Hip happenings in all your favourite holiday destinations

Picture this:

Paris en Couleurs

To celebrate 100 years of colour photography, Paris’s Hôtel de Ville, or town hall, is hosting Paris en Couleurs, a photographic exhibition displaying Paris in all its glory from the earliest full spectrum shots of the French capital right up to more recent colour images. This 1948 picture of the Place Vendôme is by American photojournalist Robert Capa, better known for his war images. The exhibition runs until 31 March. See, history isn’t always black and white.

Bonding exercise:

Quantum of Solace

If you want to catch an early glimpse of the new Bond film, due for release in November, head for the Austrian/Italian border. Scenes from the 22nd Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, are being shot around Italy’s Lake Garda and the Austrian shore of Lake Constance in April and May. The Italian scenes might be hard to track down, but the Austrian ones will be a little easier to locate, since the filming is due to take place on the shoreside set of Bregenz’s opera festival. Extras will watch a performance of Puccini’s Tosca, while Daniel Craig (pictured) and co prowl about the set. If you’re in Austria 28 April – 10 May, keep an eye out for 007.

Big chic boutique:

Clarion Hotel Sign

When it comes to design hotels, small isn’t always beautiful. Stockholm’s newest hotel, the Clarion Sign, is also the city’s biggest; its 558 rooms were first occupied back in February. But Sign certainly hasn’t skimped on style. The spectacular glass and black granite building devotes entire floors to the work of iconic Scandinavian designers, such as Bruno Mathsson, Erik Jörgensen and, of course, Arne Jacobsen. Plus there’s a very chic pool and spa on the roof. Check in for the latest in design and convenience. And find out where the pop stars go out in Stockholm on page 84.

Ulster calling

Bushmills whiskey and pricey cocktails

To mark the 400th anniversary of Northern Ireland’s famous Bushmills Distillery this April a limited-edition crystal malt “1608” whiskey has been blended up for a price of approximately €70, and for whiskey fans it’s well worth a tipple. Visitors can tour the distillery all year – and try a free sample – then get a breath of fresh air at the Giants’ Causeway, which is just a couple of miles away. And if you are still thirsty you’ve just about got time to sample the world’s most expensive Mai Tai, for £750 (€999) at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Latest news from the bar is that there are only 12 measures left of the rare 17-year-old Wray & Nephew rum – the key ingredient of the Merchant’s cocktail which has been called “the very best Mai Tai in the world”.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 4:54 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.