What’s On
It’s now or never for hot events around the network…
BY GINNY CUMMING
Mo-bros
Attention all you Tom Selleck and Ian Botham wannabes: the month formerly known as November is now Movember, a ’tache-tastic charity event raising money and awareness for men’s health. Sign up, start the month sans facial hair and then spend the next 30 days growing and grooming your moustache. Hirsute hilarity will ensue!
Go nuts
On the last three Sundays in October, celebrate les Fêtes de la Châtaignes (the Chestnut Festivals) in Collobrières, about 90 minutes from Nice. The streets will be lined with local producers selling chestnuts in every form imaginable.
www.collobrieres-tourisme.com
Speaking of chestnuts…
If you’re bonkers about conkers, head to The Cloth Ear bar in Belfast’s Merchant Hotel for Northern Ireland’s third annual Conker Competition, from 3pm on Sunday 11
October (conkers provided). www..themerchanthotel.com
BARCELONA
Hot hotel
Located on the famed La Barceloneta boardwalk, the über-glam W HOTEL BARCELONA, which opens on 1 October, features 473 bedrooms, an infinity-edge pool and a stylish rooftop destination bar, Eclipse, with breathtaking views of the city. And then there’s their “whatever/whenever” philosophy, which pampers guests with “whatever you want, whenever you want it” – sounds good to us! www.w-barcelona.com
Chain reaction
Ever lined up a load of dominoes and then had the satisfaction of watching them all topple over in a, um, domino effect? A team of Dutch domino experts is taking this to an entirely different level for WORLD DOMINO DAY. They’ve spent months setting up a display that combines inventive, artistic designs, steady hands… and more than four million dominoes in their attempt to break last year’s record of 4,345,027 dominoes. If you’re in Amsterdam on 13 November, be sure to switch on the telly to channel SBS6 at 7.25pm to watch. www.dominoday.nl
NOTE BOOK events
Welsh txts – LOL!
Heading to Cardiff soon and keen to speak the local lingo – or at least text it? In honour of the UK’s first Welsh language predictive-text messaging phone (courtesy of Samsung and Orange), we bring you the top 10 most popular text abbreviations – and their Welsh translations!
1 LoL (Laugh out Loud) = CYU (Chwerthin yn uchel)
2 BrB (Be right Back) = YOYYM (Yn ôl yn y man)
3 M8 (Mate) = (’mêt’)
4 WTF (what the ****?) = BD (Be ddiawl?)
5 OMG (Oh My God) = OFN (O fy nuw)
6 LMAO (Laugh My Ass Off) = CFHYN (Chwerthin fy hun yn wirion)
7 TVM (Thanks Very Much) = DYFI (Diolch yn fawr iawn)
8 TMI (Too Much Information) = GOW (Gormod o wybodaeth)
9 BFF (Best Friends for Ever) = FGAB (Ffrindiau gorau am byth)
10 BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer) = TACDH (Tyrd â chwrw dy hun)
(INFO PROVIDED BY WWW.RIGHTMOBILEPHONE.CO.UK, THE UK’S BIGGEST MOBILE PHONE COMPARISON SITE.)
Don’ miss…
Robbie Williams’ new album, Reality Killed the Video Star, which is released on 9 November – surely a tour must follow soon?! Keep on the lookout for dates.
we love
Cool websites
www.BragItUp.com is a great new fashion website, set up by a company in Perpignan, which lists the top 10 fashion finds available on the web every week. To make the cut, items have to be at least 40% off the usual price, so expect deals like Jimmy Choo slingbacks that were recently listed at £142 (€162) – down from £475 (€543). Yep, that’s a saving of 70%! Thursday is “fresh deals” day: sign up to receive their free weekly email which shows the bargain prices as soon as they go live on the site. We love it – someone else does all the hard work while you bag some cheap couture!
Anyone who’s ever logged on to http:// failblog.org will recognise it as one of the most brilliant sites on the web. Cock-ups is probably the best word to describe the hilarious collection of photos and videos that’s updated with alarming frequency. From 7 October you’ll be able to buy a book featuring some of the best images from the site. Fail Nation is available from the website – a classic gift for anyone with a love of schadenfreude and general stupidity!
Did you know?
From 1 November, all of the diaries and writings of Anne Frank will be on permanent display in a newly designed exhibition hall in the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. For thefirst time, you can see the original versions of Anne Frank’s complete works, and – importantly – view them in the house where they were actually written. www.annefrank.org
Corking good time
This is a great time to visit Cork, with THE GUINNESS CORK JAZZ FESTIVAL (www.corkjazzfestival.com) running from 23-26 October, with 28 different stages home to more than 120 acts, including Yolanda Brown (above) and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Meanwhile, the CORONA CORK FILM FESTIVAL (www.cork.#64257; lmfest.org) runs from 1-8 November, featuring shorts, documentaries and independent cinema.
