so much more for a lot less than you may think. For more information or to discuss your individual requirements, call +44 (0) 208 991 9817, or e-mail graham.turner@expedientjet.com
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WIN A MONTH’S SUPPLY OF MIKEI RED REISHI ESSENCE WORTH £39.99!* Subscribe today for a chance to win one of 10, month’s supply of Mikei Red Reishi Essence, courtesy of Haeon. Reishi is one of the rarest mushrooms and highly regarded remedies used in Chinese medicine. It helps to boost the immune system and increase energy levels, whilst helping the body to detoxify – perfect for the busy urbanite! But if you can’t wait for the prize draw and would like try out Red Reishi now, then log on to the Haeon website (www. haeon.com). Between now and the draw, all purchases over £30 will qualify for a 10% discount, just type in ‘URBAN’ as the promotional code. This 10% promotion is open to all readers of Urban Life, including non-subscribers. *Competition open to new and existing subscribers only. *Closing date for draw 1st December 2008’. No cash alternative will be offered. Editor’s decision final. To get your regular copy through the post, please fill in the form below, sign and return to: Subscriptions department, Urban Life Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB. ` All fields must be filled in correctly; otherwise we will not be able to process your application. And don’t forget to include a cheque or make a payment online to cover P&P!
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10 URBAN LIFE
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Cover picture: Nasser Azam Photographed by: Patrick Anderson Location: The artist’s studio, using one of his paintings as backdrop.
URBAN LIFE Published by: Westside Communications Ltd. 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB Tel: +44 (0) 871 989 8206 Fax: +44 (0) 871 989 8207 Email: info@urbanlife-magazine.com URL: www.urbanlife-magazine.com Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Ataur Rahman
Creative Director
Lee Thomas
Sub Editor
Will Dugdale
Motoring Editor
Patrick Anderson
Business Development Manager
James Tan
Features & Commissioning Editorial
Nick Dines
Features
Sarah Walsh, Jodie May
Ivan Petersen
Fashion
Delphine Hervieu
Film and Entertainment:
Andre Gayle
Social Correspondent
Funky Nora
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Š Westside Communications Ltd 2006-2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part as well as storage of same in any retrieval system or transmission in any form including content and advertisement designs without the express prior written permission of the publisher will result in legal action. The content and views contained within this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. All details correct at time of going to press but are subject to change. All errors and omissions excluded. All special offers and competitions are subject to terms and conditions (please see individual offers for details). Urban Life cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited material.
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LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE
LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE
As we continue our search for the ultimate in luxury indulgences, we bring you a selection of the most sought after products to cater even to the most demanding aficionados amongst you. When only the best will do, and price is of no consequence, there are a hundred and one ways to blow ten grand on a whim.And that’s just before breakfast is even over! Here are some of our favourites we think you will want to get your cheque book out for.…
Ego for Bentley Luxury notebook designers Ego Lifestyle, have teamed up with Bentley Motors to launch this beautifully hand designed limited edition laptop. Carrying all the design ethos of a Bentley car, every model can be custom-made to suit the individuals taste and requirement. Ergonomically designed, the integrated handle offers true mobility without the
need for a separate case or cover, and the outside trim, using the finest selection of Bentley leather, ensures it provides a cushion for any accidental knocks it may suffer along the way.
processor with a whopping 160GB hard drive on a Vista operating system, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and webcam. A very polished product with serious cool factor as standard….
The chrome styling comes with the Bentley etchings you would see on their cars, for a truly individual and personalised product. The technology isn’t so bad either; combining a 64bit
Prices from £9000. www.egoforbentley.com
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LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE
The Rania Experience For the ultimate in luxury getaways, this is one of the most impressive. The Rania Experience is a bespoke six-room private island residence in the Maldives. Throughout your stay, you will have a team of butlers, international chefs, a diving instructor and therapists for spa and beauty treatments on call, catering to your every whim. Take some time out and enjoy the island at your leisure. And if you fancy a little cruising, you also have access to your own, fully crewed, 86 foot private yacht, able to take upto 12 people in comfort. Go island-hopping or dolphin-spotting or even reel-fishing, and when you’re hungry, head over to a private beach for a spot of picnic…. Prices start from $10,000 per night for exclusive use (inclusive of full-board and activities) www.slh.com
Bespoke by Charlotte Thomas There are a few essentials in life that one must never shy away from spending money on: a good pair of shoes to walk in, a well made sturdy bed to sleep in and of course, when it comes to food, buying healthy, fresh produce to provide a balanced and nutritious diet. Beyond the obvious, of course all else is a luxury and, well, if you can afford it, by all means you should enjoy it, which brings us to the matter in hand – one of the most interesting stories to land on our desks. Now this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you have some loose change left over from the annual bonus, or indeed, if you’ve won the lottery and are looking for your next indulgence, in the true sense of the word, then this may be the very thing you’ve been looking for: possibly the most luxurious bed linen in the world! Bespoke by Charlotte Thomas, is a hand made range of bed linen, using 22 carat gold, sewn into the finest merino fabric. Using silk jacquard and thousand-count Egyptian sheets, the whole process takes up to three months to make and deliver. But the use doesn’t stop with just bed linens, so if you really wanted to accessorise, there are options to use the material to make pillow cases (which retail over £3000… each) and cushion covers, amongst other uses. Bed time ‘bling’ has a whole new meaning, so we’re all off to the newsagents to play the lottery! £22,812 for a Super King size duvet cover (but, of course!) www.charlottethomas.co.uk
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LUXURY GIFTS GUIDE
Case Mate iPhone case If you’re after some serious bling for your new iPhone, well, it doesn’t get any better than this. Made to order from Case-Mate, manufacturer of Italian leather goods and accessories, this protective case is made out of carbonfibre leather (used in high-end cars and top of the range Vertu phones,) encasing 42 diamonds to give it the bling factor in spades. Whatever you do, just don’t be walking down a street in Peckham with this! £12,000. www.case-mate.com
Caran d’Ache 1010 Limited Edition fountain pen If you like your accessories to make a statement, then you can’t go wrong with a Caran d’Ache pen! This particular model is one of only 500 available around the world and is made out of rhodium-coated silver. Exquisitely designed and hand crafted to perfection, the designers give a nod to their counterparts in fine watch-making with their intricate and complex designs. And for those that really fancy their bling – a further ten have been made with 18 carat gold and Wesselton VVS diamonds. A snip at £45,000…£8,350. www.penshop.co.uk
The iBeat Organix Gold The iBeat was first made to order for a Russian-Canadian billionaire (naturally!), so that he could sell it at auction as the world’s most expensive MP3 player, thus raising money for cancer research. However, TrekStor are now making these little gems available to anyone who wishes to fork out $20,000. Cast in 18K Gold, it’s set with 63 diamonds and comes with an aquamarine gemstone chain. Better hurry whilst the exchange rate is still favourable! $20,000. www.trekstor.co.uk Jari luxury jewellery for pets We are definitely a nation of pet lovers, and have the stats to prove it according to Jari, the luxury pet jewellery company. The UK pet accessories market is worth an estimated £3.6 billion, which is predicted to reach £4.62 billion by 2010, which is clearly indicative of how much we adore our little friends, furry or otherwise! As with all things luxury, you can request bespoke pieces, whether they are collarettes, charms or cuffs, as well as accessorise with your pet with matching jewellery for yourself. Using precious stones and metals, prices range from £350 going up to £15,000. www.jari.co.uk
Nabucco Cuore Caldo One of a limited edition of 500 pieces, Raymond Weil have unveiled this striking double chronograph with a 42-hour power-reserve indicator, a first in their history. Made using steel, titanium, carbon fibre and 18ct pink gold, the watch is water resistant to 200m. As part of the Nabucco collection, it has many of the same characteristics and has been well received. Presentation is in the form of a luxury box with matching cufflinks in gold-plate, steel and carbon fibre as well as a brass/carbon fibre ball-point pen. Retail price: £7995 Available in Harrods from October www.raymond-weil.com
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DGrosmangin/MCMorazzani
Mémoires de Femmes . Mémoire du Monde
Yunnan : a bridge between nature and urban life, century-old traditions and modernity. adler, jewellers since 1886
www.adler.ch
GENEVE . GSTAAD . LONDON 13, New Bond Street +4420 7409 2237 . MOSCOW . HONGKONG . TOKYO
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URBAN LIFE FASHION
Photographer: Adam Parker www.adamparker.co.uk Fashion Coordinator: Delphine Hervieu Fashion Stylist: Paula McNamara www.paulamcnamara.net Hair / Make-up: Jonas Oliver using MAC Assistant Photographer: Martin Melcher Assistant hair / make up: Graziela Oliveira Models: Georgia Sumner @ Imagebook www.imagebookltd.co.uk Erika Stasiuleviciute @ Profile Model management www.profile-models.com Location: Sunseeker Yacht (St. Katharine’s Dock) Sunseeker London, 36 Davies street, London, W1K 4NF. Tel: 0207 355 0980. www.sunseekerlondon.com
PREFALLING
Welcome to Pre Fall! Here are some ideas of what we will be wearing this Fall, “ un avant-goût” to get it just right. From High Summer to the Nioulargue…. as the Summer slowly passes by, the fashion world slips gracefully into “Pre Fall”. The Summer is romantic and playful and was inspired by our first flowers of love but we are coming back from London’s playground as glamorous grown ups. Natural looks with a touch of spice, oversized accessories and bright colours to remind us that we are not yet in Winter, Hurrah! Shall we call it a soft transition in order to be ready to rock the streets. Indeed, while becoming warriors or women of industry, we still want to feel the music and bring grace to our city. From Alexander McQueen to Vivienne Westwood, our home designers have played it colorful and structured. So let’s get excited by jumping into the Pre Fall that announces September while remembering hot summer nights. As we have our words, we have our look.
