In February 1945, over lunch in Cairo, the leaders of Great Britain and Saudi Arabia met face to face for the first time. Churchill was just concluding his stewardship of the allied victory in the second world war, while King Abdulaziz, the creator of modern Saudi Arabia, could savour his equally historic unification of the warring tribes of the Arabian peninsula. Often better known in the west as Ibn Saud, the Saudi monarch was the grandfather of the kingdom’s de facto new ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who arrives in the UK on a diplomatic visit on Wednesday.

Saluting Ibn Saud’s puritanical Wahhabi principles when they met, Churchill gracefully acknowledged that it was the “religion of his majesty to deprive himself of smoking and alcohol”. But he made clear that his own rule of life “prescribes as an absolutely sacred rite of smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them”. Let us hope that Theresa May is equally forthright in setting out Britain’s cultural differences with the crown prince today, making clear Britain’s belief in liberty of speech, freedom from arbitrary arrest, the independent rule of law, and the sacred principle that political leaders – be they monarchs or prime ministers – are not the masters, but merely servants of the people.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest King Abdulaziz with Churchill in Cairo in 1945. Photograph: Print Collector/Getty Images

These are principles for which the 32-year-old, familiarly known as MbS, has yet to show much enthusiasm. Several dozen intellectuals, religious scholars and journalists have been detained without trial in Saudi Arabia since last September – which is why MbS will meet the Queen safely inside the battlements of Windsor – a shift of venue perhaps devised by the Foreign Office to protect him from exposure to demonstrations by human rights campaigners.

Back in those pre-Israel years, Churchill urged the staunchly anti-Zionist Saudi king to help to ease the general Arab welcome to the Jews in Palestine. Britain had subsidised the Saudi monarchy for 20 years before its discovery of oil, argued the prime minister, so a gesture towards the Jewish homeland was the least Saudi could offer to repay the debt. This was a crude wielding of the British “big stick”, in the opinion of Abdulaziz, when he later reported the discussion to the American minister in Jeddah.

Might May try such tough tactics as she seeks to persuade MbS to list or co-list his £1.5tn flotation of Aramco shares through London next year – or dare to inquire of the crown prince if he has secured his people’s approval for this massive sale of national assets? It does not seem likely. There are few big sticks left in the British armoury these days. So, if the prime minister proves no Churchill, what are the ways in which young Prince Mohammed might mirror his famous grandfather?

MbS has wasted no time deliberating like his predecessors over such issues as the need for women to drive, or the urgency of curbing Islamic extremism and the hated religious police. He has just got on with it, in a whirlwind of decrees and government shake-ups that his energetic grandfather might well admire. Cinemas and entertainment centres will open their doors all over the kingdom in the coming months, and when it comes to business corruption, the young man has wasted no time locking up more than 300 suspects – albeit in Riyadh’s Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Play Video 3:18 Reformer or rogue? Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman – video profile

As a consequence, the young crown prince is immensely popular, with many young Saudis – and with women of all ages. But for all his get-up-and-go decisiveness, Abdulaziz spent many hours every week sitting with his advisers, foreign visitors, tribal leaders and ordinary members of the public, listening to their ideas and grievances.

“We have a popular saying,” declared the king in January 1925, when he occupied the holy city of Mecca. “The people of Mecca know best about Mecca’s mountain passes.” Then he promptly set up a local majlis al-shura – a “sitting place for consultation” – where local people could organise matters such as pilgrim transport and city governance, along the lines of a similar consultative council in Riyadh.

Today there exists such a national body, the consultative assembly of Saudi Arabia, set up by King Fahd in the 1990s, consisting of 150 members, some of them women, all nominated by the king. It is an embryo Saudi parliament, and King Abdullah, the predecessor to MbS’s father, King Salman, made muffled noises about opening a percentage of seats to popular election. That talk has stopped abruptly with the advent of the crown prince, whose fierce and headstrong style both at home and abroad in his dealings with countries such as Qatar, Lebanon and, most tragically of all, Yemen, defies all awareness of popular consultation.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A lorry with a banner protesting against the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London on 5 March. Photograph: Matthew Chattle/Barcroft Images

Britain bears its own responsibility for the 13,000 people who have been killed in Yemen since 2015, both as the legacy of its “master planning” of the Middle East a century ago, and through the current supplying of lethal weaponry to the Saudi-backed coalition that is fighting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Away from Yemen, MbS has rowed back strongly from the kingdom’s previous support of Islamic extremism, so perhaps May can find common ground for Britain to try a little regional peace-making.

For his domestic reform programme, the crown prince deserves praise. But at the same time, the brash and abrasive young innovator has not encouraged or permitted any popular debate in Saudi Arabia about the nature of his many changes. He appears to be moving the country from old-time religious extremism to his own “You-must-accept-my-reform” extremism, without any consultation – accompanied by arrests and the disappearance of his critics.

'This is a revolution': Saudis absorb crown prince's rush to reform Read more

So, does his programme lack the most important reform of all – democracy? The crown prince is proposing to impose Saudi Arabia’s first modern taxes as part of his economic strategy in the face of stagnant oil prices – a very brave and necessary move. But he seems oblivious to the need for any popular discussion or consent to accompany that. “No taxation without representation” is an inflexible lesson of history that Britain has learned the hard way, and May would be doing her guest a great favour to remind him politely of it.

• Jamal Khashoggi was media adviser to the Saudi ambassador in the UK. Now self-exiled in the US, he writes for the Washington Post. Robert Lacey is the author of The Kingdom – Arabia and the House of Saud


Roy Grounds

Sir Roy Burman Grounds (18 December 19052 March 1981) was one of Australia's leading architects of the modern movement.

Biography
Born in Melbourne, Grounds was educated at Scotch College. In the mid 1920s began his articles with the architectural firm of Blackett, Forster and Craig, where Geoffrey Mewton was doing the same. By 1928 they were both studying at the University of Melbourne Architectural Atelier, where they won 1st prize in an Institute of Architects Exhibition for a house costing under £1000. They both also won scholarships to further their studies later that year.After graduating in 1928 they travelled to London together with another student Oscar Bayne, where they all shared 'digs'. After working in London for a while, Grounds then worked in the United States for two years.

On his return to Australia in 1932, Grounds shared an office with Mewton, who had already set up a solo practice the previous year, where they worked on projects separately, but published under 'Mewton & Grounds'. One of their first projects that is attributed to Grounds was radically modern for Melbourne - located in the hills of Upper Beaconsfield, Wildfell, built in 1933, was a long flat roofed rectilinear composition of white painted brick, with red and cream brick details and corner windows. This was followed in 1934 by the MIlky Way Cafe in LIttle Collins Street, a venture of the United Milk Producers Society to encourage milk consumption, with modern tubular steel furniture and flush recessed lighting panels. While Mewton produced many designs in a Modernism combining the brick volumes of Willem Dudok with European Bauhaus starkness, Grounds' distinctive work was influenced by the simple, rough modernism of US West Coast architect William Wurster. The most notable expression of this influence are a series of houses including Portland Lodge, Lyncroft and the Ramsay House, all on the Mornington Peninsula, the Fairbairn House in Toorak and the house for the Chateau Tahbilk winery.

Grounds' also designed in a more Modernist mode, with his own family holiday house own house on the Peninsula  nicknamed 'The Ship' due to its long horizontal asbestos-cement sheet flat forms topped by a pipe railing and a glass walled lookout, and the similarly styled Rosanove House in nearby Frankston.

In about 1937, Grounds ended the partnership with Mewton, spending time in England again until 1939.

Grounds returned and established a solo practice between 1939 and 1942, and designed a series of unusually modern flat developments in the Toorak area which further established his reputation as a modernist.

During World War II he served in the Royal Australian Air Force, performing works and camouflage duties. After the war, Grounds retired for a few years, returning in 1951 as a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture at Melbourne University. In 1953, he resumed his architectural practice and produced a series of houses, including his own, based pure geometric shapes. The Leyser House was triangular, the Henty House was circular, and his own house was square, with a central circular courtyard. This theme was repeated in later projects, including the circular Round House in Hobart, and the square Master's Lodge at Ormond College.

When Grounds, Frederick Romberg and Robin Boyd formed their partnership in 1953 all were well established in Victoria. Each brought substantial work to the practice, which they usually worked on separately, and the firm became very successful.

Grounds' first large commission was for the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra. The construction of its reinforced concrete dome was a considerable technical achievement. Opened in 1959, it won the Meritorious Architecture Award of the Canberra Area Committee of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) and the Sulman Award for Architectural Merit. The Academy building also led to other work in Canberra, initially for the firm and later Grounds himself. Grounds opened a Canberra office in the Forrest Townhouses (1959), which he designed and partly financed.

In 1959 the firm was awarded the commission to design the National Gallery of Victoria and Arts Centre, with Grounds named in the contract as the architect in charge. When Boyd and Romberg were mildly critical of the preliminary geometric designs that Grounds showed them, relations between the partners became strained, and in 1962 Grounds left the partnership, taking the commission with him and setting up his own company with Oscar Bayne.

Under a building committee chaired by the philanthropist Ken Myer, Grounds devoted the next twenty years of his life to the completion of the Arts Centre. His longest-serving architectural associates throughout this period were Alan Nelson, Fritz Suendermann, Lou Gerhardt and Allan Stillman. While the Gallery was brought in on time and budget, the complicated Yarra River site for the Concert Hall and Theatre Complex resulted in building delays and criticism. Unlike the fate that befell Jørn Utzon on the Sydney Opera House project, Grounds managed to hold on to his commission from the Victorian Government despite tumult within his company in the late 1970s. Grounds showed Queen Elizabeth II the massive excavations shortly before his death. Much of the theatres' interior designs were completed by John Truscott after Grounds' death.

