Thurs. March 9 – CREM Members Party
Day: 14 January 2017
“Protection of the Mediterranean”: free conference Sunday at Stars”n’Bars
Last June, Stars’n’Bars launched the Principality’s first EcoHub, which included housing a Monaco-based vegetable garden to serve the restaurant, hosting Monacology week and drawing attention to year-round events like Earth Day and World Water Day.
As part of EcoHub’s commitment to the environment – the sea, forest, sustainable development, water consumption and renewable energies – Stars’n’Bars has also been offering its premises, and network of nearly 30 years, to other eco-conscious individuals in the region to help raise awareness though conferences and workshops.
As founder Kate Powers explained: “We use less than 40 percent of our space and operating hours to benefit our customers and it’s clear that we have so much more to offer.”
On Sunday January 15, a free afternoon seminar under the theme “Protection of the Mediterranean” will provide a series of five mini-conferences in French highlighting planet preservation.
Emceed by Pascal Mayol of Souffleurs D’écume, participants are key players in the region’s ecological scene, starting at 1 pm with photographer Ed Wright who will talk about “Plastics, Mediterranean and Deception: All Before 2041”, followed by Pascal Mayol on “Men and Cetaceans: How to Cohabit” (2 pm) and, at 3:30 pm, “Risso’s Dolphin: An Amazing Yet Unknown Animal” presented by Nathalie Ile (Expe 2M and GIS3M).
The conference rounds off with the World Recorder of Free-Diving, Pierre Frolla, discussing “The Oceans: The last Wall For Our Survival” and, lastly, at 5:30 pm, CESTMED’s Delphine Gambaiani will address “Protection of Marine Turtles”.
The event starts at 1 pm and is open both adults and children, because “it’s never too late or too soon to make a difference”.
“Designing Dreams” exhibit ends Sunday
“Designing Dreams, A Celebration of Leon Bakst” at the Villa Sauber ends January 15. Last year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of this artist, whose name is inextricably linked to the great adventure of the Ballets Russes.
With its own collections, the archives of SBM and numerous loans, the New National Museum of Monaco has been offering an exhibition centred on the major ballets for which Leon Bakst created the costumes: including Scheherazade and the Spectre de la rose. Besides costumes, drawings, prints, models, props, visitors can also witness Bakst’s passion for textile design.
It’s natural that the NNMM turned to the artist Nick Mauss to design the exhibition. The latter has produced numerous creations inspired by the fabric patterns by Bakst, the most notable of them being the interior drape adorning the staircase of the Villa Sauber whose decor is entirely stencil.
As this important exhibition demonstrates, the Russian artist continues to have a strong influence on contemporary designers.
Villa Sauber is open this weekend 10 am to 6 pm. Admission €6.
Dust off the kilt for Burns’ Night with BAM
The British Association of Monaco is holding its Burns’ Night celebration on January 20. “So kilts and tartan at the ready and we hope that many members and friends will come and join us to celebrate this great Scottish poet and participate in a few Scottish dances,” says Vanessa Ilsley, BAM’s president. The venue is Stars’n’Bars, and the party starts at 7:30 pm. Pre-paid tickets only can be booked though their website.
BAM provides a focus for British and Commonwealth citizens living in Monaco and surrounding areas, to meet socially and to represent their views in the Principality. The Association also provides a much-appreciated welfare service for those in need.
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Socca returning to Monaco
The honour of Monaco’s national dish goes undisputedly to the tasty Barbagiuan, but socca, the chickpea-based street food strongly associated with the town of Nice, is still a typical treat in the Principality, and its future had been cast in doubt until this weekend.
The covered market at La Condamine has been a popular place to taste socca, but Chez Roger, the stall specialising in Monegasque food, had to close six months ago due to ill health. In response, the Facebook group “SOS Socca” launched a petition, calling on the Town Hall to bring back the socca.
“All the fans of this typical, delicious and convivial dish are desperate, and some of them have lapsed into depression,” the campaigners say. “We call on the Town Hall to organise the reopening of this mythical place, find a replacement or a temporary solution to avoid family dramas. The elderly and small children are starting to show alarming signs of deprivation …”
Hundreds of Facebook users joined the campaign and on Sunday, January 8, it was announced the Chez Roger will reopen February 2.
“I want to thank all the people who have supported Roger. We would like to send sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Monaco Town Hall, thank you for your support, patience and listening during this period.”
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Fontvieille works start Monday
As part of Operation Pasteur, the demolition of the pergola along boulevard Charles III and the former municipal workshops along the avenue de Fontvieille, will begin on Monday, January 16, 2017.
To achieve this destruction under optimum safety conditions, scaffolding will be installed on the avenue de Fontvieille. Also, the uplink will be closed until mid-March 2017, while the downhill use of the avenue will be maintained throughout the duration of the work.
As a security measure, the Fontvieille staircase will also be closed during the demolition and pedestrians will be invited to take the stairs of Le Méridien 100 metres away.
Work will begin on connecting the Pasteur operation to the wastewater and storm water networks in the Fontvieille district.
“This restructuring of wastewater networks is now necessary in this district,” said Olivier Lavagna, Director of Public Works. He added: “Over the decades, the urbanisation of the Principality, whether it concerns public housing, residential buildings or offices, requires adapting all the networks to the increased resident, employee or visitor population.”
Jean-Luc Puyo, Director of Urban Development, commented, “Over the years, significant storms, even critical ones, have seen thousands of litres of rainwater arrive from the watersheds around the Principality. We have experienced flood events that show the importance of having a network calibrated to respond to these changing weather conditions.”
The state services in charge of this project have implemented phasing to limit the impact on road and pedestrian traffic in this neighbourhood, especially when sporting fixtures are being held.
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