00 URBAN FeatureLIFE by Delphine Hervieu
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Georgia wears... • Red Birds nest hat £230 by hatelier, to order only. • White cotton frill shirt £179 by Vivienne Westwood. • Orb silver pendant £140 by Vivienne Westwood. • Deep purple satin skirt £249 by Vivienne Westwood. • Navy & red graffiti socks £35 by Vivienne Westwood. • Red suede shoe with fringe detail £120 by Kurt Geiger available @ Selfridges. • Purple clutch £425 by Belen Echandia available @ www.belenechandia.com • Steel blue & purple bangles, by Joanne Cox, £40 each available @ www.joannecox.co.uk
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Erika wears... • Vintage head scalf, stylists own. • Vintage Sunglasses, stylists own. • Pink shirt £139 by Vivienne Westwood • Wide leg white trousers £240 by Ralph Lauren available @ Selfridges. • Red paten peak toe shoe £100 by Carvella available @ Selfridges. • Metallic purple clutch bag £245 by D&G available @ Selfridges.
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Erika wears... • Black 40’s style hat with button detail, £105 by hatelier, to order only. • White cotton shirt £125 available @ the White Shirt Company. • Red knit sweater £176 by MCQ available @ Selfridges. • Diana Pearl crystal choker, by Louis Mariette £120. • 3 Thick Perspex bangles in black & clear £75 by Deborah Zeldin-O neill www.dzoneill.com • Wide leg grey trousers by Paul & Joe £210 available @ Harvey Nichols.
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Georgia wears... • Camel hat with black net viser £195 by hatelier, to order only. • Camel cape £595 by Stella McCartney available @ Selfridges. • Black knit pleated pencil skirt by MCQ £210 Available @ Selfridges. • Marijoli Gold / Blue leather bracelet £375 by Nude. • Brown Overnight Python bag by Pauric Sweeney £1,470 available at Browns.
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Erika wears... • Head scalf, vintage, stylists own. • Paul Smith purple trench £399 Available @ Selfridges. • Assorted coloured pebble necklace & bracelet by LEJU. Necklace £70 bracelet £40. www.lejudesigns.com • Kurt Geiger red suede shoe with fringe detail £120 Available @ Selfridges. • Vivienne Westwood Tartan patchwork bag £395.
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Georgia wears... • Gold 80’s headband (stylists own). • Purple dress by FelderFelder £980 available @ Browns Focus and Selfridges. • 3 Perspex bangles in silver, bronze & copper leaf inset. £35 each by Deborah Zeldin-O neill www.dzoneill.com
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Erika wears... • Burgundy Mohican hat £145 by hatelier, to order only. • White shirt £145 by Max Mara available @ Selfridges. • Tartan jacket £305 by Sonia by Sonia Rykliel Available @ Harvey Nichols. • High waisted, wide leg jeans by MCQ £168 Available @ Selfridges. • Burgundy paten large clutch bag with gold orb logo by Vivienne Westwood £299.
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URBAN LIFE FASHION
Erika wears... • Trinidad Zebra One Piece by heidi klein, £140 available @ www.heidiklein.com, 020 7243 5665 or 020 7259 9418 • Bangle, stylist’s own. • Sunglasses Ogle £228 by Oliver Goldsmith in horn available at Harvey Nichols and www.olivergoldsmith.com Georgia Wears... • Nautical One Piece by heidi klein, £125, available at www.heidiklein.com, 020 7243 5665 or 020 7259 9418 • Sunglasses Sandy Black £228 by Oliver Goldsmith available at Harvey Nichols and www.olivergoldsmith.com
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Products and treatments now available at:
heidi klein | 174 westbourne grove | notting hill | london | phone 0207 243 5665
Distribution EuropE LignE st barth gmbh helene-Wessel-bogen 11 | 80939 munich germany | phone +49(0)89-316 057 3 | Fax +49(0)89-316 057 59 | www.lignestbarth.com
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URBAN LIFE EXCLUSIVE
With the price of precious metals on the rise, there is a new contender called Palladium that’s challenging the monopoly held by Platinum and White Gold in the luxury jewellery market. If you haven’t come across it yet, read on as we explain what all he fuss is about… Feature by Sarah Walsh, with additional research by Clara Thomas
I
f someone asked you about Palladium, your first thought might be of the theatre on Argyle Street in London’s West End. Although you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong, you would be quite off the mark in this instance! You see – the ‘London Palladium’ is home to the stage where the likes of the Crazy Gang first made their name; Palladium, on the other hand, is a precious metal that is about to take the luxury goods market by storm.
Just what exactly is Palladium, you may ask. “It’s a Platinum Group Metal (PGM), mined in approximately six sites globally,” says John Stark, Chairman of Palladium Alliance International (PAI). “It’s a rare and lustrous silverywhite precious metal used to make fine jewellery and watches, and is mined together with its sister metal, Platinum”. Although it was first discovered in 1803, it was not until the 1940s that it was used in jewellery making. Despite having been on the market for decades it’s only recently that there’s been a growing trend amongst some of the world’s top luxury brands to really tap into this amazingly versatile metal and incorporate it into watches and other fashion accessories such as belts, sunglasses and handbags. Naturally we asked why it took so long for the news to filter down to the consumer. “It’s an interesting question that doesn’t have a clear answer,” says Stark. “In its early history, Palladium may have been used unknowingly, as it resembled silver. In addition, the actual mining and separating of Palladium from the ore deposit was tricky. Another factor is marketing. Diamonds, gold and platinum are precious jewellery materials that have enjoyed extensive marketing to consumers. The only reason anyone believes platinum is a wedding metal and that ‘diamonds are forever’ is because millions and millions of dollars have been spent training consumers over many decades to understand these marketing positions as facts. Consumers simply
1. Cartier - Santos Mysterieuse: A limited edition of 100 pieces, the Santos Mysterieuse shows the time on a transparent bubble that appears to defy gravity! The case, in palladium set with round diamonds, features an opaline silver dial and a black alligator strap. Movement is a hand-wound Cartier Manufacture caliber 9600 with 19 jewels, beating at 21,600 bph and a power reserve of 38 hours. SRP: Available Upon Request www.cartier.com 2. Zoltan David ‘Dangeliers’ 22K Yellow gold shaped inlay with VVS clarity ideal cut diamonds. SRP: $7,700. www. zoltandavid.com
3. Bulgari - 10th Anniversary Special Edition Black Acetate Sunglasses with Crystal High Jewellery Motif. SRP: $480. www. bulgari.com 4. Parmigiani - Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire Palladium & Gold. Hand winding. Power reserve 8 days. Double spring barrel. Swan-neck regulator «Côtes de Genève» decoration, handchamfered bridges. SRP: Available Upon Request. www. parmigiani.ch 5. Chopard - The LUC Tourbillon Classic in white gold is $141,630. www. chopard.com
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“ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENTIATORS ABOUT PALLADIUM IS ITS AESTHETIC QUALITIES. IT’S PHENOMENALLY WHITE. IT DOESN’T STAIN OR WEAR LIKE WHITE GOLD…”
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URBAN LIFE EXCLUSIVE
“IT IS THE RIGHT, WHITE METAL. IT IS A VALUABLE INVESTMENT FOR FASHION AND BRIDAL PIECES.” haven’t been exposed to the idea of Palladium until now, as this is the world’s first marketing effort on the metal’s behalf.” One of the key differentiators about Palladium is its aesthetic qualities. It’s phenomenally white. It doesn’t stain or wear like white gold for example (which is yellow gold, painted with a thin layer of white metal, requiring repeated re-plating over time.) It’s light, yet very hard and durable and is naturally hypoallergenic. As such, you can make voluminous designs that would be uncomfortable and costprohibitive to produce in platinum. When asked about what the future holds for this ‘wonder metal’, Stark has a very optimistic outlook: “Palladium is
the most exciting precious metal in the world. It is the right, white metal. It is a valuable investment for fashion and bridal pieces. It differentiates consumers as trendsetters and is perfect for accessories, oversized cuffs and earrings, fine timepieces and more. It’s not an alternative to platinum; Palladium is its own unique luxury fashion metal. It competes directly with more expensive white gold because white gold is an unnatural, high-maintenance metal, whereas Palladium’s natural white shine is timeless”. We have yet to see Palladium hit the pubic consciousness in a big way here in the UK. However, if US trends are anything to go by, then all you have to do is look at how some of the big luxury brands such as Cartier, Chopard, Louis Vuitton and D&G have already started incorporating it into their ranges of jewellery, watches and accessories. Palladium is here, and it won’t be long before we start to hear and read about it in the major fashion and lifestyle magazines on this side of the pond.
1. Ulysse Nardin – part of a new collection: Macho Palladium 950. Blue/black dial, self winding and water resistant to 50 meters. Sapphire crystals. SRP: $42,300 www.ulyssenardin.com 2. Terry O’Malley - ‘Rice and Potatoes’ (one of a kind), using 34 diamond beads and six marquise diamonds. SRP: $55,000. 3. Hublot - Big Bang King (PalladiumCeramic/White/ Rubber); Case in Palladium. Rotating Bezel in Ceramic. White Dial. White Rubber Strap. HUB 21 Self Winding Movement. SRP: Available Upon Request. www.hublot.com
4. Bulgari - Dana bag. Chalk calf skin travel bag with palladium hardware. SRP: $1,850. www.bulgari.com 5. Scott Kay - Equestrian Collection SRP: $295 www.scottkay.com 6. Parmigiani – Fleurier: water resistant to 30m; case back with sapphire crystal; Slate with rose accents or silver with blue accents. SRP: $27,200. www.parmigiani.ch
For further information, log on to: www.luxurypalladium.com
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TRAVEL
JERSEY
Boasting the sunniest and most Mediterranean of climates available anywhere on the British Isles, Jersey provides an unspoilt alternative to the usual roster of short haul destinations. Whether it’s an adventure-filled weekend or a relaxing getaway you’re after, it’s all within an hour and half’s reach from Central London...
THE GRAND JERSEY
Feature by Ataur Rahman
W
ith the ever increasing proliferation and reach of low cost airlines, there has never been a better time or a wider choice of getaways available to the habitual weekend traveller. And having planned a number of destinations; Prague, Stockholm, Barcelona etc, Jersey was the last place to cross my mind - until a friend in the hospitality industry suggested I look into it. I must admit, my initial reaction was that of complete ignorance, since I had no idea what the island was about. Sure I had a vague idea, but like most people, I had no actual knowledge other than it was still a crown dependency and that it was a hotbed of creative finance and investment banking. But suffice to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Less than an hours flight away (it took us 40 minutes from Gatwick on Flybe), it is a growing destination amongst the high-end leisure traveller. Lying 100 miles off the mainland, Jersey is the most southerly of the British Isles. And with France only 14 miles away, the cultural and historical influence is evident everywhere.