Grounds was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal in 1968 and was knighted in 1969. In 1969 he was elected a life fellow of the RAIA. One of his last designs was Hobart's iconic 18-story octagonal tower and Wrest Point Hotel Casino complex. He died in Melbourne in 1981.

In 2011, with the opening of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, Tasmania, two houses designed and built there by Grounds in 1957–8 for Claudio Alcorso on the Moorilla Estate—the Courtyard House and the Round House—became respectively the entrance and the library of Australia's largest private museum.

Key works
Attributed to Grounds as part of Mewton & Grounds

 Wildfell, Upper Beaconsfield (1933) Demolished.
Milky Way cafe, 300 Little Collins Street, (1934)
'Portland Lodge', Henty House, 1 Plummer Avenue Olivers Hill, Frankston (c1935) (this is adjacent to the 1953 Henty House)
'The Ship' (Grounds' family house), 35 Rannoch Avenue, Mt Eliza (1935)
Rosanove House, 12 Gould Street Frankston (c1935, demolished)
Lyncroft, 410 Tucks Road, Shoreham (1935)
Fairbairn House, 236 Kooyong Road, Toorak (1935)
Chateau Tahbilk homestead, 254 O'Neils Road, Tahbilk (1935)
Ramsay House, 2 Rendelsham Avenue, Mt Eliza (1937)

Roy Grounds

Clendon Flats, 13 Clendon Road, Armadale (1940)
Moonbria Flats, 68 Mathoura Road, Toorak (1941)
Quamby Flats, 3 Glover Court, Toorak (1941)
Leyser House, Kew (1952) Altered.
Grounds House and flats, 24 Hill Street, Toorak (1953)
Henty House (Round house), 581 Nepean Highway, Frankston South (1953)

Grounds Romberg & Boyd

Currawong Ski Lodge, 13 Jack Adams Pathway, Thredbo NSW (1957)
The Courtyard House (1957) and The Round House (1958), Moorilla Estate (both now part of The Museum of Old and New Art), 655 Main Rd, Berriedale, Hobart
Masters Lodge, Ormond College, Melbourne University (1958)
Vice Masters Lodge (alterations), Ormond College, Melbourne University (1958)
Australian Academy of Science (Shine Dome), 15 Gordon St, Acton, Canberra (1959)
Forrest Townhouses, 3 Tasmania Circle, Forrest (1959)
Vasey Crescent Houses, 42, 44 and 46 Vasey Crescent, Campbell (1960)
McNicoll House, 19 Gordon Grove, South YArra (1962-3).

Roy Grounds

CSIRO Phytotron Building, Clunies Ross Street, Acton (1963)
Botany Building (D.A. Brown Building), Australian National University, Acton Campus, Canberra (1968)

National Gallery of Victoria, 200 St Kilda Road, Melbourne (1959–68)
Medley Building, Melbourne University (1968-71)
Frankel House, 4 Cobby Street, Campbell (1969-70)
Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Victoria (1971)
Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement & Folk Museum expansion, Swan Hill, Victoria (early 1970s)
Nicholas families homes, 22 Hill Street, Toorak, Melbourne (c1970) much altered.
Wrest Point Hotel Casino, Hobart, Tasmania (1973)
Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne (1969–84)

Gallery of works

Awards
1959 RAIA Meritorious Architecture Award
1959 Sulman Award for Architectural Merit
1968 RAIA Gold Medal, Royal Australian Institute of Architects
1969 Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

References

Sources
 Jennifer Taylor, Australian Architecture Since 1960, RAIA, 1990
 Philip Goad, A Guide to Melbourne Architecture, Sydney, 1999
 Geoffrey Serle, Robin Boyd: A Life, Melbourne, 1995
 Eric Westbrook, Birth of a Gallery, Macmillan Australia, Melbourne, 1968

 Conrad Hamann, Grounds, Sir Roy Burman (1905–1981), Australian Dictionary of Biography

Category:1905 births
Category:1981 deaths
Category:Architects from Melbourne
Category:Modernist architects
Category:Modernist architecture in Australia
Category:Australian Knights Bachelor
Category:Recipients of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal
Category:People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
Category:20th-century Australian architects


After-show hangouts

Andre's, Rosemary's for a meal without a long wait

The show is over and now the question’s where to eat. Nearly all the hot places are booked but all hope is not lost. The following is a list of new, lesser-known and off-Strip restaurants and clubs that locals and those in the know recommend.

ANDRE’S FRENCH RESTAURANT

Where: 401 Sixth St.

Hours: 6-10 p.m., Monday through Saturday

Phone: (702) 385-5016

Cost: $20-$50 per person

Behind a Mulberry tree in a 1930s-era cottage stands this intimate but pricey downtown eatery. After 20 years, Andre Rochat’s very upscale version of French cuisine has earned Zagat’s vote as the best restaurant in Vegas. What’s more, residents consistently vote it best place for dinner in the Las Vegas Review Journal’s annual poll. Local whales (incredibly high rollers) also come in to sample one of Nevada’s largest wine collections.

COYOTE CAFE

Where: In the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., daily

Phone: (702) 891-7349

Cost: $15-$44 per person

Site of a biannual tequila fiesta when Jimmy Buffet plays the MGM, chef Mark Miller makes this cafe worth a stop even when Buffet’s not in town with his Southwestern-style menu. The ribs, chili and portobello mushroom pancakes won Miller the prestigious James Beard Award as Best Chef of the Southwest in 1996.

DRAI’S AFTER HOURS

Where: Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino

Hours: 2 -11 a.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and the first Sunday of every month

Phone: (702) 737-7111

Providing a bit of Hollywood ambiance in the desert, this cousin to L.A.’s Drai’s offers the same southern French cuisine as the original, but after hours it offers a Vegas twist. The basement-level, leopardskin-decked lounge does less supper and more club from 2 a.m. until 11 a.m. when Tony Verdugo, who ran the former Giant nightclub in L.A., bathes the place in red light and pumps up the techno. Getting in can be tricky, so with dinner guests cleared out at midnight and long waits past 3 a.m., the sweet spot for entry is around 2.

THE FIRESIDE LOUNGE

Where: 2985 Las Vegas Blvd. (in the Peppermill Coffee Shop)

Phone: (702) 735-4177

Hours: Open 24 hours

For a real dose of Vegas retro-kitsch, check out the Fireside Lounge, where the eponymous hearth is a circular pit surrounded by a pool of bubbling water. “Casino” stars Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci have made this place a stop on their Sin City spins. For normal people, however, it’s a good idea to get there before 11 p.m. on weekends to ensure a seat.

THE LONDON CLUB

Where: Aladdin Resort and Casino

Phone: (702) 785-5555 (ask for the London Club)

Hours: 6 p.m.-midnight, late supper until 2 a.m.

Cost: $20-$50 per person

This high-end European-style casino and restaurant won’t turn you away for wearing a T-shirt and shorts, but it’s best to be a bit more proper. After all, the casino is home to the largest single denomination chip in the world (a $10 million roulette plaque) and the restaurant offers a ritzy panoply of world food. Be it French, Italian, Asian-American or Middle Eastern, executive chef Jacques Van Staden has five high hats under him to do your bidding. Or if you’re really feeling like a big shot, push the menu aside and just ask for what you want. They’ll prepare it.

A great option for that pre-show, early morning meeting — and for avoiding those anemic continental breakfast buffets — is the Original Pancake House. Though it has its roots in Portland, the chain hasn’t lost sight of one important thing: great pancakes. Whether it’s a buckwheat, German or chocolate chip stack you’re craving, owners Kim and Stephan Fruedenberger and their staff prove a recent visit to Emeril Lagasse’s soundstage was entirely merited.

ROSEMARY’S

Where: 8125 W. Sahara Ave.

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. daily

Phone: (702) 869-2251

Cost: $30-40 per person

He may not have played for the Chicago Bulls, but (along with wife Wendy) owner Michael Jordan has certainly proved himself an all-star with this community favorite. The slaw, shrimp and steak menu has been a hit with hearty-appetited locals as well as out-of-towners, who appreciate the Jordans’ passion for freshness that’s caused them to bypass produce vendors and go directly to regional farmers for their fruits and vegetables.

V BAR

Where: Venetian Hotel & Casino

Hours: 4 p.m.-4 a.m. daily

Phone: (702) 414-3200

For those in Vegas who don’t want to be, there’s V Bar. Big Apple hipsters David Rabin and Will Regan of Lotus fame have teamed with Brad Johnson from L.A.’s Sunset Room to add a bit of bicoastal chic to the Strip. The club’s pedigree, the space’s 180-person capacity and appointments such as a 50-foot opaque glass wall, suede banquettes, extra deep chaise lounges and Rothko-inspired cocktail tables seem to attract an elite crowd. Early arrival and fashion-forward dress are a must.

The former Spago husband-wife team of Stan Carroll and Laurie Kendrick may have located their upscale American establishment in a strip mall near the airport, but they haven’t lost any of the culinary tricks they learned in the limelight. Wild Sage offers mostly upscale comfort food such as chops, meatloaf and mashed potatoes on par with Spago, but in a casual setting without the attitude.


