This was the second Sideways wine weekend of 2009; this time to Piedmont, Italy – home of Barolo and Barbaresco – and I used the opportunity to tag on a couple of days in Turin, a new city for me.
It’s proximity to France, but perhaps more importantly it’s history as the home of the Dukes [...]
Archive for the ‘Architecture’ Category
Turin & Piedmont Wine Weekend
Posted in Architecture, Art, Design, Food & Wine, Travel, tagged Architecture, Art, Design, Food & Wine, Travel on November 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Rest of September
Posted in Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Opera, tagged Opera, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Comedy, Architecture on September 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
COMEDY
Three nights after the Last Night of the Proms, the Last Night of the Poms was a huge disappointment – which surprised me as I had so enjoyed its first outing 27 years ago! After all too brief introductions, both Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage launch into musical pieces – in the former’s [...]
The Rest of August (in London)
Posted in Architecture, Art, Contemporary Music, Design, Film, Photography, tagged Architecture, Art, Contemporary Music, Design, Film, Photography on August 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
ART
A catch-up month!
Telling Tales is a small exhibition at the V&A where contemporary designers respond to three themes – forest glades, enchanted castles and heaven & hell – with narrative art / design works. It was quirky and intriguing, but I’m not sure I got the point! Radical Nature at the Barbican is an even [...]
Manchester International Festival blog
Posted in Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Design, Film, Opera, Theatre, tagged Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Design, Film, Opera, Theatre on July 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
This is only the second MIF. The first, two years ago (it’s biennial), had one big coup – Damon Albarn / Jamie Hewlett’s ‘opera’ Monkey. This one has lots!
My visit started with It Felt Like A Kiss, a site specific installation / film / journey from Punchdrunk. This is the fourth of their shows I’ve [...]
The Rest of June
Posted in Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Food & Wine, Opera, Photography, Theatre, tagged Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Food & Wine, Opera, Photography, Theatre on June 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
OPERA
At the Guildhall School of Music & Drama there was a pairing of Martinu and Rossini one-act comic operas. I love these Guildhall opera evenings – always value and often a treat. I wasn’t mad keen on the music of the Martinu though I liked the production and performances (particularly Nicky Spence). The Rossini, an [...]
The Rest of March
Posted in Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Comedy, Contemporary Music, Dance, Design, Film, Opera, Photography, tagged Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Comedy, Contemporary Music, Dance, Design, Film, Opera on March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
MUSIC & OPERA
Only two operas and an oratorio in a musically lean two months! Dr Atomic at ENO would have been a much better opera if he’d cut it by 30 mins (especially in the more static first half). I liked the design and staging, the music is accessible and there are some very good [...]
A Weekend in The Hague
Posted in Architecture, Art, Food & Wine, Travel, tagged Architecture, Art, Food & Wine, Travel on February 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
‘Why?’ I hear you ask. Before I went I would have said ‘Why Not?’ After the visit, I can report lots of good reasons for visiting this welcoming and interesting city with lovely buildings, canals and green spaces.
I landed on my feet accommodation-wise at one of the best examples of the ‘boutique’ hotel in a [...]
Christmas in Florence
Posted in Architecture, Art, Food & Wine, Travel, tagged Architecture, Art, Food & Wine, Travel on December 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I’ve got to like avoiding the excesses of a British Christmas and this was the 8th escape in the last nine years; the third to Italy. After a very busy two months, the sleep, fresh air and walking were particularly welcome (not that the food and drink were exactly unwelcome!).
I’d only been to Florence once before, [...]
The Rest of August
Posted in Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Film, Opera, Theatre, tagged Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Film, Opera, Photography, Theatre on August 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This has been an action-packed month, and I’ve done a lot in the 19 days I wasn’t in Edinburgh & Orkney!
The exhibition highlight was Hadrian at the British Museum; the second use of the magnificent Reading Room space. Though it was a bit crowded (even first thing on a Monday), I rather liked the way it told the story [...]