The first stop for my travelling companion and I was The Grand, overlooking St. Aubins Bay. Over a century old, the Grand has just enjoyed a recent multi-million pound facelift, upgrading most of the rooms and suites, along with the addition of a new Elemis spa and pool (which was just being finished when we stayed). The hotel has been undergoing a modernisation programme, which has added a contemporary feel to a classical décor. Widely acknowledged as the Grand Dame of Jersey, The Grand has played host to royalty and celebrity alike throughout its illustrious history, and is one of the better properties on the island. Amongst the facilities, most noteworthy were the Champagne lounge, with its feature bar serving over 100 different champagnes and the outside terrace, which gets very lively after 5pm every night. Although the lounge is very cool, with DJ’s on decks during the weekends, the terrace is not really something to write home about, since it’s right beside the main road. However, it still is a hangout for the well heeled, and there seemed to be quite a buzz when we stayed and passed by a few times over the course of the weekend. Especially more so as there’s a barbecue on in the late afternoon, going into the night. And as the sun goes down, you can’t help but get into the spirit of things with the energy and ambience of the place. Certainly with Jersey enjoying a much warmer climate than London, it does have its advantages, so it’s a great place to spend those long summer evenings in. Expect to see Jersey’s finest, all dressed up and frequenting both the lounge, restaurant and terrace on a nightly basis… Tel: 01534 722 301. www.grandjersey.com
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TRAVEL
THE ATLANTIC Our next stop was The Atlanic, on the
other side of the island. Slightly off the beaten track, it’s on the westerly coast, facing out on to the Atlantic Ocean. This is a stunning property, oozing contemporary chic and stylish design. The rooms, mostly with a balcony, are ocean facing or overlook the adjoining golf course, offering spectacular views either way. The interior design is minimalist and uncluttered, yet warm and homely. It looks like a lot of care has been taken in the interior design as there was a sense of calm that you don’t find in many hotels. Our evening highlight was dining in the Ocean Restaurant. Under the watchful eye of Head Chef Mark Jordan, this Michelin starred restaurant is probably one of the best I’ve dined in anywhere. That sentiment was echoed by my travelling and dining companion, who is a marketing professional in the investment banking sector, who knows a thing or two about fine dining. Ours was a five course tasting menu, which included many dishes using locally sourced produce, and was an absolute delight to the taste buds. The service was impeccable; discreet yet extremely attentive. And the sommelier knew just when to fill up the glasses, most of the time without us even noticing. If you are ever in Jersey, then I would recommend at least one dinner here, even if you don’t actually stay in the hotel. Tel: 01534 744 101 www.theatlantichotel.com
Jersey is not for the weekend party animal. There really isn’t that much of a scene. But for those seeking respite from the rigours of everyday life, it offers a haven of tranquillity and varied choice of cultural and leisurely pursuits. From historical tours and sightseeing to high-octane activities like rock climbing and skydiving or just taking it easy and getting pampered at the numerous spas dotted around the island. Whatever your heart desires, it’s all available here. And one of the best ways to get familiar with what’s on is to call on the very friendly and helpful guys at Jersey Tourism. Never thought I’d say this, but they really are a helpful lot, and gave us so many tips and pointers, way beyond the call of duty, that it warrants a special mention. One of the best ways to get around is by car, although if you fancied cycling that’s also possible. Seeing as the island is 9 miles by 5, it really is a breeze getting around. Ours was a convertible, hired from Europcar, which made the job of getting lost so much fun. We must have covered the entire Island a hundred times during the course of the weekend.
BO & ZIN
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TRAVEL
TRAVEL NEWS: LUNA JETS A new concept in flying by private jet has just launched. Selling
what is commonly known in the aviation industry as ‘empty leg’, that is, an empty return journey for a private jet, it offers you the chance to treat yourself to an upgrade, without your bank manager having a heart attack! So in case you didn’t grasp that, here’s the idea: you sign up to this membership service on their website (which is free incidentally), and go through a list of empty leg flights. You then simply log in, buy your flight and wait for Luna jets to call you back to confirm. Quite a simple idea, especially as you can buy flights from as little as £550. naturally the cost is variable and is most favourable if there are more than a few sharing the journey, since you then get to pay less individually. So whether it’s a short haul flight to Ibiza or a longer one to New York, with a bit of advance planning and research, it could get you there in true style, without costing an arm or leg! For further information, log on to the website www.lunajets.com Free membership card
THE ROYAL YACHT
Our final stop was at the Royal Yacht, back in the centre of town. Close to the shopping and nightlife (most of which seemed to be based in and around the bar/club on the ground floor), it was centrally placed to get everywhere on foot. Living up to its name, the buildings façade is based on marine influences. The vast glass fronted balconies and terraces for the premium rooms and suites resemble sails in the wind, heavily contrasting against the surrounding buildings. Naturally we took one of the Penthouse suites, with an enormous terrace overlooking St. Helier and across (what seemed like) half the Island! A Jacuzzi, lounging pod and sun loungers on the terrace and a large bedroom with its four poster bed, a substantial living room and marbled ‘open’ bathroom with double basins completed the feeling of total luxury. Being on the top floor also sets the mood for the amorous, since watching the sun go down from the lounger or Jacuzzi is definaely one for the books. If a romantic getaway is what you have in mind, then you can’t go wrong here, just sit back, relax and enjoy. Amongst the facilities, we tried the Spa Sirene. As with any spa sessions, the 45 minute mud treatment was woefully too short. Barely do you manage to get ‘mucky’ when it’s all over and the lights come on, literally! But having said that, it was definitely worth it as you do feel completely rejuvenated after the steam room and hot shower. Well worth a try, especially if you can convince them to let you stay for at least an hour. Our experience of the fine dining restaurant was memorable, although not quite for the right reasons. As lovely as the set up was, the service was inefficient, painfully slow and bordering on elusive. I also had issues with the duty manager, who clearly disregarded all concerns about dietary restrictions, and seemed to be on a planet of his own. Not one to easily complain, I took exception on this occasion, only to be met with a complete lack of empathy. On a positive note, the bread basket was absolutely delicious! I don’t think they ever met anyone ordering so much in one sitting! Overall a great hotel, with some lovely features. However, they really do need to work on their service skills, which for a five star hotel, was quite unbecoming. Tel: 01534 720 511. www.theroyalyacht.com
Aside from getting lost and generally taking it easy, we tried a couple of activities, both of which were so much fun. The first was Blokarting. It’s like windsurfing, but with wheels, on sand. And you’re strapped in to a seat with legs outstretched, using only ropes to adjust the sail, thereby controlling speed, direction and brakes. A two hour session costs around £35 per person, but is so worth it. The second was a day of sailing. There were about 8 of us in total, sailing on a 42 foot yacht around the island under the watchful eye and guidance of Alex, the skipper. For the most part we all rotated in helping with the sails, learning how to change direction and operate as a team in manoeuvring the boat. As a first timer, it was quite an experience getting to grips with the speed and timing of it all. A great way to spend a day, especially if there is a group as it’s a lot more fun. FACTBOX: Jersey Tourism. T: 01534 448 800 W: www.jersey.com Flybe (Gatwick to Jersey) Fares start from £19.99 one way (incl. taxes). T: 0871 822 6100. W: www.flybe.com Europcar. T: 0800 735 0735 W: www.europcarjersey.com Blokarting with Pure Adventure T: -1534 638 888. www.purejersey.com Jersey Sailing. Prices start from £300, plus extra £200 for a skipper. T: 01534 747 738. W: www.jerseysailing.com
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MOTORING
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Feature by Ivan Pedersen Photography by Patrick Anderson, except for the Sunseeker images which were provided courtesy of Sunseeker London.
New electric super car Lightning
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MOTORING
Lotus Evan
Bugatti Velbonne
Concept car
Renault Megane concept car
W
ith visitor numbers up by 14%, this year’s British International Motor Show, sponsored by Zurich Connect, was by far the biggest ever. With a record number of 472,300 visitors in attendance (up from 415,000 in ’06), the event re-affirmed its position as a must-see show in the International motoring calendar. This year the show hosted 23 global debuts; a total of 600 cars and 60 vehicle manufacturers. The total value of cars on display was in excess of £37 million! Some of the highlights included the new Vauxhall Insignia. Predicted to be a fleet and family favourite, the new car is expected to take the brand to a new level in terms of quality, refinement and design. Lotus also wowed visitors, unveiling the Evora, its first all-new model in 13 years. Petrolheads were keen to see other performance-focused global debuts including Ford’s super-hot Focus RS, Toyota’s 200bhp Aygo Crazy concept car, the blistering Renault R26.R, the Lightning GT supercar - powered by electricity, and the 200mph Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, billed as the fastest saloon car in the world. The SEAT Ibiza Sport Coupé, new-look Land Rover Discovery and the Nissan Qashqai+2 were among other global firsts for the Show. In the main hall, the world’s finest cars were on collective display, showcasing some of the most desirable marques, including first-timers Zagato, Koenigsegg, Gumpert and Spyker. Entertainment during the show was provided by live performances from Alice Cooper, Blondie and Status Quo, with Meat Loaf closing the show.
New Alfa Romeo
Public try to get into one of the green electric cars
Thundercats heats
On the water, visitors could check out the luxurious fleet of super-yachts in the Marine Experience, as well as watching the spectacular on-water entertainment which included racing Powerboats and Viper Jet Boats, alongside headto-head races involving Thundercats, Jet Skis, Offshore Circuit Race Boats, Wakeboarding and RIBs.