The Forum complex in the Dutch city Groningen is trying to show that town centres don’t need to sell to survive

Four-year-old Joris Niekus hops excitedly in front of a wall-sized flatscreen as his dad loads up an interactive version of Roald Dahl’s BFG (known as GVR in Dutch).

Seconds later, face beaming, his digitised silhouette is bopping across the screen together with Dahl’s gangly giant.

It’s just one of many experiences on offer at a new downtown development in the Dutch city of Groningen that is seeking to reinvent urban hubs for the post-consumer age.

The €101m, trapezoid Forum building is part library, part meeting space, part science museum and part recreational hangout – a 10-storey “multi-space” designed to resonate with citizens who know that shopping is not necessarily the answer. It’s a new-look department store that doesn’t actually sell very much.

But with high streets feeling the pinch across the developed world, with shops shuttered and town centres wondering what they are for any more, the Groningen experiment is being closely watched.

Nowhere is that truer than in the UK, where more than 16,000 retail stores closed last year at the cost of more than 143,000 jobs. The picture in the US is similar, with more than 9,300 shops going to the wall in 2019 as shoppers increasingly move online.

In Europe, city centres are being emptied of life as skyrocketing rental costs push low-income residents out to the peripheries. In cities such as Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Luxembourg, for instance, 80% of citizens say affordable housing is hard to find.

It’s early days, but the Forum certainly feels like it is working. More than 700,000 people – three times the city’s total population – have visited the library since it opened late last year. So, what’s the big draw?

There are books galore (92,000 in total), but they are for rent, not sale, distributed liberally across multiple mezzanine floors with a joyous disregard for Dewey decimal discipline. Geography on one floor, history on another, mathematics … somewhere, presumably.

For the non-bookish, there’s plenty besides: a six-screen cinema, two exhibition halls, a couple of cafes, a museum (about comics, no less), a 250-seater auditorium, and a hip (but not overly hip) top-floor restaurant and bar. Oh, plus a rooftop “market square” with panoramic views over the whole of Groningen.

“Every day when I pick him up from school, he asks to come to the Forum. He just finds it so much fun,” says Joris’s dad, Marcel, an archaeologist, who cuts his working day short every Tuesday to accommodate his son’s request.

Right to roam

The comment is music to the ears of Dirk Nijdam, the Forum’s director, who readily admits that lending out books has never been his priority. Instead, what’s driven his thinking since he took on the project six years ago is the idea of creating a space where anyone and everyone can wander in, kick back and collectively feel at home.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Four-year-old Joris Niekus and his father, Marcel, use an iPad in the Forum in Groningen. Photograph: Oliver Balch

“If people walk in and say, ‘Wow, Groningen has got a new library’, then we’ll have failed,” he says. “If you want to come in and just hang out, you should feel just as welcome as if you’re going to an exhibition or taking out a book.”

This notion of “hanging out” gets to the real function of Groningen’s artful new creation: namely, helping fellow citizens mix and mingle and – who knows? – perhaps even taste that nebulous yet ever-necessary thing called “community”.

It’s a mission born, in part, out of Groningen’s struggling city centre. The hope is that the Forum will revitalise the main market square, which, after the German occupation during the second world war was home to a dingy car park for decades.

At the same time, the project marks a bold riposte to the effects of modern-day capitalist society: first, in its promotion of an individualistic society; and second, in its commercialisation of public space (ie with malls and coffee bars gradually replacing libraries and community centres).

Q&A This is Europe: a new Guardian series Show Hide This is Europe is a new stream of Guardian journalism that investigates the big challenges that transcend national boundaries, and seeks out the solutions that could benefit us all. These are testing times, and crises are not limited by national borders. But then neither are we.

Photograph: Guardian Design

The Forum is a splendid example of form following function. Clean and contemporary, the final design shouts anything but library. Hotel lobby, perhaps? Department store, even? From the luminous circular information desk, to the free-floating elevators, to the immense, cathedral-esque atrium. It’s all quite discombobulating and really rather marvellous.

Once through the door, the challenge is to make people stay. It’s all about “the experience”, says Nijdam, borrowing from big retail’s mantra de jour. So no security beefs on the door, no blaring Tannoy announcements, no endless queuing. Instead, it’s all soft furnishings, mood lighting and make-yourself-at-home courtesy.

Signposts are also kept to a minimum. Exploration, not explanation, is the building’s guiding motif, says Kamiel Klaasse co-founder of NL Architects, an upstart Amsterdam-based firm that beat off an all-star list (including the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid) to win the design contract way back in 2006.

“The brief talked as much about searching as about finding and we interpreted that as an incentive to let people roam,” Klaasse says.

Community connector

The Groningen resident and social activist Ritzo ten Cate is an early cheerleader for the project. Describing the Forum as “one big welcome gesture to us as citizens”, he points to the diversity of the building’s users as proof of its communitarian qualities.

The evidence seems solid. On any given day, you’ll find students working at their laptops, mums with their toddlers, school kids on assignment and grannies reading newspapers. All of them together, under one roof, seemingly as one.

Nor is it just Groningen’s well-heeled citizens who make use of the space. On his many visits, Ten Cate regularly spots friends from the city’s homeless community. Some come to read or use the free internet, while others are after a warm corner to kill time or take a nap.

“The Forum only opened a few months ago, but it’s already doing its job as a connector,” says Ten Cate, who has plans to run a large-scale hackathon there in June.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Two men playing chess in the Forum in Groningen city centre. Photograph: Oliver Balch

But as much as the Forum brings people together, is it serving to create community.

For Paul de Rook, an alderman on Groningen city council, it’s a crucial question. More than just shared physical space, genuine community is about a shared understanding of one another, he argues. “That’s why it’s really valuable to create spaces where people … can see what is going on in other people’s lives.”

In a nod to this reality, the Forum seeks to orient all its cultural activities around a common thread. Whether it’s the current exhibition on artificial intelligence (recently on show at the Barbican in London) or Spike Jonze’s futuristic film Her at the cinema, everyone is collectively inching towards the same page (“optimism about the future”, in the Forum’s case).

The small Dutch town that wants to shape the future of your food Read more

Dr Ward Rauws admires the sentiment but harbours doubts. An assistant professor of spatial planning at the University of Groningen, he notes that the core building blocks of community – social capital, civic culture, place identity and so forth – start first at a street-by-street level and expand out from there.

Even so, he remains a big fan of Groningen’s Forum because of its role in helping foster “familiarity”. Echoing De Rook, he defines the term as a state of awareness that “other kinds of citizens exist who might think differently or look different, but who are part of the same community”. It’s a salient point for a university town such as Groningen, where town-gown tensions are a feature of daily life.

Groningen’s audacious experiment in urban planning isn’t without its detractors, most of whom gripe about the final price-tag. Joris’s mum is in that camp. Her son begs to differ. Done with the BFG, he’s now playing a spelling game on one of the library’s iPads. His dad watches on patiently, albeit with half an eye on the upstairs cafe. “Afterwards,” he whispers, “we go for cake.”


Herb Chambers

Herbert G. Chambers (born November 24, 1941) is an American billionaire businessman, owner and president of The Herb Chambers Companies, a group of 60 car dealerships in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area.  In 2015, at the age of 74, he was named as one of the 400 richest Americans, ranking number 392, with an estimated $1.7 billion, by Forbes magazine.

Early life and career
Chambers was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts and was the son of a commercial artist and a homemaker. He grew up in a two-family home owned by his maternal grandmother. At the age of 13, Chambers' mother started charging him $15 per week rent and this was when he started working at the Stop & Shop supermarket in the neighborhood. He did very well at the market, earning promotions and raises, but his school work at English High School of Boston suffered. He ended up dropping out of high school in his senior year.

In 1959, Chambers was out of school and looking for a purpose in life, so he ended up joining the United States Navy as an aviation electrician. After four years in the service and acquiring the rank of Petty Officer Second Class - E-5, he returned home and started working at a South End bar that was owned by his mother. He worked for two months before being fired by his mother due to a scheduling mix-up.

After the Navy, Chambers began working as a copy machine repairman in Cambridge, Massachusetts for $75 a week, plus commission on any service contracts he could sell. By the time he was 22, he had started his own copier distribution company called A-Copy America, with money borrowed from his parents, in Hartford, Connecticut. The copier business was changing from a leasing model to a sales model due to the new low-cost copier models from companies like Minolta, Canon, and Sharp and Chambers started selling copiers along with copy supplies. His business soon became the world’s largest Minolta and Canon dealers with 1,400 employees in 36 offices.

In 1983, Chambers sold the A-Copy business to Alco Standard Corporation for a reported $80 million and he continued to work with the company for another two years.

Chambers started his automotive business after purchasing an Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership in New London, Connecticut in 1985. His decision to purchase the business was based on his own poor buying experience at the dealership. As Chambers improved the operations of this first car dealership, he started the Herb Chambers Companies.

In May 2017, Chambers was awarded the New England Motor Press Association Executive of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the automotive industry.

Exotic car collector
In 2007, The Boston Globe carried an article and photo gallery highlighting Chambers' car collection. His collection of rare automobiles includes the McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Ferrari Daytona Spyder, Ferrari LaFerrari coupe, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari Daytona Coupe, 2006 Ford GT, 2008 Bugatti Veyron, Porsche 959 Supercar, 2006 Porsche Carrera GT, 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series, 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, Ford Model B (1932) and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL that was raced in the 1983 Cannonball Run.

In August 2017, Chambers sold his 1995 McLaren F1 for a record $15.62 million at a Bonhams car auction held in Carmel, California.

