The hottest things to do when it’s cold outside…
BY GINNY CUMMING & JOHN SANNAEE
THE BIG CHILL
MANCHESTER
With the winter Olympics fast approaching, there’s never been a better time to participate in snow sports. But if you can’t wait to hit the slopes in Europe (or you’re a complete junkie and need a fix every day), there’s a brilliant solution close to home: CHILL FACTORE in Manchester. This cool (in every sense of the word) venue boasts the UK’s longest indoor real-snow slope, so you get year-round perfect skiing and snowboard conditions, even if it’s bucketing down or a heat wave outside. Other fun snow activities like tubing and luging are on offer, while a challenging climbing wall and fun snowplay area for kids ensure everyone’s spoiled for choice. World-class instructors await anyone wanting to refine their skills, while restaurants overlooking the snow slopes let you have a taste of the après-ski lifestyle. www.chillfactore.com
UP, UP AND AWAY!
GENEVA
The skies above the popular ski resort of Crans Montana (less than two hours from Geneva) will be dotted with beautiful hot-air balloons from 16-18 January. It’s a serious challenge for some of the world’s best balloonists and a magical sight for spectators. Don’t miss the chance to see the balloons in a completely different “light” one evening: they’ll be “all fired up” in time to music, providing a truly unique light show. www.crans-montana.ch
Christmas fun
FUN RUN
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh always brings out the big guns at Christmas, with markets, a huge outdoor ice rink, funfair rides and the iconic Big Wheel all lighting up this historic city in the lead-up to 25 December. One of the highlights is undoubtedly the GREAT SCOTTISH SANTA RUN on 13 December at 11am, when scores of people help raise money for charity by legging it through West Princes Street Gardens in a fun, 1.5km dash – all dressed up as the big guy! www.edinburghschristmas.com
FREE FESTIVITIES
JERSEY
Need a break from shopping for stocking stuffers? Give your vocal chords a workout (instead of your credit cards) at a mega-session of CHRISTMAS CAROLS (St Helier’s Royal Square, 18 December, www.jersey.com). It’s free, and song sheets are provided, so you can belt out every verse of The Twelve Days of Christmas! Or you can wallow in some classic Christmas movies at the MIDWINTER MOVIE MEDLEY (Jersey Arts Centre, 19-20 December, www.thisisjersey.co.uk/jac). Miracle on 34th Street, The Polar Express and everyone’s favourite, It’s a Wonderful Life, are some of the family faves screening this year – again, all for free!
And if you’ve made it all the way to Edinburgh, take the time to journey up to the picturesque Cairngorms (a couple of hours out of town), where Britain’s only reindeer herd will really help you get into the festive spirit! On Christmas Eve, pulling Santa’s sleigh, they visit each of the local villages, where torchlit processions, carols and mulled wine all add to the festive cheer. www.reindeer-company. demon.co.uk
GREAT GIGS
CORK
Had enough of all that Christmas-themed schmaltz? Fear not: a couple of upcoming festivals provide the perfect antithesis to all that sweet sentimentality. The WINTERFEST heavy metal music festival (18-19 December, www.corkwinterfest.com) takes over An Crúiscín Lán, one of the longest-running live music venues in Cork, with a line-up of Irish and international acts that only the most devoted headbangers will know. Meanwhile, if you’re into Mohawks rather than Metallica, the three-day PUNK ON EARTH FESTIVAL, at Birmingham’s Swinging Sporran (22-24 January, http://ironmanrecords.net), offers anarchy in the UK!
Speaking of big hair and Mohawks, check out our favourite website for this issue – http:// dontjudgemyhair.com – for some serious hirsute hilarity!
MENTAL RENTALS
ROUND THE NETWORK
If Carrie Bradshaw was an entrepreneur rather than a writer, this is the sort of genius website she would have come up with: www.girlmeetsdress.com.