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MOTORING
SUNSEEKER AT THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW The Marine Experience saw Sunseeker London host the ‘ultimate fleet’, with the new 2009 86 Yacht, the Manhattan 60 and Portofino 53 and 47 on show. Visitors to the event were able to view the splendid display of boats from up close and get a taste of what makes these luxury motoryachts the choice of discerning buyers worldwide. When it comes to performance, design and sleek styling, Sunseeker boats have produced some of the best sportboats, cruisers and luxury yachts around. So much so, they’ve been used in three consecutive Bond films with the fourth, Quantum of Solace, due for release in October. With the collection of the finest super cars in the exhibition hall, it was only right we got to see their equivalents on the water, and Sunseeker didn’t disappoint… Sunseeker London TEL: 0207 355 0980 www.sunseekerlondon.com 36 URBAN LIFE
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URBAN STAR
NASSER AZAM
From the dizzying heights of corporate high-finance to space; Andre Gayle talks with the artist who is creating quite a buzz in the contemporary art world...
O
n the shores of the South Bank in London stands The Dance. A stark and impressive bronze sculpture that dominates the public thoroughfare and describes the captured movement of two entwined dancers lost in each other. It’s as exciting a piece of contemporary art as I’ve seen. Mounted on a plinth the whole installation stands nearly twenty feet and to take it all in properly you have to view it at a distance or crane your neck. In this respect The Dance and its creator, artist Nasser Azam, share a similar trait. When I meet him I’m instantly struck by how tall he is. I keep feeling that sentence should be suffixed with ‘for an artist’ but I don’t know why. It’s always a little disconcerting when, as tall as I am, I’m not the tallest in the room anymore but, along with most things about Nasser Azam, it only adds to an already amazing story. We meet at the County Hall Gallery on the South Bank where The Dance announces his critically acclaimed exhibition, Anatomica. The exhibition stands out for many reasons but for it to
be fully appreciated it’s necessary to set the context to this, his latest and most evocative work. Azam came to London as a seven year old from Pakistan already displaying a rare talent for artistry. By the time he was seventeen, and enrolling into Birmingham University, he had grown into a locally celebrated artist mentored by Colin J. Bailey, an art historian who was a curator and faculty member of The Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the time. By graduation his talent had already been recognised nationally with a filmed documentary about his life as an artist shown on the BBC. This was 1983 and Azam was on the cusp of eventually becoming the huge name in the art world and beyond that his youth, his unusual background and his undoubted talent deserved. But in 1983 he just stopped. Cold turkey. Like an addict quitting a habit. No doubt under the heavy influence of academically-minded parents, he graduated university with a degree in not art, but business. This set him on a path that would mean for the next twenty-three years he travelled the financial centres of the world, eventually rising to COO of global investment banking firm Merrill Lynch, but never so much as doodling in a sketchbook or lifting a paint brush again. “It formed part of my maturing process,” he tells me. “The chance to live among different cultures and experience the different things that informs my work now might not have come to me had I continued to paint at that time.” It was also evident that while he may have stopped creating art during that time he had not stopped being an artist. In that sense, it was actually easier to understand the thought process behind his decision to completely sever himself from that part of his life. Without the opportunity to commit your whole being to your discipline, as any true artist would want to, it perhaps shows more integrity to not try and treat it as a ‘hobby’ to be done in your spare time, especially
when you have such a commitment to a growing career and family. However, a near quarter century of nothing but numbers and business formulas is still quite a feat of self denial, for an artist on any level. What is also true is that, had he not embarked on his voyage into high finance, the work created upon his return might not have led to Anatomica, and therein lies another amazing facet of this story. In 2006, spurred on by the emotions generated by a protracted divorce, he dived head-first into his art once again. Like a drowning man coming up for air his appetite was almost insatiable. With the creation of this new work, in 2007 Azam was invited to become Artist in Residence for the prestigious 509 square metre viewing space at the County Hall Gallery, formerly home to the Saatchi Gallery. There a retrospective of his earlier works sat juxtaposed with the new directions his art was now taking him and his profile began to rise exponentially. Now, there’s a gravity to this fact which shouldn’t be overlooked and it’s worth examining it in detail. Azam, as an artist, is credited with having such an inordinate talent for what he does that the very first work he produces, after 23 years absolutely devoid of any artistic endeavour, is considered so important, so significant to art and culture in general, that it was taken and immediately exhibited on a breath-taking scale in the culture capital of the capital as soon as it was completed. He didn’t even have to take a run up. The impact of his return was further enhanced by the fact that this retrospective exhibition sat adjacent to that of another: the celebrated surrealist master himself, Salvador Dalí. Above left: Title: Icarus Fall Date: April 2007 Dimensions: 150 x 100 cm Medium: Acrylic
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“I LIKE THE DISCIPLINE OF A BUSINESS WORKING DAY AND THE TRANSIENT CREATIVITY OF THE NIGHT; THE TWO STATES WHICH IN ESSENCE IMPLODE TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOU”.
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URBAN STAR
His prolific creative output continued unabated, at one point completing a dozen paintings in one entirely sleepless weekend. In a period lasting barely three months Azam downloaded an explosion of abstract-expressionistic representations based on the anatomical human form, the Anatomica collection, which completely updated his exhibition in early 2008 and sent waves throughout the art world and beyond. A maquette of his sculpture The Dance comfortably outsold work by established artists like Damien Hirst, Marc Quinn and Sir Peter Blake at a recent auction and his growing column inches in national newspapers like The Times and The Independent were equally divided between the business and culture pages where he was dubbed ‘the Salvador Dalí of Merrill Lynch.’ Another noted and prominent art historian, John-Paul Stonard, recently chronicled his work to date in a book, Azam: A Short History of Sensation, Volume I, and, as of writing, they are already deep into work on a follow up. When you consider that Azam could still be categorized as a ‘new’ artist you soon begin to realise you may be witnessing something very, very special here. Talking to him, though, it becomes obvious that Azam has happily not yet succumbed to the inevitable hype surrounding him. As lauded as he is within the art community he readily admits that Willem de Kooning, an artist with whom he is often compared, is somebody who he had never heard of until earlier this
year. “I believe in the democratization of art,” he states with authority. Echoing this, he’s particularly proud of the sculpture that dominates the South Bank walkway because “it’s there for everyone to see – the general public, tourists and other artists alike”. I think this is the thing I like about him the most. When studying English Literature at university I elected to take French language as a minor and, for reasons I still don’t understand, it required me to take a module on French art history. Suddenly I was surrounded by any number of unbearably pretentious undergrads who pontificated ad infinitum about the meaning behind a painting and who audibly gasped with every change of the slide. That module is the reason why I don’t speak French fluently today. It’s one of the reasons why art, especially contemporary art, isn’t more appreciated by a general public too afraid of being told they just ‘don’t get it’. Azam, as a person, has a manner that makes him seem very down to earth and inclusive, in contrast to many other artists who, as talented as they may be, seem entirely inaccessible. Now approaching his mid forties, Azam for a long time essentially controlled how Merrill Lynch did their business. However, his commitment to his art meant he recently left his top position there. As he puts it – “there is a limit to where you can take being an insomniac!” – referring to the fact he got by on barely four hours of sleep since he restarted painting in 2006 choosing to paint only “in the solitude of the dark” whilst working in finance during the day, a practice he finds difficult to break even now. “I like the discipline of a business working day and the transient creativity of the night; the two states which in essence implode to get the best out of you.” Azam has recently returned from space. Even to write the words seems alien, no pun intended. To be more accurate it should be classed as ‘near space’ but for those of us who are not astronauts there’s really not much of a distinction to be made. In an effort to create art from new experiences and sensations Azam
led a project called ‘Life in Space’. Taking off from Moscow’s Star City, a specially designed aircraft took the artist to the top of the Earth’s atmosphere and went through a series of parabolic manoeuvres that created the effect of zero gravity.’ Azam successfully accomplished what he set out to do, which was to complete two triptychs entitled ‘Homage to Francis Bacon’. This was a groundbreaking project and the first time any artist has completed paintings in zero gravity to complete a triptych entitled Homage to Francis Bacon’. This was a groundbreaking...’ The anticipation this feat has created is palpable and the story is being closely followed by the international news media the world over. Phillips de Pury, the auctioneers, are including one of the triptychs in their forthcoming contemporary art auction on November 14th in New York. In addition, the results of Life in Space’ will go on public exhibition in January 2009. So, when you have lived all over the world, experienced all the things different cultures have to offer and then travelled into space, what’s left to inspire you? “I’m already talking to a group of people about doing some work in Antarctica,” he tells me. There’s probably no more extreme an environment on Earth and you have to admire the drive of an artist who would even contemplate it on the mere promise of opening up new conduits for creating art. As recently as three years ago the most artistic thing Azam did was prove Future Value economic formulas at work. Now, once again, he is on the cusp of going down in art history. This time I get the feeling there won’t be any turning back.
Above left Art in Zero Gravity: working on one of the triptychs. Below Title: Homage to Francis Bacon: Triptych I Date: July 2008 Dimensions: 160 x 120 cm Medium: Acrylic and Oil Pastel
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“I BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATISATION OF ART. IT’S THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TOURISTS AND OTHER ARTISTS ALIKE...”
Title: The Dance Date: February 2008 Dimensions: 4.03 x 3.4 x 2.2 m Location: South Bank, London
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URBAN LIFE PROMOTION
BUI SUOI B HOA–THE BEAUTY OF LIFE “I want to freeze moments of the beauty of life into one moment…”
orn in Hanoi in 1957 and graduating from the Fine Art University in Hanoi in 1975, Bui Suoi Hoa began her career as an art teacher at the Architecture University in Ho Chi Minh City. Suoi Hoa’s paintings are bold and colourful artistic creations. Her exuberant brush strokes are used to form full, sensual compositions that evoke her and Vietnam’s past – village and ethnic scenes, rich land and sea-scapes, still life – flowers or pots, traditional ‘Cheo’ theatre scenes of dancing girls appearing to be in tumbling flight: subjects that are scrutinised minutely but rarely portrayed as they are in reality. Her colour scheme is simple, consisting mostly of what are referred to in Vietnam as the ‘five elemental colours’. But Suoi Hoa is able to push them to their limits with dashing, coarse brushstrokes that also (she not being content in merely dazzling with light) enhance the sense of touch, resulting as they do in minor mountains of thick colour on the canvas itself. Suoi Hoa’s paintings have a boundless vitality, a fierce, confident life of their own. She says, “I have witnessed much sorrow in my life, that’s why in my paintings I want to create happiness.” Painting everyday, she uses her art to describe emotions – sadness, happiness, joy, life itself. A yearning for individual freedom, self-affirmation and personal discovery has characterised Vietnamese painting since Doi Moi (renovation), and in Suoi Hoa’s paintings we can see not only hers, but a reflection of ours as well. She has exhibited her work widely across Asia, including the ground breaking Uncorked Soul exhibition in Hong Kong 1991, in the USA as part of the Winding River travelling exhibition in Washington DC, and in Europe, where she has participated in exhibitions in Geneva and Paris. Her work is in the collection of the Ho Chi Minh Museum of fine art and in private collections worldwide. Now Oc-Eo Art will be featuring her work at the London Red Dot Fair (October16th-19th) and at their Asian Art in London exhibition, Colour : Emotion, which opens at Mall Galleries on October 28th and runs until November 9th. Private view on the 27th October.