When asked what car in his collection was his favorite, Chambers stated the 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spider that he owned in the early 1980s was his personal favorite.

Personal life
Chambers lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and commutes to his Somerville, Massachusetts headquarters by private helicopter each Monday morning. During the weekdays, he lives at the Four Seasons Hotel Residences at the Boston Public Garden. During his flying commute, he often stops at one of his dealerships along the way for meetings. Along with the seven-passenger Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter, Chambers also owns a private jet and a string of yachts purchased over the years.

In May 2016, Chambers was awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration from University of New Haven.

In 2016, Chambers helped to lead the effort to bring the Boston Police Department's mounted police unit back after it was disbanded in 2009 due to budget cuts. He was willing to donate $100,000 of the $1.5 million needed with the remaining funds would hopefully come from corporate support and city funding.

References

External links
 Official website

Category:1940 births
Category:Living people
Category:American automobile salespeople
Category:American billionaires
Category:American car collectors
Category:English High School of Boston alumni
Category:People from Dorchester, Massachusetts


Czech It Out: W Hotels To Debut in Prague in 2020

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), announced it will open W Prague in 2020. Owned by PPH Evropa s.r.o, W Prague marks the brand’s debut into the Czech Republic, and will be located on Wenceslas Square in the heart of the buzzing capital city. The hotel will be a renovation of the former Grand Europa Hotel, a radical art nouveau style property that pushed boundaries when it originally opened in 1905, and will do so again with the W brand’s progressive design and innovative spirit. The historic structure will be combined with a modern new building to create a stunning blend of old world glamour and bold, contemporary design.

“As one of Europe’s most exciting and diverse destinations, Prague is a perfect fit for the iconic W brand and is certain to push new limits for Prague’s vibrant hotel scene when it opens in 2020,” said Sandeep Walia, Area Vice President – Luxury Brands, Western Europe, Marriott International “We are pleased to be partnering with PPH Evropa and Prague Prime Homes Management, and we share their confidence that this hotel will bring a new social scene to an already pulsing global city.”

Restored historical elements of the former Grand Hotel Europa will set the stage for W’s bold and vibrant design, complemented by a stunning new oval-shaped extension. The two buildings will be fully connected to create 154 stylish guestrooms and suites, including the Extreme Wow Suite – the brand’s lavish take on the traditional Presidential Suite. The groundbreaking SPG Keyless entry system will enable guests to use their smartphone or Apple watch to unlock their door and enter their rooms.

W Prague will feature a glamorous rooftop bar and an outdoor terrace, the perfect location for style-savvy locals and guests to enjoy sweeping cityscape views and a fabulous cocktail and culinary experience. The hotel features the W Living Room, the brand’s energetic spin on the hotel lobby, along with several chic restaurants and 350 square meters of ultra-modern event space. In addition, guests are invited to experience the indoor WET pool deck, FIT fitness center and AWAY® Spa. Throughout the hotel, the brand’s unique Whatever/Whenever service is always available, delivering whatever they want, whenever they want it.

“With W Hotels, we are confident we have selected a truly innovative hotel brand that best reflects our vision for this very special and unique development,” said Nadine Gilles, Managing Director of Prague Prime Homes Management. “As we re-imagine this historic building and create a new architectural icon for the city, we are thrilled to join forces with a visionary brand that will elevate Prague’s global status even further.”

Today’s announcement highlights the unstoppable appeal of the W Hotels brand in Europe, following the successful launch of hotels in London, Paris, Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Verbier, Istanbul and most recently, Amsterdam, marking the seventh W Hotel in Europe. The company has also revealed plans to add a new W Hotel in the Spanish capital of Madrid as well as one on Portugal’s stunning sun kissed Algarve coast (both in 2019), and will debut in Scotland in 2021. W Hotels now boasts a worldwide portfolio of 50 properties around the globe, and is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020

About W Hotels WorldwideBorn from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for nearly two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, W is on track to reach 75 hotels by 2020, defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand’s super-charged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later.

W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements: The statements about the expansion of the W hotel portfolio over the next five years and expected North American hotel openings by the end of 2020 are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, not historical facts, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth; and other risk factors identified in the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q that Marriott International, Inc. has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those statements. Those statement is made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Prague Prime Homes Management s.r.oPrague Prime Homes Management (PPH Management) is a rapidly growing investment and development management company in CEE and part of the House of Julius Meinl, an Austrian rooted family that owns a group of companies with a focus on financial services, food and real estate with a historical focus on the Central European markets. Headquartered in Prague PPH Management is focussing on the redevelopment of historical buildings in Prague and other Central European cities, such as the Grandhotel Evropa where its target is to restore the historical building to its original glory, while at the same time bringing state of the art technologies and luxury facilities to the hotel.


The Bitch (film)

The Bitch is a 1979 British drama film directed by Gerry O'Hara. It is a sequel to The Stud (1978) and, like its predecessor, is based on a novel by the British author Jackie Collins and stars her sister Joan Collins as Fontaine Khaled. Both films were made for a relatively small sum but were highly profitable at the box office, and were among the first successes in the emerging home video market of the early 1980s.

The film is considered to be "soft porn". Like The Stud, it is set against a backdrop of the late 1970s London nightclub scene and makes prominent use of  its disco soundtrack, much in the vein of Saturday Night Fever (1977).

Plot
Following from where The Stud left off, Fontaine Khaled is now a divorcee. While she still leads an extravagant jetset lifestyle, she no longer has the financial security of being a billionaire's wife and her once-successful London nightclub, "Hobo", is now failing. While on a flight returning to London from New York, she meets handsome Italian gambler Nico Cantafora. In order to impress Fontaine, Nico pretends he is a wealthy businessman, though he is actually a conman who owes money to the mafia and he covertly uses Fontaine to smuggle a stolen diamond ring through airport customs which he intends to sell in London to pay off his debts.

Nico later tracks Fontaine down in order to retrieve the ring she unwittingly carried through customs for him. They spend the night together but when she discovers that he planted the ring in her coat, she throws him out. However, when Nico later learns that the ring is a fake, he gives it to Fontaine as a light-hearted gift and she forgives him. Meanwhile, Fontaine's own financial problems continue to mount and her accountant warns her that she is rapidly running out of money. To combat this, she attempts to restore her failing nightclub to its former glory. Meanwhile, she learns of Nico's mob connections after he is beaten up by local gangsters due to the money he still owes them.

Later, Fontaine and Nico are invited to the country estate of Fontaine's best friends, Leonard and Vanessa Grant. The Grants own a racehorse named Plato that is favourite to win an upcoming high-stakes derby. Still in debt to the mafia, Nico is instructed by local gangland boss Thrush Feathers to ensure that Plato loses the race. To this effect, Nico blackmails the horse's jockey to throw the race. Fontaine overhears Nico's plan and meets with Feathers to get a cut of the deal with him which could solve her financial problems. Feathers agrees so that Fontaine won't interfere with his plans and will also be indebted to him.

On the day of the race, the jockey falls off the horse as planned and loses the race. Fontaine pretends to Nico that she betted her entire fortune on Plato to win and now she is broke, but Nico is ecstatic because he backed the winning horse and now believes he can get the mafia off his back once and for all. However, the mafia have other ideas for him and after he gives Fontaine his winning tickets to collect on his behalf, he is carted off by Feathers' henchmen. Fontaine, meanwhile, goes to collect a double payout - with Nico's winning tickets and her cut from Feathers for going along with his scam.

With the money she made from the horse race scam, and her nightclub a success again, Fontaine is saved from financial ruin. But when she arrives at her club one evening, she meets Feathers there who tells everyone he is now the club's new owner.

Cast

Joan Collins – Fontaine Khaled
Michael Coby – Nico Cantafora
Kenneth Haigh – Arnold Rinstead
Ian Hendry – Thrush Feathers
Pamela Salem – Lynn
Sue Lloyd – Vanessa Grant
Mark Burns – Leonard Grant
John Ratzenberger – Hal Leonard
Carolyn Seymour – Polly Logan
Doug Fisher – Sammy
Peter Wight – Ricky
George Sweeney – Sandy Roots
Chris Jagger – Tony Langham
Sharon Fussey – Sammy's Girl
Maurice Thorogood – Paul

Bill Mitchell – Bernie
Alibe Parsons – Bernice
Mela White – Mrs. Walters
Maurice O'Connell – John-Jo
Anthony Heaton – Luke
Timothy Carlton – Jamie
Jill Melford – Sharon
Peter Burton – Hotel Night Manager
Annie Lambert – Hotel Desk Clerk
Steve Plytas – Louis Almond
Graham Simpson – Mario
Grant Santino – Disco Dancer
Cherry Gillespie – Disco Girl
William Van Der Pye – Disc Jockey
Tai Ling – Mai Ling
Kari Ann – Marinka
Bill Nighy – Flower Delivery Boy (Uncredited)

Production
Jackie Collins had apparently given her sister Joan the rights to both The Stud and The Bitch for free so that they could be turned into movies. After funding was secured, the films were co-produced by the sisters' husbands at the time (Oscar Lerman who was married to Jackie, and Ron Kass who was married to Joan).

Although The Stud novel was made into a film nine years after its 1969 publication, The Bitch novel was published the same year the film came out. The film (written and directed by Gerry O'Hara) differs from Collins' novel slightly, particularly the ending. The novel contains a more romantic ending with Fontaine and Nico both backing the losing horse and ending up broke but still in love with each other, whereas the film has a more convoluted ending that left the door open for a potential sequel with Fontaine dealing with shady characters from London's underworld. Jackie Collins had anticipated writing a third book in the series, also to be filmed and starring Joan. However, this never came to pass and instead she went on to write the first of her Santangelo mafia-themed novels with 1981's Chances.