It’s the most genius fashion concept since Coco Chanel invented the little black dress: an online boutique where you can borrow the latest designer dress, wear it once to that fabulous New Year’s party/wedding/date… and then send it back! With 160+ styles from 50+ top designers, including Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Halston and Chloé, it’s “the answer to your prayers,” according to Vogue – and who are we to argue with the fashion bible? Prices start from just £24 for two nights, and there’s even a “try-on” service at no extra cost.
Pre-paid return packaging is supplied for when the time comes to send your coveted couture back, and they even organise the dry cleaning! It’s a brilliant, affordable way to keep bang-on-trend without breaking the bank… and they’ve also just launched bags – where do we sign up?
ALL HAIL ALE!
ANCHESTER
Beer lovers, rejoice! The NATIONAL WINTER ALES FESTIVAL, held by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ales) takes place in Manchester from 20-23 January. More than 200 beers will be on offer (although we’d probably suggest you don’t try them all!), along with entertainment and lots of other beer-related activities. Cheers! www.camra.org.uk
More for frugal fashionistas: Paris’s famous winter sales start on 6 January, with more than 1,000 shops, boutiques and grands magasins offering discounts as high as 70%. Start planning now! www.shoppingbyparis.com
GETTING THERE
For more information, flight times and fares – and, most importantly, to book! – log on to www.bmibaby.com
5 WORST CHRISTMAS CRACKER JOKES EVER
Q. Why was Santa’s little helper feeling depressed? A. He had low elf-esteem.
Q. What kind of paper likes music? A. (W)rapping paper.
Q. Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A. A mince spy.
Q. What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? A. Tinsilitis!
Q. What is Santa’s favourite pizza? A. One that’s deep pan, crisp and even.
(Ed’s note: if you don’t get the last one, sing Good King Wenceslas and you soon will!)
The 5 Coolest things to do this Winter
Rug up and head outside with the ultimate list of things to do when the mercury is low
BY JOHN SANNAEE
1 TIGNES
ICE DIVING
With a glacier promising guaranteed snow throughout the season, Tignes (just over 200km from Geneva) has long been one of the most popular ski resorts in the French Alps. But tear yourself away from the crowded pistes and a different, truly amazing experience awaits: diving under ice in the other-worldly waters of the frozen Alpine lakes. A swim through this hidden world is simply magical. In fact, the lakes are so beautiful that Luc Besson filmed the ice-diving scenes in classic film The Big Blue here, rather than in the Andes. No experience is needed – and extra-thick wetsuits are included in the price! Tignes Ice Diving School, www.tignesplongee.com
2 LES CABANNES, PYRENÉES
HUSKY-DRAWN SLEIGH RIDES
You don’t have to be in Narnia, or even Lapland, to indulge in a magical Christmas fantasy: head to the beautiful French Pyrenées (114km from Toulouse) for a romantic sleigh ride. Marvel at the peaks as you sit back and let the snow-covered scenery unfold around you, pulled by man’s best wintertime friend, the lovable husky. A range of itineraries is on offer, lasting from 10 minutes to half a day, as well as weekend escapes. www.angaka.com
3 PRAGUE
GET YOUR SKATES ON
While many cities offer outdoor ice-skating rinks during the cooler months, few can rival the magical backdrop of Prague’s hundred spires and fairy-tale architecture dusted in snow. And if you long for something a bit more scenic, then just a half-hour bus ride from the city centre is the beautiful scenery of Divoka Šárka, home to the Džbán reservoir that offers excellent skating when the ice is thick: but check the conditions before you head out there. www.praha.eu
4 AMSTERDAM
ENJOY AN ICE-COLD BEER
Not every chilled experience this winter has to involve the outdoors. If the thought of icy mountaintops and frigid coasts is just too much, you can have a more metropolitan ice experience in the heart of one of Europe’s great cities, Amsterdam. As part of the entry fee, the Xtracold Ice Bar provides visitors with thermals to help enjoy this -8˚C establishment, as well as two drinks, served in glasses that – like everything else in the Ice Bar – are sculpted from ice. 194-196 Amstel, www.xtracold.com
5 EDINBURGH
A NEW YEAR’S DIP
One of the craziest winter traditions is the appropriately named “Loony Dook” dip in the waters at South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh. Every New Year’s Day, hundreds of hardy souls, often in fancy dress, plunge into the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth. The aim is to raise money for charity and whether you see it as noble, foolhardy, or a bit of both, there’s no denying it’s quite a spectacle! www.theloonydook.co.uk
THE TOP TEN… NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
The words “cold turkey” take on a different meaning in the New Year, but fear not: combine your resolution with a holiday and you can have fun while you self-improve!
