The monstrous, pathetic Norma Desmond, the washed-up silent film star at the heart of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, is a huge and complex role; It takes an actor with great charisma and gravitas to pull this off. Patti LuPone first played Norma in the West End, and Glenn Close also had phenomenal success on… Read More »
The striking collection of photographic art presented in the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Expanding the Lens exhibition is a revision of the long tradition of landscape photography in the United States. It can be a very direct revision, like AK Burns’s reinvention of landscape photographs literally ripped out of photography books, or it can be… Read More »
As I wandered through the lush gardens of Le Manoir, I spotted a familiar figure passing among guests enjoying an elegant afternoon tea. Chef Patron Raymond Blanc greeted everyone warmly and asked the question: “What can we do better?” While it’s not the obvious question from a lauded industry veteran, it’s refreshingly free of overstatement… Read More »
As well as its mainstream fame as a hedonist haunt, Ibiza (or ‘The White Isle’) is also well known for its bohemian roots and restorative holidays. So, from working farmhouses harvesting vegetables and herbs for your dinner to custom, cozy pillows and ultra-photogenic spa gems once graced by legends like Grace Jones and Bon Jovi,… Read More »
Barcelona has seven kilometers of impressive beaches, all more than enough for a morning splash, but for a less urban setting and more towel space, there are dozens of easily accessible alternatives just north and south of the city. Train lines hug the beaches in both directions, but you’ll need a car if you want… Read More »
One hundred and twenty businessmen have confirmed they will support Labor in the general election. As well as offering support to Labor in the letter, business leaders also fault the Conservatives for their poor management of the economy, claiming the economy is “beset by instability, stagnation and a lack of long-term focus”. The letter says:… Read More »
As a visitor to the Lake District, you’d be forgiven for imagining that the area’s attractions include daffodils, Grasmere gingerbread, Herdy (the bleating, autumnside variety). And brand), mountain watercolors and lake steamboats. These associations have become so fixed with the region that it has now become a victim of its own commercial image. Millions of… Read More »
Albion, Isle of Wight The Albion hotel, which can claim to have some of the best sea views on the island, has been welcoming guests to Freshwater Bay since Victorian times. It’s about to reopen under new ownership after a multi-million pound refurbishment. The new-look Albion will have 40 rooms, 36 of which face the… Read More »
Everyone has a good holiday disaster story, right? Even seasoned travel journalists. Ours was a twist on the classic passport fiasco, where we ended up having to spend a two-week trip to sunny Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera sitting on a composting toilet in Wales. Interactive Like all good stories told between friends, this… Read More »