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Thinking, oil on canvas, 65x100cms, £2500
Abstract, oil on canvas, 40x50cms, £1150
Still Life, oil on canvas, 37x25cms, £550
CONTACT DETAILS For details of these and our other exhibitions and to see our collection, including more of Suoi Hoa’s paintings, please visit www.oc-eo.co.uk. Or, if you’d like to arrange an appointment for a private view of any of the paintings in our collection at our new London exhibition space – Black Swan, 85 Canonbury Road, London N1 – please email us at info@oc-eo.co.uk.
Dancing, oil on canvas, 65x100cms, £2500
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ART & CULTURE
UPCOMING ART EXHIBITIONS HRH The Prince of Wales: An exhibition to celebrate his 60th birthday Date: Present to – 22 February 2009 Admission: £14.80 (includes admission to Windsor Castle) Where: The Drawings Gallery, Windsor castle www.royalcollection.org.uk
Prince Charles on his way to Cheam School after attending a church service for the first time as Prince of Wales, 27 July 1958. © Reserved/ The Royal Collection 2008,Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
A special exhibition to mark the 60th birthday of HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, is currently taking place in Windsor Castle, documenting everything from the childhood milestones; birth, christening and playing with his sister, Princess Anne at Balmoral, to attending HM The Queen’s Coronation at the age of four. Amongst the many exhibits on display are early photographs from the family archives that show The Prince carrying out public duties before and after his Investiture as The Prince of Wales on 1 July 1969. A lot of his personal interests are also reflected in the exhibition: the environment, traditional crafts, organic farming and the built heritage, along with a selection of watercolour paintings that The Prince has produced over the years. There are also numerous examples of work and drawings from students from The Prince’s Trust, one of the many charities very close to his heart. All in all a fascinating journey through the very public (and private) life of The Prince of Wales. A book accompanying the exhibition; Charles, Prince of Wales: A Birthday Souvenir Album (Royal Collection Publications) is also available to buy at £9.95.
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Billy: Bill Gibb’s Moment In Time Date: 24 October 2008 – 16 January 2009 Admission: £5 adults Where: Fashion and Textile Museum www.ftmlondon.org
(Front page of Bill Gibb book) Printed leather sequin 1972, British Vogue 1972, Clive Arrowsmith
Twiggy Commissioned by Twiggy for the premiere of ‘The Boyfriend’ 1971, Justin de Villeneuve
The Fashion and Textile Museum is holding an exhibition celebrating the life and career of Bill Gibb, one of the great British fashion designers to come out of the ‘70s. Crowned ‘Designer of the Year’ by British Vogue in 1970, Gibb’s flamboyant creations defined an era for the best part of the decade. Known for his love of costumes, his creations were elegant yet sexy and fun, reflecting an era of decadence, which have influenced many of today’s designers like Giles Deacon and John Galliano. The exhibition will feature around 60 of Gibb’s creations, reflecting the span of his career, which was sadly very short-lived with his demise in 1988. A book will be launched by the V&A at the same time, entitled Bill Gibb, Fashion and Fantasy by Iain R. Webb with a foreword by Twiggy.
“BACON’S ART IS DOMINATED BY THE HUMAN FORM, REVEALING THE GROTESQUE SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE WITH GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE, SEXUALITY AND ANXIETY OF THE MODERN CONDITION....”
Francis Bacon Date: Present to 4 January 2009 Admission: £12.50 Where: Tate Britain www.tate.org.uk The first major retrospective of Francis Bacon’s works in the UK since 1985 is currently underway at the Tate Britain. Sponsored by the Bank of America, this is a must-see exhibition, showing a collection of some of Bacon’s most important
works reflecting each period of his life. New research, which has emerged since the artist’s death in 1992, follows the findings of the contents of his studio and sheds more light into the thoughts and philosophy of the man, which dominated much of his work. This is one of the largest collections of his works, comprising of around 70 paintings, which offer a unique insight into one of the greatest painters of the 20th century.
Bacon’s art is dominated by the human form, revealing the grotesque side of human nature with graphic depictions of violence, sexuality and anxiety of the modern condition, which at once is an all out attack on the senses. Amongst some of his most celebrated works, the exhibition will feature a number of paintings and triptychs including Three
Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944
(Tate Collection), Study after
Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X, 1953 (Des Moines Art Center, Iowa) and In Memory of George Dyer, 1971 (Fondation Beyeler, Basel). The exhibition will travel to Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid in early February, the city where he died, and then onto the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in mid May. Francis Bacon Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944 Oil on board 95 x 73.5 each. © Tate ID_032-034
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TECHNOLOGY
URBAN LIFE’S GUIDE TO THE HOTTEST TECHNOLOGY AND GADGETS Feature by Sarah Walsh and Jodie May
3 Skypephone S2
The second generation Skypephone from 3 has arrived. Packed full of features, this mobile and Skype hybrid allows you to switch seamlessly between the two, without the need to be anywhere near a Wi-Fi hotspot. Which means you can remain logged into Skype day and night, so you don’t miss a call from loved ones or business associates. And when the call comes through, you just answer it like normal. We’ve been trying one out recently, and it’s brilliant. You have the full functionality of a phone: sms, mms, email and internet access, as well as maintaining connectivity with the world via social networks, with access to Facebook (which comes pre-installed), myspace, bebo or any other site you’re a member of, including msn messenger. It has a 2.2” QVGA screen and a 3.2 mega pixel camera, with battery life of 262hours on stand-by and 410 minutes talk time. The on board memory capacity is 50MB, with an expandable MicroSD slot for up to 4GB. If you spend a lot of time skyping or facebooking, then this is definitely worth considering…
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin
For sheer style, the award winning Zeppelin iPod dock is worth a mention. From the makers of high-end speakers, this is a stunning offering for the avid technophile, in polished steel with black trim grills. With three high-quality Class D amplifiers, with a total of 100W, the sound is authentically reproduced with the aid of the builtin subwoofer, midrange and tweeter, derived directly from the B&W Mini Theatre range. The Zeppelin comes with a simplified remote control with mini jack and USB inputs.
£399
For stockists details, log on to the website: www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Zpen
There’s nothing more tedious than spending hours hunched over a PC typing up handwritten notes. However, there’s relief in the shape of this digital pen. Able to store handwritten notes or turn them into text, the Zpen allows you to do a number of things when it isn’t practical to get the laptop out. It can digitise and store notes, graphics and even store music and video files on to the USB flash drive. It works by clipping the small receiver onto a pad, then recording the movement of the pen via infra-red. Simple and highly practical, especially for those that are always on the move. And with 1GB storage capacity, it should be more than enough for even the most avid user.
£99.99
www.scan.co.ukco.uk
For pricing and tariffs, log on to the website: www.three.co.uk
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TECHNOLOGY
Editors Choice LG FA1663DAB
It’s not very often that you come across a product so unassuming that it stops you dead in your tracks. However, LG have managed to do so with this micro-system, which was recently launched in the UK. On the face of it, it’s a handsome system. Compact and featurepacked, it’s stylishly designed in lustrous black with aluminium trimmings on top. It’s a CD player and DAB radio, with built-in iDock, through which you can scroll through your iPod using the system’s remote control. Whilst listening to your favourite playlists, your iPod also gets charged. It also has USB ripping capability to copy music directly to a compatible MP3 player. The system has two built-in subwoofers in the speakers, offering better sound quality with a total output of 160w, which is more than enough for most of us! But the most important and exciting news about this system is that it has been tuned by none other than the legendary Mark Levinson (google his name), currently LG’s chief sound advisor. For those that know, having Levinson tune the systems is a big deal, since it is adding a lot of credibility to an otherwise bog standard range of products. “If music doesn’t touch your soul, then it’s nothing more than noise,” he told the Ed during one of his demonstrations of the system. He went on to say, “this is an entry level product, but is a good indicator of LG’s commitment to bringing premium quality products on to the market, for a fraction of the cost, and this is just the beginning. What we have coming up will shake the consumer audio systems market to its core!”
Eclypt Corporate
Best known for their Flagstone range of NATO approved encrypted hard drives, Stonewood Electronics have just released the Eclypt Corporate, a next generation product aimed at the security conscious user. Requiring no specialist IT knowledge, it can be installed and ready to go within minutes. Configurable to suit individual requirements, it can be factory or retro-fitted to provide a high level of security without any adverse effect on performance or leaving any trace on the pc.
Prices from £175 for a 60GB drive
For stockist details, log on to the website: www.stonewood.co.uk
If it wasn’t Levinson telling us this, we would have been easily dismissive of it as another fancy presentation with bold statements. But having listened to the recordings used in the demo, we didn’t need any convincing, especially when we were told of the ridiculously cheap price tag of £200. if you are looking for a premium product, than don’t go looking for a £10k system, you’ll get a lot more for your money with this and get to enjoy music as it was meant to be….
£200
For stockist details, log on to the website: www.lge.co.uk
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TECHNOLOGY
TVonics DTR-Z500
Just launched, the Z500 digital video recorder, with built-in twin tuner, allows you to record two channels live whilst watching a third recording, and with Freeview+ built-in, you can pause and rewind up to 2 hours of digital television without missing a thing. A total of 250 hours of recordings can be made, with the ability to adjust to changes in programme schedule, so no need to miss another episode of Corrie!