BY MATT HILL
1 BIRMINGHAM
GO ON A DIET
Did you know January is named after Janus, god of dieting, who wore a crown of celery and carried weighing scales? Not really, but you could be forgiven for believing it, given how people go calorie-counting crazy at this time of year. Hurrah then, for Lasan, voted one of the UK’s healthiest restaurants in 2009. They don’t use the saturated fats found in most Indian food so you can enjoy a guilt-free curry. www.lasangroup.com
2 PARIS
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
How many times have you made this resolution, only to find another year has gone by and you can still only ask for a beer in French/Spanish/whatever? Even if you try, it sometimes feels like everything you’re taught goes in one ear and out the other. The solution? Move in with your teacher! On a GoLearnTo immersion course you get to actually live with your host tutor in Paris for a week. www.golearnto.com
3 GENEVA
VOLUNTEER
You want to do good, of course you do, but time is short. What about combining good works with a holiday? If you live with a French (or Spanish) family and teach them English, you’ll feel good about yourself and it’ll look great on your CV. A Conversation Corps placement (locations across France and Spain) includes room and board and you can meet your host family first to make sure they’re parfait for you! www.geovisions.org
4 FARO
HEAL THE WORLD
Scientists reckon the carbon footprint of everyone cooking Christmas dinner is the equivalent of 6,000 car journeys around the world. There are lots of ways to make up for this, starting with an eco-trip. For a rewarding working holiday, why not turn recycled rubbish into an eco-camp just north of Faro (www.. workaway.info) or help increase biodiversity among Bordeaux’s famous vineyards and farms (www.earthwatch.org)?
5 PRAGUE
GET MORE CULTURE
Wearing paper hats and snoozing during the Queen’s speech might be a Christmas tradition in the UK, but it’s hardly sophisticated. Refine your mind in 2010 with some culture in Prague. There are numerous galleries, theatres and museums, and a trip to the Prague State Opera is a must. See Madame Butterfly in January and impress your friends by pointing out Puccini’s use of atmosphere and poetry. www.opera.cz
6 MANCHESTER
STICK TO A BUDGET
The recession is (hopefully) almost over, but after spending big on prezzies, getting money-wise is still worthwhile. Manchester offers free attractions, including the Imperial War Museum North (www.north.iwm.org.uk) and the Manchester Art Gallery (www.manchestergalleries.org). The city is also renowned for its bustling, bargain-filled markets (www.manchester.gov.uk/markets).
7 EDINBURGH
GIVE UP THE FAGS
Got the patches/electronic cigs/hypnotism course sorted, but can’t face going completely smoke-free? Join Edinburgh’s Torchlight Procession on 29 December (www.hogmanay.net) and hopefully, the only things lighting up will be thousands of flaming torches and a Viking longboat, set on fire at evening’s end. Keep it up till the city’s Beltane Fire Festival (www.beltane.org) in April and you’ll have extinguished the nasty habit for good!
8 MALAGA
GET FIT
Jogging is a great way to get in shape, but wouldn’t you prefer to stretch your legs in the sunnier climes of Spain, away from the chilly streets and the stifled chuckles of your curtain-twitching neighbours? Based in Antequera, near Malaga, Rio Frio Holidays (www.rio-frio.com) offers fitness holidays of almost any length, with tailored exercise programmes and no fad diets. And a cash-back guarantee, so this resolution just might stick!
