NASA’s stunning series of free space tourism posters offers a glimpse at the imagined future of interstellar travel April 12, 2016 NASA’s Voyager mission left Earth in 1977, taking advantage of a once-every-175-year alignment of the planets to take a grand tour of the solar system. Using a manoeuvre called a gravitational assist, the tiny probe swung itself around Jupiter like a slingshot, zipping past Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, picking up speed each time until it was [...]
Is SEAT’s new Leon the new hot-hatch hero? April 11, 2016 For many, the 1980s were the halcyon days of the hot hatchback. Yet as the next decade dawned, joyriding, ramraiding and soaring insurance premiums brought this go-faster fairytale to an abrupt end. Until now. We’re currently in the midst of a second golden age for the hot hatch. And while classic heroes like the Peugeot [...]
Learning how to ski doesn’t have to be a downhill struggle. Why not grab lessons on the slopes of Verbier? April 8, 2016 The Bec Des Rosses, Verbier, holds mythical status in the world of skiing: 3,223m of snow and rock, angled at over 60 degrees; it’s one of the toughest mountains on Earth and hosts the final, deciding race of the Freeride World Tour (FWT) every March. “The FWT and easy access to off-piste skiing means that [...]
48 Hours in Marrakech – what to see and do on a stopover in the Moroccan city April 8, 2016 Where to stay Get totally chilled out at the Almaha Marrakech, designed by the world-famous Charles Kaisin. The riad has a serene shallow pool that fills up every evening to reflect the starry sky. Visit almahamarrakech.com Where to go Hop, skip and jump through history at Palais Bahia and walk along the artisanal mosaic tiles. [...]
Uncovering unexpected luxury in the flat heart of Norfolk April 8, 2016 THE WEEKEND: A luxury long weekend might conjure images of business-class flights to NYC or the Eurostar to Paris, but have you considered a trip to Norfolk? While it may rest in the public consciousness as the home of Alan Partridge, Bernard Matthews and Colman’s Mustard, it’s a beautiful part of the country and, if you [...]
Why rising London house prices have got parents buying homes for their school-age children April 8, 2016 Every week, City PM invites an industry professional to write about an emerging trend in the property market. Over the past few years, given the exceptional price growth London has seen, the role of “the bank of mum and dad” in house sales has evolved considerably. No longer restricted to parents helping their 20-something adult children finishing [...]
Boulevard, Robin Williams’ last movie, is a muted tribute April 7, 2016 Dir. Dito Montiel | ★★★☆☆ While not the last film he shot, Boulevard has the sad distinction of being the late Robin Williams' final on-screen role, arriving just over 18 months after the actor’s death. He plays Nolan, a married bank employee whose existence has become a simple, sad matter of plodding through the days, [...]
Timothy Spall excels in The Old Vic’s The Caretaker April 7, 2016 The Old Vic | ★★★★☆ Harold’s Pinter’s first big hit, The Caretaker, is a frenetic comedy about three social outcasts, all woefully incapable of communicating with each other. This claustrophobic play takes place inside a leaky loft conversion strewn with lofty piles of newspapers and a host of unfinished DIY projects. It’s exhausting just looking [...]
X at the Royal Court review: a terrifying, claustrophobic space horror that comes unravelled April 7, 2016 Royal Court | ★★★☆☆ The best science fiction is virtually always a vehicle for social commentary, a metaphor for talking about the here and now. Alien can be read as an advocation of abortion; Dune reflects the geopolitics of the Cold War-era oil industry; Dawn of the Dead is a critique of consumerism. But, crucially, you [...]
From Doctor Who penthouses gothic three-beds, here are the new builds hitting the London property market this week April 7, 2016 Queen’s Wharf, Hammersmith Four penthouses are on sale atop a riverside scheme in Hammersmith. Named Clark, Dixon, Appleby and Thorne after four key figures in the construction of Hammersmith Bridge, the penthouses have three bedrooms and a private roof terrace each. Prices start at £4.2m and they’re due to be finished in 2017. The scheme [...]