£229.99
Currently only available from the TVonics website. www.tvonics.com
One-for-All Energy Saver Remote Control
OK – here’s another remote to add to the dozen or so that you already have! The only difference is that with this little gem, you are helping do your bit for the environment. Not much on the face of it, but when you consider that as a nation of gadget and appliance-hungry consumers, we are collectively adding to the effects of global warming by our indifference. As we now know, electronic equipment on standby (TVs, DVD players, games consoles and hi-fis, etc.) actually consumes more electricity than previously thought. So switch off and if you’re too lazy to do that, get one of these and then plug all your appliances through a multiplug and then plug that into the socket adapter that comes with this remote. After that, all it will take is one press of the button and voila, it’s all switched off at the mains! And if that still doesn’t convince you, then think of the added savings you will make on your quarterly electricity bills as well as the reduced risk of electrical fires!
£39.99
available in John Lewis, Curry’s, Comet and Asda www.oneforall.com/energysaver
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IN AND AROUND TOWN WITH FUNKY NORA Well, it has been a while since we were last here; which means we are long overdue for a rundown of the hottest new clubs in town! Of course the fact of the matter is that most of the clubs we’re going to look at have actually been around for a couple of years now, which goes to show how long it’s been since I last penned a line (blame it on the Ed!). So, without further ado, let me bring you up to speed on some of the (now) established gems and a couple of new openings that are making quite a bit of noise in town. Feature by Funky Nora
Cuckoo Club 0207 287 4300 www.thecuckooclub.com I have to be honest. When it comes to clubbing, like the best of you, I like my members’ clubs. They tend to work on the premise that elitism is good, therefore, a snobbish attitude and ridiculously hard door-policy is the only way to create a demand whereby everyone wants to be on the other side of those velvet ropes. Of course, not many get the balance right (see Bungalow 8 piece below!) with grave results (the beautiful Hedges & Butler also comes to mind!) However, for those that do, success and longevity are assured, as in the case of the Cuckoo club. There’s not much I can say that most of you don’t already know (and if you don’t, where the hell have you been?!) Cuckoo is the brainchild of Bobby and Jamie Lorenz and media darling Nick Valentine (who is planning on relaunching another venue soon, but more about that later.) Since it first opened its doors to much fanfare, it has managed to retain its status as the hangout of the fashionable and well heeled. Teenagers, it would seem, are not visible in their droves, which is the growing trend in most clubs these days, but I digress. If you fancy a night out, and have a hot date you would like to get close and personal with, then put on your Sunday best and head over to cuckoo. You’ll not be disappointed….
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Maddox 0207 629 8877 www.maddoxclub.com Now, this is a real beauty of a club. Apart from it’s location (30 seconds from Sketch, so very central), it is one of the coolest hangouts around. Owned by Fred Moss (he of Chinawhite, and more recently, Movida fame), the club is where the old Noble Rot used to be (now that’s going back a few years for some of you!) Maddox boasts an Italian restaurant upstairs (although the food and service
is not as polished as one would expect, which is a shame,) with a bar and DJ booth, which sets the mood before heading down to the club area. Now, in all honesty, I’ve not spent more than five minutes on a table in the club, since pretty much all of my friends and I usually end up in the open courtyard in the back (smoking for England,) which, in my opinion, is what really gives the place its unique ambience.
The crowd is quite interestingly split three ways: the lounge lizards upstairs chilling out (fashion and media types,) the party animals on the tables downstairs (flexing daddy’s credit card and the expense account) and of course the social butterflies in the smoking area, usually ‘faces’ from the circuit, often seen with a glass of Champagne in one hand and a cigarette in the other...
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Crystal 0207 580 6922 www.thecrystalclub.net I must admit, I loved Crystal (pronounced Cristal, to the uninitiated!) when it first opened. We had a great run, since the music was spot on each and every time we went. And of course the crowd was equally fantastic. Many a nights we did not leave ‘til after the cleaners had their way, but of late it seems to have lost some if its oomph. The last couple of times I went, and it has been a while, the music wasn’t much to write home about, and since nobody seems to talk about it anymore, it seems to have slipped out of consciousness inadvertently. Since I hear the boys are looking to expand the brand beyond Beirut and London, they must be doing something right. Think it’s time I paid them another visit soon…
Bungalow 8 0207 300 5576 www.bungalow8london.com
As one of the more recent, and most hyped, openings in London for a while, surprisingly B8 has failed to make any impact on the London nightlife at all. It really is a crying shame, since everything about the brand that is Amy Sacco should have ensured a roaring success. I suppose this goes to show how we Londoners are a breed apart: what works in New York, most certainly need not here. Perhaps a more relaxed attitude is needed, with less of an emphasis on the ‘A-list’ quota. Hate to point out the obvious, but since when did suits fall into the category of the A-list? Enough said.
Bureau
New openings: In the next edition, I shall be writing more about the most recent additions to the coolest bars and clubs scene: the first being Bureau in the subterranean maze of Kingly court, which is looking to be quite a hot new members club. But not having being there as yet, I can’t really say much, which means you’ll have to wait for the next instalment of the mag. But having seen the press info and images, I think I’ll like this place! The second recent opening is the Buddha Bar. The eponymous brand associated with Parisian cool has finally arrived in London. We’ve been anticipating its opening for a good couple of years; in fact, almost gave up on them, due to the various delays and rumours of location and licensing issues. But I’m pleased to say they’ve finally arrived, and not since the opening of Nobu Berkeley has there been such a buzz in town about a place so steeped in the global jet-set consciousness. Watch this space for a more detailed review!
Buddha Bar
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“The team that brought you the ever fabulous Mint Leaf Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, invite you to now enjoy their amazing new creation, Mint Leaf Lounge, situated in Bank, the heart of London’s financial district. Showcasing their exquisite modern Indian dishes, complemented with the timeless classics, you can choose to either dine in the formal restaurant or one of the sublime art deco lounge bars. The classic cocktail bar serves fabulous creations using only the very best ingredients and the mezzanine champagne bar offers you a wide selection of champagnes by the glass. So whether you feel like being sexy in the City or chic in the West End, Mint Leaf Restaurants are where you will always want to be.”
Mint Leaf Lounge 12 Angel Court, Louthbury, Bank, EC2R 7HB. Tel: 0207 600 0992. www.mintleaflounge.com Mint Leaf Restaurant Suffolk Place, Haymarket, SW1Y 4HX. Tel: 0207 930 9020. www.mintleafrestaurant.com
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URBAN TASTE
EAT ING OUT 08 ONE LOMBARD STREET: Feature by Nick Dines
W
ith the credit crunch, political instability and natural disasters, conversation has never boasted so much material and One Lombard Street most certainly has the air of a venue filled with intellectual discussions. Discretely tucked away in the City, a short distance away from Bank station, this plush venue, once a banking hall, boasts Chef Patron Herbert Berger’s Michelin Star haute-cuisine, attracting any respectable food loving city type. Its former banking credentials are clearly evident upon entering the atmospheric welcoming Grade II listed front brasserie, as the imposing well-stocked bar stands pride of place beneath Pietro Agostini’s dramatic neoclassical domed skylight. With an abundance of unrivalled cocktails, Champagnes and authentic tapas it’s no wonder why the pinstripe brigade flock here for the perfect postwork wind-down. Assisted occasionally with live music in the comfort of the intimate booths, the brasserie has all the ingredients for launches and parties. Guests dining in the swish brasserie can experience a full à la carte menu throughout the day along with an extensive wine list. Breakfast still appears to be one
of the more popular attractions, providing the perfect start to the day, illuminated by the dome’s natural glow. However, it’s the stylish dining room restaurant, hidden at the rear of the venue that is its Michelin-starred pièce de résistance. As you’re escorted to the quieter elegantly decorated dining room, adjacent to the wine cellar, it’s as if you’re being shown to an exclusive private poker room out the back, weaving your way through the lively, vibrant brasserie to be ushered to your table within the chic décor inspired by Titian’s masterpiece, Rape of Europa. Capable of seating 40 guests, it’s here where fine cuisine and formal conversation collaborate inside a tranquil luxurious environment. A venue such as this deservedly receives conversations on political policies and foreign debates and it’s no surprise that the dining room is often chosen to host meetings and business presentations. Discussions surrounding Obama or McCain are more suited here, in the surroundings of the warmth of the ruby red walls, than the Premier League or Big Brother debates more akin to the Queen Vic. Although the one complaint that tends to crop up concerns the close proximity between tables, which can lead to cautious, guarded conversations. Upon arriving, you’re welcomed with impeccably polite service, greeted throughout the evening with pleasantries dished out with a genuine sincerity.
Known for his focus on quality and consistency, negotiating Herbert’s carefully constructed creative menu is a challenging yet exciting prospect. Here’s a menu that boasts a wide range of cuisine ranging from European classics to modern dishes, utilising many of the finest and seasonal ingredients. Armed with a lengthy arsenal of largely French house wines, opting for a rather thirst-quenching white – L’Archet Sauvignon Blanc – provides a satisfying, pleasurable remedy for any hard-toplease palate. Once you’ve settled and sampled the cosy warm bread rolls, standards become set at an impressive calibre from the off. Starters such as sumptuous scallops assisted with parsnip puree and muscadet grape balsamic velouté, will immediately stand out from the menu, as will the equally impressive seafood treat of carpaccio of tuna with oriental spices and toasted sesame seed complemented with a rather decorative radish, ginger and lime vinaigrette. With the fine array of rich meat and seafood on offer, including suckling pig, roast beef, lobster and turbot, the perennially tough choice of a main remains the dilemma. Like betting on Federer for Wimbledon, you’re onto a guaranteed winner by plumping for the exquisitely moist trio of lamb, noisette persillade rack with balsamic glazed sweetbreads and finally lamb jus complemented with a sorrel velouté and tomato compote.