Sexy Scots
Who’s the sexiest Scotsman? A survey by homecomingscotland2009.com lodged more than a million votes and the answer is: James McAvoy, with David Tennant second, followed by Ewan McGregor (right) and Gerard Butler!
Stop Press!
It’s exciting times here at bmibaby! Thanks to massive expansion, we now have eight fantastic new European routes from East Midlands Airport. All flights are on sale now – so let us whet your appetite…
Alghero (SARDINIA)
The exquisite island of Sardinia, located off southern Italy, is rife with stunning beaches, blue waters and picturesque towns.
TRAVEL FROM: 29 May to 25 September 2010 PRICE: From £39.99*
Barcelona
The exquisite island of Sardinia, located off southern Italy, is rife with stunning beaches, blue waters and picturesque towns.
TRAVEL FROM: 29 May to 25 September 2010 PRICE: From £39.99*
The second-largest city in Spain is cosmopolitan and exciting, packed with museums and tapas bars and, of course, the architectural wonders of Gaudí.
TRAVEL FROM: 28 March to 30 October 2010. PRICE: From £39.99*
Bastia (CORSICA)
One of the most beautiful places in the world, Corsica boasts 965km of unspoilt coastline.
Explore it from the second-largest town on the island.
TRAVEL FROM: 30 May to 26 September 2010. PRICE: From £39.99*
Cork
For a warm Irish welcome and a good dose of “craic”, head to Cork – surrounded by rolling green countryside, you can even kiss the Blarney Stone!
TRAVEL FROM: 18 December 2009 to 30 October 2010 PRICE: From £9.99*
Dubrovnik (CROATIA)
The stunning Old Town of Dubrovnik became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 – you’ll understand why when you see it! Simply magical.
TRAVEL FROM: 30 May to 26 September 2010 PRICE: From £39.99*
Newquay
If you love beautiful beaches, intense surfing, picture-perfect scenery, great food and fun times, head to the unofficial capital of surfing in the UK.
TRAVEL FROM: 28 May to 12 September 2010 PRICE: From £18.99*
Venice
Ah, Venice! It’s so familiar from art,films and books, but you simply must experience this exquisite, romantic city on the water for yourself. TRAVEL FROM: 12 February to 30 October 2010. Price: From £24.99*
*All prices one-way, including taxes and charges
Malta
This small island country, south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, boasts postcard-worthy beaches and one of the best climates in Europe. Good things come in small packages! TRAVEL FROM: 29 May to 30 October 2010. PRICE: From £49.99*
it’s exciting times here at bmibaby! Thanks to massive expansion, we now have eight fantastic new European routes from East Midlands Airport. All flights are on sale now – so let us whet your appetite…
GETTING THERE
For more information, flight times and fares – and, most importantly, to book! – log on to www.bmibaby.com
Plus…
You can now fly to Palma from EMA in the winter – and we’ve added a year-round service to Geneva!
More new routes are planned from other bmibaby hubs, so keep checking on www.bmibaby.com for updates.
The top 10… Chill busters
The mercury may be set to plummet, but that doesn’t mean that we’re prepared to take the cold lying down. Step away from the puffa jacket!! We promise: there are more enjoyable – and certainly more stylish – ways to beat the chill
BY SARAH MILLER
1 MANCHESTER
Life is sweat
Get a sweat on with a Bikram yoga session, 90 minutes of “hot yoga” poses in a room heated to a gasp-inducing, tongue hanging out of your mouth 40°C. Don’t be alarmed though – Bikram is suitable for all ages and levels, and the postures are performed in a specific order, each preparing you for the next. First-timers need to arrive at least 15 minutes before the class begins and drop-in sessions cost £10 (€11.40). See website for class times and other details.
Essential info: Bikram’s Yoga College of India, Smithfield Building, 51 Church Street; tel: +44 (0)161 834 7789; www.bikramyogamanchester.co.uk
2 CORK
Leg up
Forget whatever terrifying images the name Michael Flatley conjures up and get on down to Clancy’s Bar, a landmark pub in Cork since 1824. From 9.30pm on Mondays, you can enjoy traditional Irish music and dancing and, while there aren’t formal lessons, you’ll be shown the steps and participation is actively encouraged. The night will only set you back the price of a whisky and, even if you don’t need one to take the chill off your bones, whose dance moves aren’t improved by a cheeky snort?