8 BELFAST
FIND LOVE
If the closest you’ll get to romance this Christmas is a peck on the cheek under the mistletoe with your (not so) great uncle, don’t despair. Ensure love is in the air this New Year by trying out the reassuringly titled It’s Just Lunch dating service, which offers a laid-back way to meet your match in Belfast and Cork. These “experts” do all the work, including making the reservation for your lunch à deux. All you have to do is turn up! www.itsjustlunchdublin.com
10 JERSEY
RESOLUTION REVOLUTION
Fed up with giving up? Then forget resolutions and start 2010 with a bit (more!) self-indulgence. Eat chic at Jersey’s Michelin-starred Bohemia restaurant (www.bohemiajersey.com); rub shoulders with Palma’s elite at the Puro Beach bar (www.purohotel.com) where you’ll find sun, drinks and half-naked people; or let the guilt melt away completely at Birmingham’s Cadbury World (www.cadburyworld.co.uk).
GETTING THERE
Resolve to get the best prices on flights to these and all the bmibaby destinations. For more information, log on to www.bmibaby.com
City by the Ski
Fancy ski-chic shopping or après-ski by the sea? Head to Geneva and Malaga for two very different ski experiences
BY ANYA POPE
1 . Malaga
AT A GLANCE
Where: the Costa del Sol in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia
Population: 566,477
Altitude: 11m
Size: 385km2
Ski
The one main resort is Sierra Nevada, with six ski areas based around Veleta, which peaks at 3,300m. Take a train to Granada, then an Alsina Graells bus (www.alsa.es) to Pradollano, the resort centre. Sierra Nevada Tourist Office, www.sierranevadaski.com
Kilometres of piste? 94km
Average price for a ski pass? €37 per adult for a day pass.
Hardest ski run? The unmarked runs between the Tajos de la Virgen and Cartuja mountain ridges offer moguls and unpacked powder. At the top of the 6km-long Aguila run, breathe in the incredible sea views and salute the Moroccan coastline.
Best for snowboarders? With its full range of rails, half-pipe, slalom field and terrifying jumps, the Snowboard Park has off-piste powder and night boarding and even a mini-park for tiny boarders.
Skiing with kids? The Dreamland and Snow Garden areas let mini-skiers take their first glides down gentle slopes, while two crèches take children up to seven. An ice rink and the Mirlo Blanco activity area offer ski-bikes, toboggans, mini-snowboarding and a rollercoaster bobsleigh ride.
What if I don’t ski? Enjoy a sunny café terrace in the Borreguiles area or, if you’re feeling brave, take to the slopes on a giant inner tube. For landscape-lovers, climb aboard a husky-pulled sledge and discover the cross-country ski routes.
The city
Malaga’s major landmark, the Arabic fortress Alcazaba, represents the area’s cultural and religious history. It was built by the Moors in the 8th century and turned into a palace 300 years later.
Cheap eats? Orellana has been serving up delicious Andalucian delights to the locals for over 65 years in its traditional, frills-free setting. Tuck into tapas such as grilled prawns, paella and coconut, rounded off with a sweet Malagan wine. 5 Calle Moreno Monroy, Malaga, tel: +34 9 5222 3012.
Hungry kids? Find homemade burgers, fajitas and pizzas, as well as steak and salads, plus friendly staff, an abundance of crayons, balloons and games at Jacks American Restaurant. Puerto Marina, Dársena, Benalmadena, tel: +34 952 563 673.
Romantic splurge? Adolfo, a renowned seafood restaurant on Malaga’s beach front, is part of Spain’s Green Restaurant programme, serving 100% local and ecological produce. Start with a bottle from the exhaustive wine list and finish with a homemade dessert. Paseo Maritimo, 12 Pablo Ruiz Picasso, tel: +34 952 601 914.
Nightlife? The Siempre Asi bar is a favourite with young, hip Malagans, who flock to its expansive dance floor to soak up the Latin beats and rock hits. Don’t arrive until midnight at the earliest. 5 Calle Convaleciente, tel: +34 952 225 412.
