EXPLORE EVENTS February 2007
Out and about The latest events from bmi destinations including Edinburgh, Riyadh, Amsterdam and Las Vegas. Plus romantic ideas for Valentine’s Day
IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY, SO LET YOUR LOVED ONE KNOW YOU CARE
HERE ARE SOME ideas that are guaranteed to make the heart grow fonder.
TAKE PART
Hopeless romantics should head to Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet’s famous balcony scene and just an hour and a half from Venice by train. On 10-14 February the city of Eternal Love lives up to its reputation with various romantic events (www.veronainlove.com).
CULTURAL EXPLOITS
Take a leaf out of Madame de Pompadour’s book and discover the power of seduction.
The Triumph of Eros: Art and Seduction in 18th-Century France is at the Hermitage Rooms, Somerset House, London, until 8 April (www.hermitagerooms.com).
REST A WHILE
Hidden near the gates of Edinburgh castle is The Witchery (+44 (0)131 225 5613), a lavish hotel with seven gothic-styled suites, each with its own roll-top bath big enough for two. The ultimate romantic hideaway.
TASTY DELIGHTS
Sumptuous Italian food and an impressive wine list are all on offer at Brera, Welbeck Street, London W1 (+44 (0)20 7935 2371). It is the latest sophisticated restaurant to open in the capital and its cloister-like architecture offers the perfect setting for that seductive dinner.
It’s a dog’s life
EVERY DOG HAS his day, but at the moment it seems to be his month. The Imperial War Museum, London (www.iwm.org.uk), is honouring the unsung hound in their exhibition The Animals’ War. It is full of film, pictures and memorabilia about animals and includes intriguing and often surprising stories about dogs in action. Among them are Rob, the SAS dog who made over 20 parachute drops during World War II, and Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd who was found as a puppy on the Western Front and went on to become a Hollywood legend.
However, not every dog is man’s best friend. In fact, Agnetha Sjorgren, artist and prop designer (www.dooriginal.co.uk), had a terrible phobia. To overcome it she created her own non-threatening four-legged creations.
She is only making 50 of these sculptures, such as Travel Dog (left), so get your orders in quick. If you prefer the real thing and like a stylish pooch, then head to the Best Dressed Dog Competition (www.hillmount.co.uk) in Belfast on 18 February.
…Vikings
YORK IS PREPARING itself for battle. Hundreds of Viking warriors are about to invade the city for their annual showdown with the Saxons. We haven’t been plunged back into the dark ages, but the northern city is celebrating its colourful history with the Jorvik Viking Festival, 14-18 February (www.vikingjorvik.com). You won’t need a longboat to get there either, as it’s just 40 minutes from Leeds.
Alternatively, an overnight ferry ride from Aberdeen will take you to one of the remotest places in the UK, the Shetland Islands. These beautiful islands are the setting for the spectacular fire festivals that occur throughout the month when the Viking chief, Guizer Jarl, and his squad of men rampage through various local towns and then burn a ship on the seashore. www.visitshetland.com
Also in the diary…
THE BEST KEPT travel secrets, tips and talks are all on offer at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, Earls Court, London, 1-4 February (www.destinationsshow.com).
Catch up on the latest art-house films, as well as premieres and classic re-runs at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, 16-25 February (www.dubliniff.com).
HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO BE… AN ARTIST?
WHY?
Get in touch with your creative side.
WHERE?
There are colleges and classes all over the country. The major art schools offer short courses and the London School of Painting and Drawing has highly qualified staff and offers a variety of classes for people of all different levels.
COSTS?
Prices range from £55 for a day to £475 for a 10-day painting course.
VERDICT
Whatever your talent, there is nothing more rewarding than creating your own pictures. Discover the Van Gogh within.
Visit www.artcourses.co.uk for further details
Desert party
DON’T GET THE HUMP AT SAUDI ARABIA’S BIGGEST FESTIVAL
This month’s hottest ticket is for the Janadriyah Festival. Set in the desert just 45 miles from Riyadh, these shifting sands are host to the biggest cultural festival in Saudi Arabia. The event lasts for two weeks with folk dances, arts and crafts and camel and horse races. The Royal Family are great supporters of the event and King Abdullah has even been known to join the performers in the singing and dancing of the Ardah, the Saudi national dance. One of the highlights of the festival is the King’s Camel Cup Race and there is fierce competition for this highly coveted prize. So prepare yourself for a real battle of the humps to the finishing line.
Old and beautiful
ARE YOU FED up with all the pressure to be young and beautiful? Then take heart and visit the Infinite Variety exhibition at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (www.rsc.org.uk), which is a collection of photographs that celebrate the older woman. It was set up by actress Harriet Walters, 55, to “get people to look and re-condition their criteria for beauty”. So relax and stop worrying about those wrinkles.
LITTLE BLACK BOOK:
THE STRIP, LAS VEGAS (LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD)
BIGGER, BOLDER, BRASHER. COME JOIN THE PARTY IN THE GLITZIEST CITY IN THE WORLD
AUREOLE
Charlie Palmer’s restaurant is worth a visit for two things: the escolar fish – a juicy white fish cooked in olive oil and lemon juice, and the wine angels, who abseil up and down a 13m glass tower to fetch your bottle.
Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S; +1 702 632 7401
LIGHT
Beg, borrow, or steal to get in to
Las Vegas’ hottest club. Star sightings are practically guaranteed, as are £500 bottles of limited-edition vodka in the luxurious VIP room.
Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S; +1 702 693 8300
FASHION SHOW MALL
This is the biggest mall in town with 200 shops, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Shop till you drop.
Opposite Wynn Las Vegas, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd S; +1 702 369 0704