Reception
The Bitch was one of the most popular films of 1979 at the British box office.

Although both The Stud and The Bitch were generally panned by critics and viewed as being little more than softcore porn, they were nevertheless both commercial successes and helped to revive Joan Collins' flagging career. Her performances as the insatiable "rich bitch" Fontaine Khaled later attracted the attention of Aaron Spelling and Esther and Richard Shapiro when they were looking for an actress to play the part of Alexis Carrington in their TV series Dynasty.

Due to its erotic adult content, the film was infamously banned from local cinema screens by Tameside Council (near Manchester in England) at the time of its release.

Music
Much in the vein of Saturday Night Fever, the film features a disco soundtrack. The theme song to the film performed by Olympic Runners became a UK Top 40 hit single in August 1979, while the soundtrack album itself peaked at peaked at #39 in November. Released on Warwick Records, the album contained twenty songs that were featured in the film. Although some of these were existing hits, several were written especially for the film, including the Olympic Runners' title track, "Pour Your Little Heart Out" by The Sylistics, "Dancing On The Edge Of A Heartache" by The Hunters, "I Feel Lucky Tomight" by Linda Lewis and The Stylistics, "Music You Are" by George Chandler, and "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" by Deborah Washington. The film score was written by Biddu, with lyrics by Don Black.

Tracks included:

 Olympic Runners – "The Bitch"
 The Drifters – "Pour Your Little Heart Out"
 The Stylistics & Linda Lewis – "I Feel Lucky Tonight"
 The Hunters – "Dancing on the Edge of a Heartache"
 The Stylistics – "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"
 Herbie Hancock – "I Thought It Was You"
 The Players Association – "Turn the Music Up"
 Gonzalez – "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet"
 Blondie – "Denis"
 Deborah Washington – "Standing in the Shadows of Love"

 The Gibson Brothers – "Cuba"
 The Three Degrees – "Giving Up, Giving In"
 The Real Thing – "Can You Feel the Force?"
 Len Boone – "There's No Me Without You"
 Quantum Jump – "The Lone Ranger"
 Inner Circle – "Everything Is Great"
 The Dooleys – "Love of My Life"
 George Chandler – "Music, You Are"
 Leo Sayer – "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"

References"

External links

Category:1979 films
Category:1970s erotic drama films
Category:British films
Category:English-language films
Category:British erotic drama films
Category:Films based on British novels
Category:Films directed by Gerry O'Hara


The flag of Hezbollah has again been openly marched through the streets of London this afternoon – but only after prominent lawyer Mark Lewis delayed the event by blocking the road in his wheelchair.

More than 1,000 people rallied beneath the gun-emblazoned flag of the Lebanese terrorist group outside the Saudi Embassy, hearing speakers including Rev Stephen Sizer, who once shared a social media post pointing the finger at Israel for 9/11.

At the same time and separated by police, hundreds gathered at the other end of Curzon Street for a counter-demo les by the Zionist Federation.

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It had been anticipated that the Al Quds supporters would begin their march past some of London’s most iconic landmarks at around 5pm, with the event advertised to conclude at 6pm.

But by that time they hadn’t even yet set off, the one-man stand by Lewis, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, contributing to the delay.

READ MORE – Mark Lewis: Police saw my wheelchair as a greater threat than a machine gun

Lewis told Jewish News: “It wasn’t just me. My other half Mandy Blumenthal stayed with me. I knew that I couldn’t stand up and be counted but I could sit down.”

“These people were supporting terrorists. We had to object and not give them a free pass. These are our streets. The Government were allowing them a free rein, we had to stop them. I thought I’d challenge the Police to see if they had a legal basis to stop me exercising my freedom to protest. They said they had an order blocking the street. I asked to see it. They looked flummoxed.”

When marchers did eventually set off, chants of ‘from the river to the sea’ – seen as a call for the elimination of Israel – rang out as the protest past the Ritz Hotel. Marchers were also heard to taunt pro-Israel demonstrators, saying they would see them ‘same time’ next year.

Earlier, at counter-demo, speaker after speaker demanded the government finally take action to fully ban Hezbollah, when currently it draws a distinction between the political and military wings.

Currently only the later is banned – a legal loophole which enables the flag to be openly displayed as the group has just one flag.

Among those calling for action was counter-extremist and broadcaster Maajid Nawaz, who recalled the time “I would have been on the other side speaking at that rally”. He said he had to think carefully before attending the event, pointing to the difference between the flag of Hezbollah with its gun and that of Israel “with a symbol of your identity”.

But he told the crowds: “I thought how would I feel if people raised the KKK or Nazi flag or any flag that wanted to remove me. I realised if we don’t draw a line in the sand and if I’m not here today, what chance of anyone in wider society convincing you this is your home?

“If this kind of provocation is allowed to happen every year in the streets there will be a far-right backlash. We must stand together in solidarity against terrorism wherever we see it. I shall contine to stand with you.”

Amid chants of “terrorist flags off our streets” and “take it down”, Hendon MP Matthew Offord said: “We shouldn’t have to be here on the streets of London protesting a terrorist flag.”

He added: “Hezbollah should be proscribed in its entirety under the Terrorism Act. There are not two wings – Hezbollah says so.” Pointing out that the government had failed to take action despite calls from the London mayor and both Labour and Tory MPs following last year’s event, he asked: “If they don’t hear it from us today, when will they hear it?”

The call for action was echoed by ZF chair Paul Charney, while director Arieh Miller, pointing across the road, stressed “that is not a victimless flag”.

Names of victims of Hezbollah terror in Israel and elsewhere were held aloft on placards.

Gideon Falter of the Campaign against Antisemitism – whose petition for full proscription has garner 14,000 supporters – said the group has Jews worldwide in its sights and pointed out that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has claimed funds would dry up if the loophole was closed.

“If people want to show support for Hezbollah they should be prepared to go to prison for it. Sajid Javid, do not repeat the mistakes of Amber Rudd and Theresa May. Sajid Javid, listen to the people. It’s time for this to be the last Al Quds day.”

Addresses also came from North West and Sussex Friends of Israel, with the latter’s Simon Cobbs saying: “We are quick to attack Labour when they fail our community but we have to ask where is our government on this issue. They’ve had ample opportunity to take action.”

The counter-demo was also attended by the JLC’s Jonathan Goldstein, while, in a message read out, new Board of Deputies President Marie Van der Zyl describes the parade as “an annual opportunity to demonise the only Jewish state. It only adds to the hate that fuels the conflict.

“If they cared about the Palestinians they would tear down those flags and march instead to the Iranian and Syrian embassies.”

She also praised the Jewish News’ campaign for a full ban on Hezbollah as “courageous and consistent”.

This newspaper has in previous years launched petitions on the issue and ran a weekly countdown to this year’s parade, stressing the time the government had to make a change before Hezbollah flags would again fly with impunity.

A ComRes poll for Jewish News also showed four times as many Brits would support a ban as oppose it.


10/14/2004 @ 12:01AM

The Most Expensive U.S. Restaurants

When the French-born chef Alain Ducasse opened his eponymous restaurant atop the Essex House in New York four years ago, with dinner starting at $145 per person without wine, it was the price equivalent of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier.

Ducasse’s restaurant instantly became the most expensive in town, and even the inhabitants of a city in which excess is as natural as jaywalking were shocked at the prices and outraged by his audacity. People whined, moaned and complained about the high prices, but, perhaps inevitably, gourmets and expense accounters alike were drawn to the place, if for no other reason than to determine if any food was worth those prices.

Despite a rocky start, on the strength of its food, service and, bluntly, snob appeal, today it is one of the city’s premier power dining spots. The restaurant did away with some of the more irritating flourishes that had caused sniggers among the congnoscenti when it first opened, such as its ostentatious choice of 20 fountain pens with which to sign the bill, the hand-snipped tea leaves and the obscure cutlery. What else changed? Oh yes, the price for a meal is now $150, before wine or a tip. (The tasting menu starts at $225.) Imagine how much it would be if you tacked on a $2,500 bottle of 1982 Chateau Margaux.

Nevertheless, Ducasse’s position of being the most expensive restaurant in New York–if not the United States–was toppled in February with the opening of Masa in the Time Warner Center. Chef Masa Takayama was the owner of tiny, exquisite Ginza Sushiko in Los Angeles, which for years was the most expensive restaurant in town, with meals costing over $600 for two. Takayama closed Ginza Sushiki to open Masa where tasting menus start at $300 per person at the 26-seat restaurant. Drinks, of course, are extra.

Charging an outrageous price for a meal is one guaranteed way to garner media attention. When New York’s DB Bistro Moderne debuted its foie gras burger in 2001 for $29, it made national headlines and spurned a local burger war. The Old Homestead Steakhouse struck back with a $41 Kobe beef burger, but DB Bistro Moderne eventually won with its $50 burger, made with sirloin steak, a filling of boned short ribs braised in red wine, foie gras, and preserved black truffles. The war spurred even swanky Le Cirque 2000 to unveil its version of a gourmet burger.