2. Geneva
AT A GLANCE
Where: south-west Switzerland, between the Alps and the Jura mountain ranges, 5km east of the French border Population: 185,028 (city), 812,000 (metropolitan area)
Altitude: 373m
Size: 15km2
Ski
Geneva’s nearest ski resorts lie in the Savoie region of France, where 110 stations are within a two-hour drive. Annemasse is the nearest, just 10km away by bus on the TPG network. www.annemasse-agglo-tourisme.com Kilometres of piste? 4,800km Average price for ski pass? €40 per day for an adult.
Hardest ski run? Test yourself at the world’s most famous speed-skiing course at Les Arcs, which allows those who can take the pace to accelerate faster than a Formula 1 car! Office de Tourisme de Bourg Saint Maurice Les Arcs, tel: +33 (0)4 7907 1257, www.lesarcs.com
Best for snowboarders? Head north from Geneva to Verbier for a snowboarder’s heaven. The extreme mountain setting results in some interesting natural obstacles which are excellent for thrill-seekers. Verbier Tourist Office, tel: +41 (0)2 7775 3888, www.verbier.ch
Skiing with kids? La Norma is a child-friendly ski station with children’s slalom and luge, ski school, crèche and a kids’ club running treasure hunts and sledge races. La Norma Tourist Office, tel: +33 (0)4 7920 3146, www.la-norma.com
What if I don’t ski? Try bobsleighing at La Plagne, the only station in France that has a complete piste dedicated to the speedy sport. Try the Taxi Bob, piloted by a professional at speeds of up to 100km/h! www.la-plagne.com
The city
Geneva’s icon is 19th-century Jet d’eau, a 140m-high water fountain at the end of the lake.
Cheap eats? What Chez Ma Cousine can’t produce with poultry isn’t worth tasting. Get the half-roasted chicken with Provençal potatoes for less than CHF15 (€10). 6 place du Bourg-de-Four, Old Town, www.chezmacousine.ch
Hungry kids? An hour north of Geneva is Le Paddock, a restaurant in the National Equestrian Institute, with games rooms, craft sessions and pony rides. Le Paddock, IENA, Les Long-Pré, Avenches, tel: +41
(0)2 6676 7676, www.iena.ch
Romantic splurge? Treat your chérie to La Perle du Lac, one of Geneva’s most acclaimed restaurants. Overlooking Lake Leman, it’s sure to get her all starry-eyed. Starting at CHF88 (€58) for a four-course meal, your heart could be fluttering for other reasons. 126 rue de Lausanne, tel: +41 (0)22 909 1020, www.laperledulac.ch
Nightlife? Alhambar serves up cocktails around a mix of 1970s brown leather chairs, high-glam lighting and, of course, the obligatory dancer’s pole. 10 rue de la Rôtisserie, www.alhambar.com
GETTING THERE
Slope off to Malaga from just £40.99 oneway, incl taxes, and to Geneva from £29.99. They’re both accessed from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands and Manchester. For more details, log on to www.bmibaby.com
My Town – Amsterdam
With Amsterdam Fashion Week coming up in January, we take a look at the Dutch capital through the eyes of one of its top designers, Daryl van Wouw…
by Daryl van Wouw
With his trademark headphones ever-present, Daryl van Wouw, 32, is an instantly recognisable, exciting force in Amsterdam’s fashion industry. His couture-meets-street style has helped the designer build up an enviable reputation in just a few years.
He studied fashion, followed by an internship with Donna Karan in New York, and then began collaborating with Converse, Nike, Swarovski, Sony, Coca-Cola Light and Heineken.
In 2007, he hit Dutch TV screens as a juror on the first season of Project Catwalk, in which designers compete to become Holland’s next top-designer. In July 2008, Daryl opened his first store, at 705a Prinsengracht, selling ready-to-wear, “best of” pieces and catwalk show-stoppers: beautiful clothes for independent, cosmopolitan women. We asked Daryl to show us his city!