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Herbert’s scallops once again deserve high praise and acknowledgement, enhancing the indulgent list of mains with their very presence, lightly steamed with an addictive shellfish tortellini and a wasabi and lime sweet basil oil. Delicious. If starters and mains are merely foreplay in your eyes, then the climatic array of desserts definitely deliver a final thrill. Highlights include an overwhelmingly delicious whiskey jelly with raspberry and
“DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING OBAMA OR MCCAIN ARE MORE SUITED HERE, THAN THE PREMIER LEAGUE OR BIG BROTHER DEBATES MORE AKIN TO THE QUEEN VIC.”… bitter chocolate mousseline prepared with sugar roasted coco beans and coffee, as well as an attractive looking feuillantine of caramalised Granny Smith apple partnered with bizarre yet innovative Guinness ice cream and glazed hazelnuts. Public spending may be dwindling and those once hefty city bonuses may be disappearing as quickly as Gordon Brown’s integrity, yet you’re sure to be rewarded with a visit to this city venue as this former bank is definitely of interest, providing a wise invesatment.
One Lombard Street 1 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9AA 0207 929 6611 www.1lombardstreet.com
These days, luxury is a much-devalued word. Some people, however, refuse to compromise on standards.
Mehek
Mehek Indian Restaurant
45 London Wall, Moorgate London EC2M 5TE Telephone: 020 7588 5043/7588 5044 Facsimile: 020 7588 5045 Email: info@mehek.co.uk Website: www.mehek.co.uk
If you are one of them, then you'll find Mehek has been created especially for you, where fine dining is truly exquisite, and where sumptuous cuisine and some of the world's finest wines are served in exclusive surroundings. After all, your parties and events are too precious to be left to chance, and too important to expose to indifferent service or inferior food standards. So isn't it time you came on board?
Now you can experience luxury without compromise
Some of the acclaims for Mehek: Multiple times winner of the AA Rosette Awards, winner of the British Curry Awards, BCA no.1 in the City, Best In Britain Awards, Safety Thirst, City of London Safer Pub & Club Awards, TopTable Gold Award, and numerous recommendations by restaurant guides, newspapers and magazines.
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CENTONOVE: Feature by Will Dugdale
W
hen one hears of a new Italian restaurant opening in the Notting Hill area, it is hard not to be slightly cynical. I was asked to pop along to Centonove (in Notting Hill, I was told) and as such was not of highest hopes. My mood further darkened when I discovered that the restaurant was, in fact, in Westbourne Park Road, a good mile or two away from where I had got off the tube. Quite aside from the fact that this should teach me not to go out without a reasonable idea of where I’m going, it’s fair to say that I considered my mood at its darkest as the venue hove into view – right opposite a delightful ‘60s concrete council estate. These guys were going to have to do something pretty special to cheer me up. As soon as you stepped through the door, the atmosphere overrode the location. A homemade curtain of beads and small bulbs over the large windows allowed the evening light in, while subtly distracting you from the view outside. The art on the wall was pleasing to the point of being conversational – my companion and I must have spent a good five minutes discussing the pieces that showed intimacy without identity through the medium of needlework! I was, however, a touch disappointed to find a television on one wall, but discussion with the manager indicated that this was a non-permanent fixture, intended to draw people to the restaurant for use as a bar during the football season. And it would be a shame to only use this venue as a bar. I have eaten at many Italian restaurants in London, and after a
while you can recite the generic menu off by heart. This, however, was a completely different experience, being more like a French gourmet restaurant using Italian dishes as an inspiration. We sampled several starters: an excellently prepared, high quality beef carpaccio began my meal, while my companion enormously enjoyed an artichoke salad which combined texture and taste to create a very light, fresh, unusual dish, quite unlike anything one usually finds on a High Street menu. A lovely pumpkin, goats’ cheese and thinly sliced bacon combination served on a thick pancake challenged us further, the pumpkin offsetting the sharpness of the cheese perfectly, and all held together by the distinct bacon taste. By this time we had started on the wine, a fresh white – Terlaner Classico – from South Tyrol, which was chosen from the middle-range of the list at around £30. It was robust enough to handle the carpaccio but not too aggressive to sip between courses. The wines on this list were certainly not the ones that you’re always bumping into, being sourced from various lesser known wine areas around Italy, but they had clearly been chosen with care, expressly to complement the menu The main courses arrived, and again the same attention to detail was evident in the choice of ingredients to create the whole. My risotto was a touch al dente, but provided an excellent counterpoint to the king prawns that rested upon it, and my companion’s lobster pasta was as delicious
as it was impossible to eat politely! The lobster was fresh, enjoying a skilfully composed drizzling of garlic and chilli; and, equally as importantly to my ill-educated palate, the portions were sized such that I was not still hungry when I had finished! Now, I don’t like puddings, but even I thought that the tiramisu was amazing. My companion does like puddings, and
MY RISOTTO WAS A TOUCH AL DENTE, BUT PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT COUNTERPOINT TO THE KING PRAWNS THAT RESTED UPON IT. hasn’t stopped talking about it since. It was an astonishing display of culinary showmanship, with the coffee taste not being overwhelming, but perfectly balancing the cream, which, itself, was delicate, light, and fragrant. In traditional Italian style we enjoyed a digestif of Limoncello, and sat back to consider our meal. We could see that there was a genuine desire to do something special in this establishment – a relaxed environment, a meal that complements itself completely from beginning to end, and a gentle quirkiness that seems entirely unforced. And they have succeeded. Centonove 109 Westbourne Park Road, London, W2 5QL 0207 221 1746 www.centonove.com
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URBAN LIFE COMPETITION
WIN A WEEKEND FOR TWO AT COMBE HOUSE IN THE HEART OF DEVON’S COUNTRYSIDE Combe House, Gittisham is a stunning Grade I Elizabethan manor house hidden on a huge Devon country estate near Exeter. A Michelin Rising Star and South West Tourism for Excellence Awards ‘Small Hotel of the Year 2007/8’, Combe is the perfect venue for a romantic weekend break. The hotel is approached by a meandering, mile long drive from the picture postcard village of Gittisham. Tucked away in the woods at the entrance is the beautifully restored Combe Thatch Cottage – a charming hideaway for two with its own private walled garden. Accommodation in the main house is in fifteen luxurious en-suite bedrooms and suites. Individually styled to reflect the charm of an old manor, many have stunning views down the valley and across the beautiful Devon countryside to Dartmoor and beyond. Around three hours drive from London; Combe is perfectly placed to explore the Jurassic World Heritage Coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Both the Roman city of Exeter, with its cathedral and shops, and the coastal resort of Sidmouth are about 20 minutes from the hotel. Combe House has teamed up with Urban Life to offer one lucky reader a two-night weekend break for two sharing a double/twin ensuite room. The prize includes a full West Country breakfast both mornings and a three-course dinner with canapés by candlelight in one of the two intimate dining rooms, where the fine cuisine is created by the hotel’s two resident Master Chefs of Great Britain. For details call Combe House on 01404 540400 or visit www.thishotel. com. Prices start from £170 B&B per room per night.
For your chance to win this fabulous weekend break, please fill in the entry form below and send it to: Competitions desk, Urban Life Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB URBAN LIFE COMPETITION ENTRY FORM Name Profession/Job Title: Address:
Town/City: Postcode: Contact telephone number: Email: Note: the closing date for the competition is November 28th 2008, with the draw taking place on December 4th 2008. The winner will be chosen at random. Editor’s decision final (full terms and conditions are available upon written request). The prize of two night stay must be taken before 8 February 2009 and excludes Bank Holiday weekends and the period between 15 December 2008 and 8 January 2009, subject to availability. It includes accommodation, breakfast both mornings and dinner on the one evening of choice. Travel, drinks, additional meals and extras are excluded and there is no cash alternative.
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Cartier Polo
CARTIER POLO Celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Cartier International Polo, this year’s event was possibly the most impressive to date. The weather was fantastic, with not a cloud in sight, which with it brought out the good and the glamorous. Once again the marquee was designed by Nicky Haslam, with lunch by Anton Mossimann. Guests tucked into Scottish Lobster with handdived Cornish Scallops and Roasted fillet of Welsh Lamb
with summer vegetables, all washed down with Champagne Cartier Cuvėe. Celebrity guests included Rosamund Pike, Natalie Imbruglia, Dita Von Teese, Jemma Kidd, Jensen Button, Emma Watson and Vanessa Mae, amongst others.
The after-parties were held at the Smyle Players Marquee and Chinawhite tent. The
Players Marquee had Guilty Pleasures on stage and Faithless headlining with a DJ set. Chinawhite packed the main tent with headliner Mark Ronson, assisted by Guy Preston on rotation and resident DJs Stanley and Rubber Ron keeping the crowd going in the Zen inspired outside area ‘til closing. Oh and did we mention England beat Australia 10-9
for the Coronation Cup? Presentation was made by HRH The Prince of Wales in the absence of Her Majesty the Queen. Next year sees Cartier’s Silver Jubilee event. If this year is anything to go by, it will be nothing short of spectacular, reaffirming its position as the highlight of the English social calendar. Feature by Sarah Walsh
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INTERVIEW/COVER STORY
CHINA WHITE TENT
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SMYLE PLAYERS MARQUEE
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URBAN FILM
FROM ROLLERCOASTER TO ROCKNROLLA Opening up the Autumn movie season in the UK is Guy Ritchie’s stylish new film, RocknRolla. Andre Gayle takes a look at the Director’s tumultuous ride so far and where it will take him in the future.