Restaurateurs are not the only people who are using high prices to attract attention. The Blue Bar at the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan offers a “Martini on the Rock” which starts at $10,000, and includes a diamond of the purchaser’s choice. (No one has ordered it yet.) The World Bar in New York’s Trump Tower is the home of the $50 martini, a mix of Remy XO and Pineau des Charentes, freshly pressed grape juice, topped with Veuve Clicquot champagne and a touch of 23-karat edible liquid gold. With tax and tip, it will come to about $64. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort in Arizona offers a $57 margarita made with Herradura Seleccion Suprema tequila. But the holder of the Guinness World Record for the most expensive commercially made cocktail goes to the €400 ($489) Ritz Side Car, available at the Hemingway Bar at the Hotel Ritz in Paris. Why the high price? The cocktail contains 1865 Ritz Fine Champagne.

Whenever a restaurant unveils an outrageously priced menu, it will inevitably draw the curious. The real problem is achieving staying power after the novelty has worn off. Since Ducasse opened his restaurant, he’s handed over the kitchen to chef Christian Delouvrier and actually raised the prices. As long as the service and cuisine are top notch, charging extremely high prices almost guarantees a restaurant will become a power dining spot as Ginza Sushiko was for years. Getting a reservation at any top restaurant is hard enough, but taking a client to place like Masa or Alain Ducasse will certainly impress them (or a date).

But the high prices reflect huge investment on behalf of the restaurant. Chef Takayama has also been known to fly to Japan himself to import the freshest and often obscure fish. Bastide, the most expensive restaurant in LA, is owned by Joe Pytka, achieved notoriety when he splashed out on a one kilogram, $35,000 white truffle, which ended up on the menu. Fresh flowers, expensive crystal and china, and constant refurbishment of the dining room and kitchen, not to mention salaries, rent, insurance and other sunk costs all contribute to the bottom line.

While it may not be hard to believe that Manhattan would be home to such pricey eateries, other cities are catching up. The Herbfarm in Seattle charges an average of $152 per person, and French Laundry in San Francisco, $135. In order to determine which were the Most Expensive U.S. Restaurants, we broke the country down by city–otherwise the list would have been almost entirely composed of New York restaurants. We judged the restaurants by determining the average cost of a meal per person with one glass of wine and tip, using data from the Zagat Survey. Remember, wine can vary greatly in price and can easily add several hundred dollars to the final tally, which is why the price of a bottle is not included.

Some of the restaurant prices were surprisingly reasonable, such as the $64 per person average at Tony’s in Houston. If we had added restaurants around the world, the list would have been skewed differently, with the inclusion of Gordon Ramsay in London (£86 per person or $153) or Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saison (£88 per person or $157) in Britain, or L’Osier in Tokyo, where meals average ¥21,700 ($197). We did not include one-off special dinners, although some certainly caught our eye. On December 17, the Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo will be hosting what it says will be the world’s most expensive meal. Chef Joel Robouchon and wine expert Robert Parker, Jr. will be hosting a Hedonist Dinner where diners can enjoy the last existing bottle of 1870 Chateau Lafite Rothschild and a bottle of 1900 Chateau Margaux. The Hedonist Package includes one seat at the dinner and a three night stay in a suite for $13,000, which includes complimentary breakfast.


Weymouth Pavilion

The Weymouth Pavilion, formerly the Ritz, is a theatre in Weymouth, Dorset. The complex contains a 988-seat theatre, 600 (maximum) capacity ballroom known as the Ocean Room, the Piano Bar restaurant, Ritz Cafe and other function and meeting rooms.

The original pavilion, constructed in 1908, was destroyed in a fire in 1954 and the current theatre was built in its place in 1958. It was owned and operated by Weymouth & Portland Borough Council until 2013 and is now operated by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The theatre is located at the end of The Esplanade between Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Beach. The Jurassic Skyline is also located in this area.

History

The Pavilion and The Ritz (1908-1954)
The original pavilion was built in response to Weymouth's increasingly popularity as a seaside resort. Following calls for an entertainment venue, a site at the southern end of the Esplanade was chosen and an architectural competition launched in 1907 for the design of the theatre. It was built in 1908 of timber, with a steel frame, for a cost of £14,150, which included the reclamation of land on the esplanade. It was officially opened on 21 December 1908. In 1914, the council began leasing the theatre to Ernest Wheeler, who continued to run it for twenty five years. It later saw competition with the opening of the Alexandra Gardens Theatre in 1924. In response, the pavilion also began screening films.

The pavilion was requisitioned by the military during World War II and was largely used by the newly-formed No. 4 Commando. During 1940, it was used to house 800 Moroccans from the French army and was then later used as a medical centre during the evacuation of the Channel Islands. The pavilion saw bomb damage in an air raid during April 1942 and was afterwards taken over by the Admiralty, who retained it as a naval post sorting office until 1947.

In 1947, the council leased the venue to the Buxton Theatre Circuit. After a new cinema projection room was installed in 1949, the tenants re-opened the theatre as The Ritz in May 1950. A new management company, Melcombe Productions, took over the venue in September 1951. Later in January 1954, some restoration work began on the building, including the renewal of the roof and the redecorating of its wooden exterior. However, on 13 April 1954, the building caught fire, which destroyed much of the building within an hour. The fire was sourced to the misuse of a blow-lamp and the damage costs were estimated to be around £80,000. The council claimed on the venue's fire insurance policy and its remains were demolished.

Weymouth Pavilion (1958-1960)
After much debate, the construction of a new theatre and ballroom began in September 1958. The design plans were drawn up by Samuel Beverley. After running a competition to name the new venue in 1959, the council decided on Weymouth Pavilion against The Normandy. The pavilion, which had cost £154,000 to build, was officially opened on 15 July 1960. The ballroom had opened shortly before this.

Redevelopment schemes (2006-2012)

It was announced in 2006 that the pavilion and its surroundings would be redeveloped as part of a £135-million redevelopment scheme from 2007 to 2011, in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. The  site was planned to include a new theatre, a World Heritage Site visitor centre, a new ferry terminal, a hotel, an undercover car park, a shopping arcade, apartments and a marina. However, the scheme was cancelled in 2009 due to the economic recession.

In 2012, Jeffrey Heintz of London-based designers White Knight, put forward a new £160-million redevelopment plan, stating that his team could transform the pavilion into a "flourishing one" under a trust and save taxpayers thousands of pounds. However, the onset of the 2012 Olympic Games prevented any redevelopment scheme from going ahead.

Closure and community handover (2012-present)
In 2012, The Borough Council announced it was considering options for cost-saving on the Pavilion site. Later that year, they announced the possible option of demolishing the pavilion and replacing it with a car park. In response, local campaigners launched a petition. Further talks by the council in 2013 considered the pavilion's future. Some of the options included demolishing it, leasing it to a community interest company or selling the building.

It was recommended that the pavilion should be handed over to the community as opposed to demolition. After the official decision was made on 21 February 2013, the council called for bids to manage the venue for community use. Following a formal tender process the Pavilion was closed on 13 May 2013. The following month saw the announcement that local businessman Phil Say had been successful in bidding to run the theatre as a nonprofit business operated by a newly formed Community Interest Company. The new lease was signed on 5 July 2013 and Weymouth Pavilion reopened to the public on 13 July 2013.

In January 2015, it was revealed that the pavilion's figures had more than doubled under its new management, having in excess of 300,000 visitors and selling over 60,000 tickets in 2014. The following January saw the pavilion's most commercially successful show, the Christmas pantomime Snow White, which topped box office records set by the previous year's pantomime Aladdin.

The theatre now provides a wide-ranging programme including stand up comedians, live music, tribute acts, plays, opera and touring musicals such as Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

References

External links
Official Website

Category:1908 establishments in England
Category:Theatres in Dorset
Pavilion
Pavilion
Pavilion


2009 in architecture

The year 2009 in architecture involved some significant architectural events and new buildings.

Events
March 3 – Historical Archive of the City of Cologne (1971) collapses.
April 6 – 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Italy; dome of Santa Maria di Collemaggio collapses for the second time.
May 26 – Construction work at Louvre Abu Dhabi officially begins.
October 21 – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City celebrates its 50th anniversary (after a three-year restoration effort).
November – The second World Architecture Festival is held in Barcelona.
Burj Khalifa is set to open several different times in 2009, and ultimately postponed until 2010.
The Russia Tower gets cancelled due to unknown reasons.
PLP Architecture founded in London.

Buildings and structures

Buildings opened

January  – Embassy of the United States, Baghdad, the largest and most expensive embassy in the world, opens.
January 17 – Copenhagen Concert Hall, designed by Jean Nouvel, opens.
January 31 – Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, opens.
February 15 – Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, inaugurated.
February 22 – Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City reopens after major renovations by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
March 7 – Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, California, designed by Duncan G. Stroik, is dedicated.
March 14 – New Cardiff Central Library in St. David's, Cardiff, Wales, designed by Building Design Partnership, opens to the public.
April 2 – New Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees baseball team in the Bronx, designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport), opens.
April 13 – Citi Field, new home of the New York Mets baseball team in Queens, opens.
April 25 – Prada Transformer building in Seoul, South Korea, designed by Rem Koolhaas, opens.
April 30 – 300 New Jersey Avenue office building on the mall in Washington, D.C., designed by British architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, opens.