Thuys Café
Thuys is one of my favourite bars: its name means “home” in old Dutch. I live in China most of the time, but I come back to Amsterdam for at least a week every month and the city will always be my home. When I’m here, I love to catch up with my friends over a beer. Thuys is an authentic Dutch bar, so it’s a great place for visitors who want a taste of real Amsterdam. 129 De Clercqstraat, tel: +31 (0)20 612 0898
The Lloyd Hotel & Cultural Embassy
This special hotel [above] is in an old former prison in the heart of the fashionable Eastern Docklands Area. It has 117 different rooms, all designed by renowned Dutch architects, designers and artists, and there are concerts, lectures and films for guests. I was lucky enough to give my last catwalk show here. 34 Oostelijke Handelskade, www.lloydhotel.com
Trouw & Club Canvas
I love clubs with a raw environment, like these two, located in a building that was once home to some Dutch newspapers. At Trouw it’s a real “back-to-basics” experience in an urban, industrial space. Expect progressive music, well-known and undiscovered bands, DJs, a restaurant and art space. It’s a temporary project, set to close on 31 December 2010, so go before then. Canvas also has an exhibition space, café, restaurant, cocktail bar, lounge and club, but the thing I really love about it is the roof terrace with fantastic views of the city. Trouw, 127 Wibautstraat 127, www.trouwamsterdam.nl; Club Canvas, 150 Wibautstraat, www.canvasopde7e.nl
SPRMRKT
One of the best fashion stores in Amsterdam is SPRMRKT [above]. It’s situated in a huge (450m2!), rambling building near the edge of central Amsterdam and, just like the clubs I like, it’s really raw and industrial. It’s got a great mix of designer labels, accessories, books, CDs and vintage furniture. Another real cool place in Amsterdam – it may have no vowels, but it’s got everything else! 191-193 Rozengracht, www.sprmrkt.nl
Warung Sweetie Sranang, Spang Makandra & Riaz
My mother is from Surinam, so I can’t go past a Surinamese restaurant if I’m dining out. There are three that I particularly love: Warung Sweetie Sranang (which serves the best saoto, a chicken soup from Java, but with a Surinamese touch); Spang Makandra (for amazing satay) and Riaz (for the best roti, an unleavened bread). Whenever I eat at one of them I feel like I’m eating at my mum’s! Warung Sweetie Sranang, 2hs Jacob Catskade, tel:+31 (0)20 682 3517; Spang Makandra, 39 Gerard Doustraat, www.spangmakandra.nl; Riaz, 193 Bilderdijkstraat, www.riaz.nl
Patta
I love sneakers. Not only do I wear them, but I collect them too! For cool sneakers you have to visit Patta. It’s not big and it doesn’t look that special, but it has the best limited editions. I buy my sneakers here or in Hong Kong, but nowhere else. 142 Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, www.patta.nl
GETTING THERE
Frock on over to Amsterdam from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands or Manchester from just £24.99 one-way incl taxes. For more information, log on to www.bmibaby.com
AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK
Paris, Milan and London might be the traditional fashion capitals of Europe, daahling, but there’s a younger, more dynamic alternative emerging as a major contender: Amsterdam.
Running since 2004, Amsterdam International Fashion Week (AIFW) is Holland’s largest fashion event. It hits town twice a year, in January and July, with catwalk shows, parties and air kisses aplenty. Models strut their stuff at various venues (including the former gasworks-turned-cultural hotspot, Westergasfabriek), wearing designs from established Dutch brands, independent boutique labels, top designers and young, breakthrough talent.
But best of all, for all of us who don’t have Anna Wintour on speed-dial and therefore can’t expect front-row seats at “official” catwalk shows, there’s AIFW DOWNTOWN. Running parallel to the professionals-only event, DOWNTOWN is the only Fashion Week programme in the world that’s open to the public. With numerous public catwalk shows, shop launches, parties, lectures, expositions and shopping routes, it gives wannabe fashionistas a sneak-peek of what’s hot next season.
AIFW DOWNTOWN kicks off on 23 January, with the official Amsterdam International Fashion Week runway shows commencing on 27 January. The fashionable fun lasts for nine days, and all events are organised in collaboration with local museums, galleries, clubs, shops, designers and retailers.
For more information, go to: www.amsterdamfashionweek.com or http://aifwdowntown.nl