Essential info: 15-16 Princes Street; tel: +353 (0)21 427 6097, www.clancys-bar.com
3 PRAGUE
Heart burn
There’s no better time of year to raise your heart rate in the great outdoors than when the heat of summer has dissipated but the icy chill of winter hasn’t yet taken hold. Get your adrenaline well and truly pumping by climbing the impressive sandstone formations of Ceský Ráj, located about an hour’s drive northeast of Prague or, for the less sure-footed, there are a number of well-marked hiking and cycling trails to explore.
Essential info: To get to Ceský Ráj by train, go from Prague’s main train station (Praha Hlavní Nádraží) to Turnov; www.cesky-raj.info
4 EDINBURGH
Cardi cosy
No A/W style report is ever complete without some mention of cashmere, and it’s by no means too early in the season to swathe yourself in it. There’s luxe cashmere to be had throughout Scotland, but discerning warmth-seekers should make a beeline for Belinda Robertson, dubbed the Queen of Cashmere. Her products use only the finest Mongolian cashmere, which is then spun and dyed in Scotland, attracting celeb clients ranging from Oprah to Madonna.
Essential info: 13a Dundas Street; tel: +44 (0)131 557 8118; www.belindarobertson.com
5 GENEVA
Hot choc
There’s no better way to ward off the chill than to add a few pounds to that beach-ready frame you were working so hard to achieve just a few months ago. Fortunately, Switzerland is practically synonymous with chocolate, so get thee to Gilles Desplanches and warm up with any of their sinfully rich chocolates chauds (hot chocolates) from their Chocolate Bar. Don’t fret if your pursuit of padding gets out of hand – you can always burn it off once ski season starts!
Essential info: 2 rue de la Confédération; tel: +41 22 810 3028; www.gillesdesplanches.com
6 FARO
Fire-water
We know that traditional wisdom dictates escaping to the mountains to beat the heat, but we’re proposing the opposite. Monchique, about an hour’s drive from Faro, has everything you need to get your glow on: hot springs (head to the Monchique Spa Resort); crafts, like sheepskin-lined leather slippers for toasty tootsies; and medronho, the local fire-water; while the restaurants en route to nearby Foia serve fiery barbecued piri-piri chicken.
Essential info: Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique Spa Resort; tel: +351 2 82 910910, www.monchiquetermas.com
7 AMSTERDAM
Red hot
Think the only way to turn up the heat in Amsterdam is to head to the red light district? Au contraire! Ease yourself into a flotation tank at Koan Float and the densely salt-packed water, heated to a decidedly non-autumnal 35.5°C, will melt away your cares and all without anyone – ahem – laying a hand on you. If you’re after a more tactile experience, however, try one of the massages on offer.
Essential info: 321 Herengracht; tel: +31 20 555 0333, www.koanfloat.nl
8 PERPIGNAN
Thermal
Lose the extra sweater and strip off to get warm (don’t go overboard – swimsuits are obligatoire). Located within an hour’s drive of Perpignan are the open-air thermal springs of Bain de St Thomas. There’s a stone amphitheatre around a series of pools, a fairly new spa and hammam. The water bubbles up from the ground at a skin-flaying 58°C, but is cooled to a bone-meltingly comfortable 34-38°C before you come into contact.
Essential info: Régie Municipale des Bains de Saint Thomas, Fontpedrouse; tel: +33 (0)4 6897 0313, www.bains-saint-thomas.fr
9 PARIS
Warm up
Ooh, lovely, what could be better than a nice cup of tea on a chilly day? Forget your builder’s brew: Mariage Frères is a Parisian institution with a selection of more than 600 teas, served with all traces of leaf removed. Mariage specialises in mélange (blending) and introduces around 10 new teas each year: we rather like the sound of Thé des Poètes Solitaires (tea of solitary poets), best taken with a moody expression and a battered copy of Baudelaire.
Essential info: Various addresses in Paris – for more information, go to www.mariagefreres.com
10 LISBON
Toddies
What’s not to love about cocktails? Refreshing and cooling in summer, they’re equally adept at warming the blood once autumn and, inevitably, winter, take hold. Quaff yours in style at Cinco, one of the chicest bars in Lisbon, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and suitably gorgeous staff. There are over 100 cocktails on the menu to choose from, with recipes from every era since the 1800s, but at this time of year, can you really go past the pumpkin martini?