May 21 – Museum Brandhorst in Munich, designed by Sauerbruch Hutton, opens.
June 8 – First segment of the High Line Park in Chelsea, Manhattan opens.
June 21 – New Acropolis Museum in Athens, designed by Bernard Tschumi with Michael Photiadis, opens to the public.
August 4 – The Knut Hamsun Centre in Hamarøy, Norway, designed by Steven Holl, opens.
August 15 – 41 Cooper Square, the new Cooper Union academic building in New York City, designed by Thom Mayne, has its opening ceremony.
September 9 – Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark, new building designed by American architect Steven Holl, opens.
September 29 – Manitoba Hydro Place in downtown Winnipeg, designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects of Toronto, opens.
October 16 – Extensive interior reconstruction of the Neues Museum, Berlin, to the designs of David Chipperfield, is officially opened.
November 7 – Extensive three-year internal rebuild and expansion of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, to the designs of Rick Mather, is completed.
November 14 – Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham (gallery) in Nottingham, England, designed by Caruso St John, opens.
December – Jamieson Place (Calgary) in Calgary, Alberta
December 5 – Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, part of the CityCenter complex in Paradise, Nevada, opens.
December 16 – The CityCenter urban complex in Paradise, Nevada, designed by Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects, opens.
date unknown – Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm-Zentrum library at Humboldt University of Berlin, designed by Max Dudler.

Buildings completed

May 27 – Cowboys Stadium, new home of the Dallas Cowboys football team, designed by HKS.
October 21 – Soccer City (FNB Stadium) in Johannesburg, South Africa, host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
November – MAXXI - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy, designed by Zaha Hadid.
November 1 – Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi in the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, designed by Asymptote Architecture of New York.
December 27 – Darunaman Mosque in northern Thailand.
date unknown
The Cathedral of the Annunciation in Voronezh, Russia.
Legacy Tower, Chicago, designed by Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz.
The Tower, Meridian Quay, Swansea, Wales, designed by Latitude Architects.
Punta della Dogana art museum in Venice, restored by Tadao Ando.
Woodward's Building in Vancouver, Canada.
Buildings in Spain designed by Alberto Campo Baeza
"Between Cathedrals", Cádiz.
MA Museum, Granada.
Rufo House, Toledo.

Awards
AIA Gold Medal – Glenn Murcutt (Australia)
Alvar Aalto Medal – Tegnestuen Vandkunsten
Architecture Firm Award – Olson Kundig Architects
Driehaus Architecture Prize – Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil
Grand Prix de l'urbanisme – François Ascher
Emporis Skyscraper Award – Aqua
European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Prize) – Snøhetta
Lawrence Israel Prize - Gaetano Pesce
Praemium Imperiale Architecture Award – Zaha Hadid
Pritzker Prize – Peter Zumthor
 RAIA Gold Medal – Ken Maher
RIBA Royal Gold Medal – Álvaro Siza Vieira
Stirling Prize – Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture – Robert Irwin.
Twenty-five Year Award – Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Vincent Scully Prize – Christopher Alexander

Births

Deaths
January 14 – Jan Kaplický, Czech architect (born 1937)
February 3 – Earl Flansburgh, Boston architect (born 1931)
February 23 – Sverre Fehn, Norwegian architect (born 1924)
July 9 – H. T. Cadbury-Brown, English architect (born 1913)
July 15 – Julius Shulman, California architectural photographer (born 1910)
August 3 – Charles Gwathmey, American architect (born 1938)
August 16 – Mualla Eyüboğlu, one of the first female Turkish architects  (born 1919)
November 27 – Maxwell M. Kalman, Québécois architect (born 1906)
December 8 – Claude Vasconi, French architect (born 1940)

See also
Timeline of architecture

References

Category:21st-century architecture


Toronto is often considered one of the most exciting metropolitan cities in Canada. Consequently, finding cheap hotels in Toronto can be a difficult task. Tourists and visitors from across the nation come to the city in order to take part in this vibrant atmosphere. The city houses the Toronto Stock Exchange, which in turn influences the financial status of the entire country. The Toronto International Film Festival attracts the most glamorous North American and International celebrities. The multiculturalism of the city also allows for one of the most diverse culinary and artistic experiences in any international city. Because there is so much variety in Toronto, there are hotels that can be found at a reasonable price. Here are some ways to find cheap accommodations in the city.

For those who are students or are travelling on a budget, a hostel is an excellent option. Most people who stay in Toronto are not interested in staying in their rooms the entire time. They are looking for clean and sanitary accommodations that will house their luggage and provide them with a good night’s rest. This is why staying at cheap hotels in Toronto is so ideal. Hostels are usually a very safe place to store one’s valuables. For those who are sharing suites, there are normally lockers that are made available for a small price. The rates at these facilities are often extremely economical, with some places charging as low at $15 per evening. Staying at cheap hotels in Toronto also allows people to spend more on food and shopping during their trip.

A person should also look at the internet when searching for reasonable accommodations. Many cheap hotels in Toronto will have official websites that list the types of rooms available and the rates charged per night. Most of these websites will also list the location’s proximity to the main attractions in the city. Generally, the closer a hotel is to downtown, the more expensive the nightly rates will be. Many cheap hotels in Toronto will offer deals and discounts to people who book online in order to attract more customers. This is a great way to find cheap rates on good accommodations.

Finding reasonable rates in one of Canada’s epicenters is therefore very possible. A person needs to look at all of the options that are available in order to find cheap hotels in Toronto. A person can either look at youth hostels or at deals that are available online. Finding a location that is outside of downtown is also very ideal. A terrific vacation awaits for those people who are willing to put in the effort to find excellently priced accommodations.

If you are looking to travel to an exotic country rich in history and culture, Italy is one destination you won’t want to miss. Never before has a culture so influenced mankind all over the world. All you have to do is look at Leonardo Da Vinci and the Sistine chapel, or take a bite of pasta or pizza made with rich Italian olive oil, or just glance up at the Roman ruins, a vestige of the great Roman empire to see what a fantastic travel destination Italy truly is. After all, how can you go wrong with the birthplace of the Renaissance? If you haven’t yet visited Italy, it’s probably because you think a vacation like that would be too expensive. That’s not the case, however, when you know how to find cheap hotels in Italy that will allow you to save your hard earned money to better enjoy yourself when you finally get there.

Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy filled with culture, heritage and architecture that will stun and mesmerize any visitor. There is the Colosseum to see where the gladiators fought, the Trevi Fountain to make your wish come true, the Pantheon to see the temple built for the pagan gods, the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel, and so much more! So why waste your money on an expensive hotel when you could be buying souvenirs or going on tours? There is the Melia Roma Aurelia Antica, the Hotel Bolivar, and The Bailey’s Hotel, all between 50 and 75 Euros a night if you use Trav.com! This is a great deal for good quality, cheap hotels in Italy!

Venice is also one of those cities that will absolutely take your breath away. Visitors can take a gondola trip down the famous Grand Canal or walk through St. Mark’s Square to see the center of the city or to feed the many pigeons that occupy the area. There are so many activities to do once you are in Venice that you want to save all the money you can so that you can do as many of them as possible. So as far as cheap hotels in Italy go, there is the Hotel La Meridiana, the Hotel Villa Odino, and the Elite Hotel Residence, all for under 50 Euros a night with Trav.com. Any of these hotels would easily fit into a budget holiday to Italy and would provide comfort and relaxation after a long day of sightseeing.

No one can go to Italy and not visit the beautiful and historical city of Florence. It is steeped in history and architecture that you have to see to believe. While there, any visitor has to see Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in Italy, and to pay respects at Michelangelo’s and Dante’s tomb. Visitors should also the Baptistery of John the Baptist and the Piazza della Signoria, the most famous square in Florence, to see a copy of Michelangelo’s David. When there are such stunning places to visit, the last thing a tourist should worry about if finding a quality, cheap hotel in Italy. To help with a budget friendly trip, there is the Hotel Il Cigno, the Hotel Ritz, and the Best Western Hotel Palazzo Ognissanti, for under 50 Euros a night! These are great places to find cheap hotels in Italy!

So if you are going to Italy soon and do not want to throw away your money on expensive hotels, then check out any of the cheap hotels in Italy that will fit right into your budget holiday!

A cheap hotel is not necessarily a bad hotel, and sometimes a traveler can find a great bargain on a hotel that is one of the best in town. Many travelers get on a train, plane or bus for business, education or romance. Some people are great tourists who want to see as much of the world as possible. Most of the people in need of a hotel are looking for a comfortable place to stay while away from home. These people do not usually pick a hotel because it is expensive. They pick their hotel because they expect that it will have comfortable beds and good restaurants.

Almost everyone looks for a hotel that is reasonably priced, and most travelers are quite happy if they can find a cheap hotel. The number one reason that people pick a hotel is for cleanliness. They do not want to use a toilet that is not clean because other people that they do not know have used it. They want a hotel that has clean linens and carpeting on the floor. If travelers can find cheap hotels that are clean and tidy, the travelers will probably have a much better time on their trip.

Some Hotel Chains Are Known for their Cheap Hotels

Some hotel chains are successful because they provide cheap hotels that are clean and tidy. The travelers know the reputations of the hotel chains, and they tend to book rooms with a chain of hotels because they know that the prices are good and the places are clean. These chains that provide cheap hotels know that they will lose customers if people find out that they have dirty accommodations. The cheap hotel chains usually have a string of hotels across the country and around the world.

Travelers can stay at a cheap hotel from a certain chain in London or Los Angeles. They know that this chain of hotels has a reputation, and that they will probably live up to this reputation whether the hotel is in Paris or Phoenix. The cheap hotels are usually quite comfortable although they are not luxurious. The hotels have beds that are comfortable and restaurants with great food. Cheap hotels can be booked through a travel agency. There are several online services that can provide rates from several cheap hotels in one city for comparison. These services often have accurate photos of the facilities on the website.


