Month: April 2017

Silversea’s new flagship Silver Muse is “set to offer the highest expression of excellence in elegance and comfort at sea,” according to CEO Roberto Martinoli. It’s no wonder then Silver Muse has chosen to dock a short shuttle drive away from the Grimaldi Forum, the venue for luxury lifestyle show Top Marques Monaco, before she starts her voyage to the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Silversea, a family-run company based in Monaco that dominates the ultra-exclusive cruise market, picked up its ninth boutique vessel on April 3, from the Italian shipyard Fincantieri.

On April 6, Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre and Mr Martinoli were among the VIPs on Silver Muse’s maiden call at Tarragona, Spain, which happened to coincide with the grand opening of Ferrari Land, the newest park in PortAventura World, which is expected to draw 500,000 visitors a year.

Also on board were members of the Ferrari family and Carlo Bonomi, managing partner of private equity giant Investindustrial, the lead investor in PortAventura World. Investindustrial also owns close to 40 per cent of Aston Martin.

Guests of Silver Muse were able to try out Ferrari Land’s 112-metre high Red Force, now Europe’s tallest and – with an acceleration from zero to 180 km/h in five seconds and a force of 1.3 G – fastest rollercoaster “where thrill seekers rocket along” as if driving a Ferrari.

Top Marques Monaco Sponsorship Director, Steven Saltzman, sat next to Mr Bonomi for the opening ride of Red Force on Thursday. “It’s unthinkable in its effect.” Mr Saltzman told Monaco Life. “It makes no sense when you’re riding it, as you go ‘over’ there is no visible means of support, and you seem to hang on to air for what seems eternity.”

As Mr Saltzman put it, “The Formula One driver who was present says Red Force eclipses even F1 sensations of gravity and speed.”

While the official christening of Silver Muse will take place on April 19 in the Principality, visitors to Top Marques Monaco from April 20 to 23 will have a chance to virtually experience the luxury liner.

The ship boasts the most sumptuous staterooms ever seen before on a cruse liner, at 1,572 square feet, some 200 square feet bigger than the average French apartment. Silver Muse will have eight restaurants on board.

Article first published April 9, 2017.

READ MORE

News

A full-scale test of reversed traffic flow in the Albert II Tunnel will take place on Tuesday, April 11. The test – the first to be held since the tunnel opened – will start at 10 am.

Vehicles coming from Fontvieille will be able to use the tunnel to access the Moyenne Corniche, using the Marquet link and then the tunnel.

The tunnel was opened in July 2016, and has considerably reduced congestion for drivers coming from the Jardin Exotique into Fontvielle. The Government has said that congestion has been reduced by about 60 percent during the morning rush hour.

The test on Tuesday is intended to iron out any unforeseen problems when traffic flow needs to be reversed. Traffic flow management of this type is integral to the concept of the tunnel.

READ MORE 

News

READ ALSO

News

The Environment Directorate just announced the recent birth of six crested cormorants on the Rocher. These rare birds – emblematic of the Mediterranean – nested successfully in the Principality in 2015, although the number of offspring in that year remains unknown.

The nesting of the species in this sector of the Mediterranean littoral is a first, and there have been a total of eight births on the cliffs this year.

The only known colony of Phalacrocorax aristoletis desmarestii in continental France is in the Bouches-du-Rhône and a nesting couple has been recorded in the Var only since 2006.

Also noted on the Rock, so far this year a pair of peregrine falcons, a grey heron and a kestrel.

READ ALSO 

News

READ ALSO

News

A highly competitive 22nd edition of MonacoUSA’s Quiz Night took place Wednesday night at Stars’n’Bars.

MonacoUSA Association President Mike Powers opened the not-to-be-missed event thanking sponsors, including Boisson France, Heineken and ATP, and offered Prince Albert’s regrets for his absence, before adding, “although as three-time reigning champion, the Prince is giving others a chance to win.”

In a true test of wits, he also reminded participants that unlike last year, the use of mobile phones would not be permitted.

Quizmasters Peter Mackley and Philippe Decreus once again tested the crowd’s knowledge, in English and French, on various subjects such as general trivia (According to Google, which is the second most internationally recognised word after “okay”?), pop culture (Which celebrity made $170 million last year?), politics (Who said “The euro is a knife in the ribs of the French”?), mathematics (What number divided by zero is zero?) and music – which, in true quiz night fashion, the moderators had prize seekers on their feet crooning for a chance to win.

A post shared by Monaco Life (@monacolife_) on Apr 5, 2017 at 1:08pm PDT

But Stardeck really lit up when the extremely talented duo Paul Spicer and Matt Firth brought the room to their feet with a preview of the next MonacoUSA event, La La Monacoland Dinner Cabaret on May 16.

There were about 70 participants at Quiz Night, and ATP played a huge presence with a table of sixteen, counting players Sergei Bubka, Mischa Zverev, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov. The prize for the best team name went to “I thought this was speed dating”.

As ever, it was a convivial evening, orchestrated flawlessly by MonacoUSA’s Annette Anderson.

READ ALSO

News

READ ALSO

News

Ditching the traditional press conference, Société des Bains de Mer unveiled its line-up for the Monte Carlo Sporting Summer Festival (MCSSF) with an online video posted Thursday.

“Gerard Depardieu sings Barbara” for two evenings on July 26 and 27, and the rappers Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will appear on July 15.

Christine and the Queens will be part of the musical contingent at the Red Cross Ball on July 28, SBM said. The popularity of the Salle Garnier means that a third of this summer’s concerts have been billed at the venue in the centre of Monte-Carlo instead of the Salle des Étoiles.

During the period of June 28 to August 20, the MCSSF keeps its eclectic character with a wide range of genres, among them, Veronique Sanson (July 7), Joss Stone (July 24), George Benson (July 29) Zucchero (August 1), Andrea Bocelli (August 4) The Cranberries (August 8), Patricia Kaas (August 9) and Michael Bolton (August 14).

Deep Purple, Pretenders and Johnny Gallagher will kick off the festival on June 28, while Legally Blonde – The Musical closes the season with a five performances from August 16 to 20.

READ ALSO 

News

READ ALSO

News

A restaurant in nearby Menton has been named the fourth best restaurant in the world by the UK-based “Restaurant” magazine.

The two Michelin-star Mirazur, under chef Mauro Colagreco, beat all other French eateries to take its prestigious place in the international world of fine dining. The restaurant has slowly climbed the ranks in recent years, coming 11th in 2014 and 2015, and sixth last year. Mirazur has been in the top 50 for nine years.

“It’s a lot of emotion to be in the top five restaurants in the world,” Mauro Colagreco told local French newspaper Nice Matin, “because of the daily work and the desire to constantly improve.”

To add insult to injury for other very competitive chefs in France, Mauro Colagreco is Italian-Argentinean. (Feature photo: Facebook Restaurant Mirazur)

Article first published April 4, 2017.

READ ALSO

News

READ ALSO

News