© Corbis
Y
ou have to admire the guy who takes on the system and wins, right? It’s an almost involuntary reaction, like sneezing. Everybody sides with the Erin Brockovichs of the story, not with the Goliaths. The problem is everything grows, everything evolves. What happens when the Davids eventually become the Goliaths? Do we still view them with the same affection? Should it make a difference? Guy Ritchie is on the threshold of becoming a Goliath. In the next two years he could very well be ‘the next big thing’. This September sees the release of RocknRolla, Ritchie’s prodigal like return to the Crime Caper territory that set his career alight ten years ago. If one were to throw caution to the wind, you would have to say RocknRolla looks very, very good, a true return to form. And so, we rejoice. Because Guy Ritchie
is an English Director and he’s one of the very few who makes English movies like the best of the Americans, as opposed to an English Director who just makes American movies. There were good reasons as to why he was hailed as the ‘English Tarantino’ a few years ago, even if he didn’t hold much affection for the comparison, and perhaps he’s about to truly realise that potential. He takes a lot of heat in the media for being a ‘mockney’ – a toff trying to be what he’s not – but the other side to the coin is that Ritchie also has style. He has great style. With only the one obviously ugly stepchild on his CV, all his films carry that signature and mark him out as the man that can create experiences that engage all the right senses and all the right sensibilities. Whether it’s the Saville Row tailored suits, the attention to location, the innovative cinematography or the super cool 1979 black Lincoln Continental that graced Revolver, Guy Ritchie sure knows how to dress a film up. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels set the tone. It’s hard to imagine another contemporary English Director of the time making such a hot property on, basically, buttons and string. Although he was pulled out of a financial abyss by Sting’s wife, Trudie Styler, he still had to withdraw money on his deck of credit cards on a daily basis to scrape together the £30,000
“RITCHIE COMES BACK SWINGING IN HIS COMFORT ZONE AGAIN. AND HE’S SWINGING HARD.” fee he promised to pay Vinnie Jones for his star-making role. But he finally made his movie, and with it, his career. Ritchie solidified his star status by following up with Snatch, starring Brad Pitt. Brad and Guy soon became good friends and the media attention soon became wild. Not content with just that, Ritchie followed up his classic one-two combination with the knockout punch and married legendary music icon Madonna. Admittedly, his style points took a serious beating during his ‘Lord and Lady of the Manor’ phase but at the turn of the millennium Guy Ritchie was on fire. Madonna had made him truly transatlantic and he became a staple of the international red carpets, arm in arm with one of the three biggest global music icons of the past 30 years. But then came that ugly stepchild, Swept Away, featuring his new bride in the lead romantic role. Here was a real life, honest-to-goodness, extinction-level event, happening right before our eyes. A
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© 2008 Warner Bros Studios
remake of a so-so 1974 movie that Ritchie and Madonna had somehow contrived to make far, far worse. The collective heart sank and people were in shock. Going from Snatch to Swept Away was one hell of a change of gear and nobody had braced themselves. To his credit, though, Swept Away would have drowned lesser men. Ritchie was still in there fighting and he was determined to do it his way. On his way back to the heights of RocknRolla, Ritchie drew in to the halfway house that was Revolver and, apparently, smoked way too much Colombian Blue. It was a maddeningly pretentious, pseudo-Kabbalah-ish,
“THE OTHER SIDE TO THE COIN IS THAT RITCHIE ALSO HAS STYLE. HE HAS GREAT STYLE.” gangster flick that was at the same time bold, inventive in parts and incredibly stylish in what it was trying to do. It was uniformly, and unfairly, torn to shreds by the critics showing that the establishment had just as much stomach for the fight and wouldn’t pass up another chance to get their shots in.
RocknRolla looks like the movie that could really crank up the Ritchie bandwagon once again, though. And it should. It’s the story of a dead Rock Star who isn’t dead, a valuable missing painting, dubious urban development land deals, East End gangsters and Russian mobsters. It has a fantastic, if just as eclectic, cast that includes Thandie Newton, Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Jeremy Piven and, ahem, US rapper Ludacris. So, Ritchie comes back swinging in his comfort zone again. And he’s swinging hard. The trailer that has just been released at the time of writing has all the hallmarks of a classic Guy Ritchie movie – the great characters, sharp dialogue, even sharper wit and high class, cinematic production values (a feature lacking in far too many British movies). If the finished movie matches the script then Ritchie should have a major transatlantic hit on his hands this autumn and all his current marriage and in-law woes should seem like a distant memory. We’ll politely leave aside the fact that RocknRolla reads a lot like Snatch (but with a painting instead of a diamond), grab hold of our panties and just enjoy the ride. RocknRolla isn’t what will put him over the top though. As good as it undoubtedly is, it was never going to be a summer blockbuster movie. However, Sherlock Holmes might just well be that movie.
© 2008 Warner Bros Studios
Ritchie has just signed on to write and direct the $100m, Warner Bros. Sherlock Holmes movie starring one of this year’s biggest, and coolest movie stars, Robert Downey ‘Iron Man’ Jnr., in the title role. Slated for release the summer of 2010 this will be an all-out action and visual effects ‘event’ movie. Not bad for a man who couldn’t give his first movie away. If we discount Swept Away, the aesthetic quality that is a common thread through all his movies that should make RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes the catalysts for turning him into the global overnight success that has been on the cards for the past ten long years. Is that the time when we’ll start to hate him for ‘selling out’ and becoming too successful? Let’s hope not. In the real world not all Goliaths are bad news. RocknRolla is on general release in the UK on September 5th. URBAN LIFE 63
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THE BIRTH OF COOL The most memorable movie characters are invariably the coolest but what makes cool ‘cool’ on the big screen? By Andre Gayle.
HEATH LEDGER THE JOKER
I
t’s just a fact. You cannot talk about ‘cool’ and not talk about legendary Jazz musician, Miles Davis. Shame on you for even trying. The decision to finally make a biopic about his life conjures up a feeling of excitement that’s hard to explain. The fact that Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Ocean’s 11) has been cast to play the king of Be-Bop is, simply, inspired. If it’s done well, Cheadle’s Miles Davis may even rise to the top of my list of coolest movie characters of all time. If it’s done really well. ‘Dying ain’t much of a living, boy’. With this one line Clint Eastwood crashes that list with the brooding title character from the classic western, The Outlaw Josey Wales. On realising he’s drinking in the same saloon as a dangerous wanted man, a bounty hunter glances over to Josey Wales and nervously considers his options. He decides to leave only to return moments later with his hand on his Peacemaker. ‘It’s a living’, he shrugs. Josey Wales just downs his whiskey and throws away that
immortal line. Come on, now! Probably the best line ever on screen. That’s the crux of the matter here. ‘Cool’ can sometimes be found in the unlikeliest of places on screen. What may work in one movie doesn’t necessarily work in another. Pierce Brosnan made it work as the millionaire priceless art thief in the cult remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. Pierce Brosnan as James Bond though? Classic character, great films, but cool? Not so much. Generally speaking, Brad Pitt is intrinsically cool so it isn’t surprising he absolutely nails it as the psychotic underground resistance leader, and purveyor of fine soaps, Tyler Durden in Fight Club. The spectacular alter ego creation of Ed Norton, he was all the things men wished they could be. We all wanted to be the man who could put the beautiful nymphette through the headboard at night, tell our housemate to ‘get rid of her’ in the morning and still have her chasing after you for more. Pulp Fiction’s Jules Winfield (Samuel
L Jackson) is another you would be foolish to overlook. The ridiculous Jehri curl afro, sharp black suit and badass attitude became truly iconic. Who among us still doesn’t know what Marcellus Wallace looks like? There are a few others who also deserve their place: Nobody will ever look as hip dying from tuberculosis as Val Kilmer playing Doc Holliday in Tombstone, Steve McQueen as the Cincinatti Kid will always and forever be ‘The Man’ and Harvey Keitel playing Winston Wolf, also from Pulp Fiction, often gets unfairly overlooked. None, though, will ever quite be able to match the king of them all, Ferris Bueller. Director John Hughes’ 80’s suburban high school comedy doesn’t immediately tug on your Prada coat tails screaming ‘cool, daddy-o’. But Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is actually quite dark and subversive under its surface. In the hands of another Director Ferris would have been a figure of hate. He’s selfish, manipulative and arrogant. He always
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“THE JOKER - A PERFORMANCE SO GROTESQUE THAT IT ALMOST TIPS THE SCALES BACK ONTO BEAUTIFUL AGAIN IS A VERY, VERY COOL THING”
scams the system and he always gets away with it. But he does it with panache and with class. We admire him so much because everything he does is just his effort to get us to live life before ‘it passes us by’. Even though literally every single thing he does in the movie he knows is, technically, not the right thing to do he is still the hero by the end. Unfortunately
“TYLER DURDEN THE SPECTACULAR ALTER EGO CREATION OF ED NORTON, HE WAS ALL THE THINGS MEN WISHED THEY COULD BE.”
for Matthew Broderick, it’s hard to look at him now and see the paunchy, middle aged Geography teacher he’s become because we might have to finally face the fact that Santa really doesn’t exist. There are a lot of factors to it, not least of which is the nostalgia, but unlikely as it may seem, the teenage, Chino wearing, 80’s high school kid from the Chicago suburbs really is the coolest movie character of them all, so far. Daniel Craig’s second outing as James Bond, coming this October, looks set to solidify his takeover as the coolest 007 from Sean Connery while Heath Ledger’s The Joker, from the recently released The Dark Knight, may just well be the greatest screen villain in cinema history. A performance so grotesque that it almost tips the scales back onto beautiful again is a very, very cool thing. So the challengers mount up and Ferris continues to hang on to the top. It would take something very special to topple him. Bring on Miles Davis.
© Movie Store Collection.
© 2008 Warner Bros Studios
JULES WINFIELD SAMUEL L. JACKSON
TYLER DURDEN BRAD PITT
FERRIS BUELLER MATTHEW BRODERICK
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URBAN SCENT
Jean Paul Gaultier LE MALE As instantly recognisable and iconic as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower, LE MALE is the latest gladiatorial torso filled with captivating warmth. This bewitching African-esque addition owes its cocktail of heat, energy and strength to an enrichment of mint, ginseng and ginger water, embodying the masculine form.
125ml from £32
Anchorman’s Sex Panther, the striking fragrance that famously ‘60 per cent of the time works every time,’ faces competition from this season’s sumptuous scents that prove 40 per cent more successful. Feature by Nick Dines
Vera Wang Flower Princess Flower Princess is modern femininity encompassed in a bottle. A Fun-loving, youthful and enchanting scent thanks to a combination of tangerine, orange flower petals, Moroccan rose, jasmine, apricot and precious woods. All hail the blossoming flower princess Vera Wang, the Hayden Panettiere of perfumes.
100ml from £40
Marc Jacobs Splash Make a plunge for Marc Jacobs irresistible Splash Sorbet collection. One of the world’s most popular MJ’s has concocted a fusion of fresh summer scents available in delicious ripe pear, aromatic basil and a zesty sun-ripened grapefruit fragrance.
100ml from £39
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Urban Life_family safety_10th September 08.pdf 05/09/2008 19:13:06
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