Dining

At this Hotel

Dining Services

Local restaurant dinner delivery

Room service

Sundry/Convenience store

Breakfast

Buffet breakfast, fee from 28.00 USD

Continental breakfast, fee from 19.00 USD

American

Rockwood Grill

Serving delicious American-style cuisine made from local ingredients, the Rockwood Grill has become a Palm Desert favorite. Enjoy the beautiful garden setting while savoring the breakfast buffet or our hearty and healthy lunch and dinner options.

Mikado Japanese Steakhouse

Sample the savory fare at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse at our Palm Desert Resort. Using traditional methods to create an innovative menu, the restaurant uses only the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients, creating a profound dining experience.

Aquifer65 and The Sushi Bar

Whether you are in the mood for a handcrafted cocktail or classic Japanese cuisine, you can find it in the lobby of our Palm Desert resort. Here, The Lobby Bar or The Sushi Bar will satisfy your epicurean cravings in a sophisticated yet welcoming setting.

Open for dinnerDress code: CasualPhone: +1 760-341-2211

American

Oasis Poolside Bar & Grille

Sample casual American cuisine at the Oasis Bar & Grille. Our poolside dining option offers light fare and tasty libations all while you bask in the Palm Desert sunshine.

Open for lunchDress code: CasualPhone: +1 760-341-2211

Other

Costas Nightclub

Step inside our resort's 21-and-over Costa's Nightclub for a thrilling evening of beats and treats. Our Palm Desert nightclub is known for its vibrant atmosphere and DJ. For night's filled with live music, there may be a cover charge.

Dress code: No Bathing SuitsPhone: +1 760-341-1795

California

Blue Star Lounge

Bask in the beauty of our Palm Desert resort's stunning views while you dine at the Blue Star Lounge. Welcoming fire pits bring a warm glow over the space, as delicious California fare is offered for lunch and dinner.

Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: Casual

American

Starbucks®

Our hotel Starbucks® is an ideal spot to get your morning moving. Pick up a large cup of specialty coffee or tea and a pastry before the start of a busy day. The coffee shop's fresh sandwiches and snacks also make for appealing on-the-go dining options.

Open for breakfast and lunchDress code: CasualPhone: +1 760-341-2211

Seafood

Fisherman's Landing

Perfectly prepared seafood, locally-sourced ingredients and tempting desserts are on order at Fisherman's Landing. This award-winning Palm Desert restaurant features a casual atmosphere and delicious cuisine which has people returning again and again.

Marriott For:

Best Available Rate Guarantee assures you receive the best rates when you book directly with us. If you find a lower publicly available rate within 24 hours of booking, we will match that rate plus give you 25% off the lower rate, subject to guarantee terms and exclusions. Guarantee does not apply to Ritz-Carlton Montreal, The Ritz London, Ritz-Carlton Residences®, and Starwood-Branded Hotels, including Four Points Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Aloft Hotels, W Hotels, Le Meridien Hotels, Luxury Collection Hotels, Element Hotels, Westin Hotels, St. Regis Hotels, Tribute Portfolio Hotels and Design Hotels. Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® members (“Rewards Members”) who book rooms through a Marriott® Direct Booking Channel, authorized travel agents or select corporate travel partners ("Eligible Channels") at hotels that participate in Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards loyalty programs will receive an exclusive, preferred rate (“Marriott Rewards Member Rate”). Member Rates are available globally at all hotels that participate in Marriott Rewards Exclusions apply. See our Terms & Conditions for additional details related to our Best Available Rate Guarantee and Marriott Rewards Member Rate. Hotels shown on Marriott.com may be operated under a license from Marriott International, Inc. or one of its affiliates.


About Book

Kingsley Amis, John Osborne, John Braine, Colin Wilson, John Wain - five names instantly redolent of the 1950s and the Angry Young Men phenomenon. However, as Humphrey Carpenter explores with relish, the suggestion that these and other writers, tagged in the same way, formed a homogeneous cadre of rebellion is false and is much more the product of media myth-making than anything else. Indeed, the Angry Young Men could hardly have been a more diverse group, sundered by ability, achievement, beliefs and outlook.

This was the sort of book Humphrey Carpenter excelled at, with The Inklings, Secret Gardens, Geniuses Together,The Brideshead Generation and The Angry Young Men almost making the category of group literary biography his own. This was his last in the idiom and probably the funniest.

Kingsley Amis, John Osborne, John Braine, Colin Wilson, John Wain - five names instantly redolent of the 1950s and the Angry Young Men phenomenon. However, as Humphrey Carpenter explores with relish, the suggestion that these and other writers, tagged in the same way, formed a homogeneous cadre of rebellion is false and is much more the product of media myth-making than anything else. Indeed, the Angry Young Men could hardly have been a more diverse group, sundered by ability, achievement, beliefs and outlook.This was the sort of book Humphrey Carpenter excelled at, with The Inklings, Secret Gardens, Geniuses Together, The Brideshead Generation and The Angry Young Men almost making the category of group literary biography his own. This was his last in the idiom and probably the funniest.

About Humphrey Carpenter

Humphrey Carpenter was born and educated in Oxford, and attended the Dragon School and Keble College. He was a well-known biographer and children's writer, and worked previously as a producer at the BBC. He wrote biographies of J. R. R. Tolkien, W. H. Auden, Benjamin Britten, Ezra Pound, C. S. Lewis and Dennis Potter. Among his many books for children were the best-selling Mr Majeika series. He also wrote several plays for the theatre and radio. A keen musician, he was a member of a 1930s-style jazz band, Vile Bodies, which was resident at the Ritz Hotel in London for a number of years. He died in 2005.

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Nude Tones

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They say that fashion is cyclical and that everything comes back (hello, power shoulders and hippie headgear!), but who knew the turnaround would be so fast! You see, dear readers, around this time last year, your trusty WhoWhatWear.com editors reported on an exciting new spring trend: New Nudes. And while that was then and this is now, this pale palette still feels decidedly fresh and evergreen this season. From blush to beige to ecru and eggshell right now neutral apparel has some serious appeal. Of course, there are a few differences to the way our favorite fashion-philes are incorporating this hue into their repertoire, so we are happy to highlight all the particulars in today's How They Wear: Nude Tones feature! Nude is nice for an elegant evening event, as our two favorite KatesÂ--Bosworth and MossÂ--prove. Seen at the Love Ball in London, Moss went for a Chiffon Tank Top Embroidered With Pearls from the Valentino Spring 2010 Couture collection and Christian Louboutin's Pigalle Python Pumps ($995). The texture and eye-catching pop of color plus the subtly patterned heels add up to a truly successful lavish look. Be sure to try this Asymmetrical Ruffle Dress ($348) from Milly, Camilla & Marc's Constantine Dress ($560), or Topshop's Lace Slip ($90) for some similarly fantastic styles!

Another way to wear neutrals is to play with shape and proportion, as the lovely Caroline Sieber wisely did. Sieber opted for a beautiful Valentino Side-Draped Dress ($4590) while attending the fashion house's Haute Couture S/S 2010 at Couvent des Cordeliers. The oversized scale of the swirled organza bow adds a fashion-forward feel to her pale party frock, and we love how she tempered the drama of the dress with dark textured stockings and chic Chanel soles. Though it's not quite as bold, we also like Diane von Furstenberg's Milton Dress ($465) for it's Sieber-like style!

Of course, some of our style stars are reaching for a nice nude-noir mash up, and that is perfectly fine with us, considering how fresh it feels for spring. For example, Chanel beauty ambassador Poppy Delevigne opted for a crÃ¨me colored jacket and blouse with skinny black trousers when she attended the Vanessa Paradis-hosted Chanel Rouge Coco dinner during NYFW, while Olivia Palermo opted for a high-contrast combo on a recent UK visit. Seen here at The Langham Hotel in London, Palermo mixed up her muted Friends With Benefits Giselle Tweed Jacket ($1000) and Alba Tweed High Waisted Shorts ($400) by adding Freda's Silk Vest ($219). Adding a layer of silky sheen in a soft champagne shade is a seriously smart strategy, so make sure to check out Tucker's Camisole ($176) and wear it under your favorite jackets all season long!

And while contrast is a chic choice, we also like how Ashley Olsen kept the palette of her ensemble consistent. Snapped at the S/S 10 Tommy Hilfiger show at Bryant Park, OlsenÂ--who is still riding the wave of excellent press she received from The Row's first runway showÂ--looked gorgeous in an all-griege outfit. A pair of The Row pantsÂ--or these Narrow Capri Pants ($595) from Piazza SempioneÂ--combined perfectly with a heather Tommy Hilfiger top, proving that two lights can most definitely make a right. Â--KM


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Browns is a 5-star luxury hotel in Albemarle Street, Mayfair, with guest facilities including bar, air conditioning, business facilities, ensuite bathrooms, restaurant, room service, safe, TVs, Wi-Fi. Sophistication and classic English style are the hallmarks of the legendary... more

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Travelodge has a 3-star rating and is located in Drury Lane, Holborn, with guest facilities including air conditioning, bar, business facilities, car parking, ensuite bathrooms, internet access, TVs, Wi-Fi. Travelodge provides modern and well equipped accommodation including f... more

Westbury has a 4-star rating and is located in Conduit Street, Mayfair. The Westbury is centrally located in London on Bond Street and is surrounded by boutiques such as Versace, Tiffany's, Armani, Sotheby's and Burberry. There are 236 rooms and 19 ensuite rooms equipped with... more