Essential info: 17A Rua Ruben A Leitão, Príncipe Real; tel: +351 2 1342 4033, www.cincolounge.com
No smal feat
Dedicated to the humble trainer, Sneakers Delight is a tiny temple of cool in Lisbon
The next time you’re in Lisbon, make tracks to Sneakers Delight (30 Rua do Norte, Bairro Alto; tel: +351 213 479 976), surely the coolest shoe emporium ever! Yes, it’s got a fab range of sneakers, but it’s the walls they’re lined up against that are the real talking point. The previous owner, Igor Ferreira, used to decorate the shop every year, based on a combination of stock and sheer personal whim. The current incarnation (his last before selling the shop) is inspired: Ferreira commissioned French illustrator Skwak to decorate the walls in an intricate black and white design – and then invited shoppers and visitors, armed with marker pens, to “colour them in”! The eye-catching result makes Sneakers Delight seem more of an avant-garde exhibition space rather than just a shop. Add in DJs who spin tunes on the weekend, and the distinction is blurred even further. This tiny (40m²) shop is featured in a new book called, appropriately, Very Small Shops, by John Stones (below; published by Laurence King Publishing, £22.50, hardback). Featuring other great – tiny – shopping destinations around the world, including more in bmibaby destinations, it proves that good things do come in small packages!
My town by Rio Ferdinand
Take a look at Manchester through the eyes of its beloved adopted son and Red Devil defender
INTERVIEW: ADRIAN CLARKE, SPORT MEDIA SOLUTIONS
Since joining Manchester United in a record-breaking £30-million deal just over seven years ago, London-born England international Rio Ferdinand has made the city of Manchester his home. Now one of the most decorated footballers of his generation, with four Premier League titles, two League Cups and a Champion’s League winner’s medal to his name, Ferdinand is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders on the planet.
Rio took yeahbaby around Manchester and was more than happy to reveal his favourite places and secret travel tips…
The Lowry and The Radisson Edwardian
“I can’t split The Lowry or the Radisson Edwardian – they are easily the two best hotels in town. I’ve stayed at both and I often hold meetings at either venue too. What makes these places so special is the hospitality of the staff. They are second to none and nothing is too much for them. With great rooms, excellent comfort and lovely people working there you can’t go wrong.” The Lowry, 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, www.thelowryhotel.com;
The Radisson Edwardian, Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, www.radissonedwardian.com
The Old Grapes
“This is a traditional ‘old skool’ pub with no frills and sticky tables, but I love it because it reminds me of my roots in south London. Every time United win the Premier League we all go along to sing karaoke, which I guess means we’re regulars! I’ve had some great sing-songs in the Old Grapes and enjoyed some brilliant times there. It’s a proper English boozer.”
The Old Grapes, Little Quay Street, tel: +44 (0)8721 077077.
Tatton Park
“This is a wonderful place to hang out, especially if you have children. I often take my kids to this park with their bikes in the car boot and they love riding around the trails. Tatton Park also has a farm, so if you’d like to see some pigs, cows, goats and sheep up-close and personal, this is the place for you! If I have a day off and the sun is shining, this is a place my family and I enjoy visiting.”
Knutsford, Cheshire, www.tattonpark.org.uk
Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre
“There is loads to do at Parrs Wood and the cinema is my favourite. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve popped into Nando’s before sweeping into the cinema with a nice pick ’n’ mix, ice cream and water! Parking’s easy, the seats are bucket-style with adjustable seat rests and it’s generally smart. If you like a bit of bingo then they even have that on offer afterwards if you fancy it!”
Wilmslow Road, www.parrswoodmanchester.co.uk
The Wizard of Edge
“Nowhere in the Manchester area serves as good a Sunday roast as the Wizard pub restaurant. Diners come from far and wide, so booking is essential. I’ve been turned away before! As well as the food being lovely, there’s a beautiful park next door where you can walk off dinner on one of the many footpaths. It’s a perfect place to spend a Sunday.”
Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley; tel: +44 (0)1625 584000.
Dougie’s
"This is a wicked Caribbean takeaway, so if you enjoy that kind of food as much as I do, and don’t want to cook yourself, you won’t want to miss out on ordering one of Dougie’s specials. It’s well-priced and there are a lot of dishes to choose from. "My personal favourites are his curried goat and rice, or fried chicken, rice and gravy.
They are very, very tasty." 9 Moss Lane West, tel: +44 (0)161 226 9500.
MAN OF THE MAG
Rio Ferdinand has created the world’s first digital lifestyle magazine, #5. Free and available to download from his personal website, this innovative new project is growing fast with over half a million readers checking out the first two issues. Issue three is out in October.
We asked Rio to explain more…
“#5 is going very well! It was fantastic to interview A-listers such as 50 Cent, Usain Bolt and Roger Federer myself, and we’ve got some amazing names lined up for future issues too. I love the fact that it’s free and online.
“This project is also the perfect release for me from the pressures of football, and when I’m travelling or staying in hotels I’m always thinking about new ideas for it.
“Being hands-on is great fun and I’d like to think that my enthusiasm is reflected in the magazine. It’s easy to use and has some wicked video content, which I believe sets it apart.”
To read Rio’s #5 magazine visit www.rioferdinand.com
