In their classic, humoristic style, Samy and Sassa have reopened the iconic Sass Café after a two-week hiatus brought about by Covid-19.
When temporary staff members tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago, Monaco’s Sass Café shuttered its doors. For days, no one knew when the legendary bar and restaurant would reopen.
But just a couple weeks after the initial closure, the famous eatery was back in business on Friday, just in time for the weekend’s end of summer rush.
As a post on Sass’s Facebook page showed, the owners don’t take themselves near as seriously as they take the health situation. It features a photo of Salvador “Sassa” Treves and his son Samy superimposed over a graphic of a virus, looking hilariously Ghostbusters-ish, with the words “all set”.
The duo have assured the public that they have gone above and beyond to make Sass Café a safe place to dine and enjoy once more.
“During these 14 days of closure, we took all the necessary measures in order to welcome you again under the best sanitary conditions,” read the post. “We are looking forward to seeing you all!”
Sass has been a Monaco fixture since its opening in 1993, welcoming diners who also like to get their boogey on into the wee hours. The rich and famous have flocked to the café over the years with the likes of Matt Damon, Elton John, Will Smith, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sean Penn and Bono passing through the doors.
The restaurant prides itself on its welcoming attitude and elegantly eclectic décor, though it does take itself with a grain of salt. With Sassa’s face plastered on every plate, patrons can’t help but smile at the happy face peering up at them.
Monaco can breathe easy again knowing Sass is back in action.
AS Monaco friendly match against OGC Nice ended in a gratifying 3-2 win against their cross-town rivals.
To keep momentum going during the international break, AS Monaco and OGC Nice organised a friendly match in a closed door setting last Friday evening at the Riviera Allianz stadium.
Nice came out on fire and within the first 15 minutes of play, the Red and Whites were looking at a 0-2 deficit. Undeterred, Monaco stepped up their game, and with a little help from their opponents, stole victory from the Niçoise team.
The first goal for Monaco came from a rather unexpected place. Just before the hour mark, Nice centre-back Flavius Daniliuc handed Monaco their first goal. Using this to their advantage, the Red and Whites picked up the pace and in the 76th minute of play, Gelson Martins knocked one between the posts.
Twelve minutes later as the game was coming to a close, Henry Onyekuru put another one through the goalposts on a cross from Martins.
The game ended in a 3-2 victory for Monaco and saw the debuts of Caio Henrique and Kevin Volland.
Their next match is set for Sunday 13th September against Nantes at Stade Louis II.
Monaco Life takes a private tour of Le Winch, the most inconspicuous, grandiose new residence building offering jaw dropping views and a square meterage that’s virtually unheard of at the port.
Like a good game of Tetris, Le Winch has been cleverly wedged between three buildings in La Condamine district, its L shape design maximising precious space within the Principality where every square metre counts.
From the street, you would be forgiven for thinking that it is two completely different buildings. Aluminium balconies decorate the east façade on the seafront, while classic mouldings decorate the south façade. The main façade of Le Winch (centre building) from Boulevard Albert Ier
In fact, Le Winch has the rare privilege of being able to offer triple exposure with views facing the harbour (Port Hercule), the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, and finally the mountain.
But as jaw-dropping as these views are, the most impressive feature here is the size. In a country that has an overabundance of 50-year-old, one to two-bedroom apartments, the people behind Le Winch have managed to fit in four, three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartments each equalling 215 sqm in size. It is an important addition to the real estate market in Monaco, where the demographic has steadily shifted from businessmen looking for an address, to families hoping to settle. The view overlooking Port Hercule from the main balcony
“Much of Monaco was built between 1950 and 1970, so a lot of the apartments are ageing, small and have bad layouts,” says Jérôme Tempier, director of managing real estate agency Rey and Nouvion, whose office is also located in Le Winch. “There are many more one to two-bedroom apartments available than three bedrooms, which only make up about 15% of the current apartments available for rent in Monaco.”
Foreigners are often taken aback by the quality of apartments in the Principality, explains Mr Tempier, who adds: “But there are many new developments under construction now which will help put Monaco in a more competitive position with other large cities.”
However, within the Principality, he says, “You won’t find another apartment, new, of this size, on the Port of Monaco.” The kitchen features an artistic room divider which draws in the exterior design
But the building didn’t come without its challenges.
“It was a very technical job. The building is positioned between three other buildings – the Palais Majestic, the Palais Hirondelle and the Villa Hyacinthe,” says Mr Tempier. “J.B. Pastor and Fils did an amazing job with the demolition, the laying of the foundation and the construction.”
Inside each apartment, giant floor to ceiling, wall to wall glass doors frame the Port of Monaco like a fine Monet. There is a very decent sized kitchen, and three bedrooms each with their own en suite and private balcony. The neutral interior allows residents to put their own personal touch to the decor, while a showroom apartment – decorated by designer Daniela Boutsen – provides a clear picture of how large this space is and its design potential.
But the crowning glory of Le Winch is the penthouse – a five-room duplex spread over 430sqm with 75sqm of terraces. On the 6th floor are four bedrooms, including a sumptuous master bedroom, while a spiral staircase connects to the 7th floor featuring an open-plan kitchen, a boudoir, a dining room, and a vast living room overlooking the sea. The two terraces are huge and their views are stunning. On the 7th floor of the duplex is a large living and dining area and two enormous terraces
Another unique feature is the building’s heating and cooling system. Le Winch is the first private development to be connected to La Condamine’s seawater heat pump, which draws heat or cold from nearby seawater providing 100% renewable energy to the building.
“Not only is it ecological, it is in line with the principals of Monaco,” explains Mr Tempier. “It is an expensive new technology but it was very important to the owner to be part of Monaco’s energy transition.”
Complementing this new development is a two-level office space at its base – an area which, like the rest of the building, is also of considerable size: 340sqm, providing enough room for up to 20 employees.
Mr Tempier says that, despite the current health crisis, interest has been high since Le Winch apartments hit the rental market in summer.
“Due to Covid and restrictions on travel etc, many people want to rent one of the apartments without even looking at it,” he reveals. “We have had a lot of interest from people from Switzerland, Germany and Denmark, for example. People are ready to commit without even seeing it.”
And the asking price? 110€ per square metre, which equates to close to 24,000€ per month for one of the 215sqm apartments, and 47,000€ per month for the duplex.
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The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is calling for submissions for the 4th Ocean Tribute Award, an international recognition of outstanding initiatives dedicated to protecting the oceans.
Individuals, organisations and institutions are invited to put forward their water protection project for consideration under the following themes: innovative future-oriented technologies, promotion of scientific knowledge, reduction of waste, sustainable management of fish stocks to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, and reduction of ocean acidification.
A jury will select the top five nominees from all applicants and everyone will be able to support their favourite by participating in the public voting. The jury is responsible for deciding the Ocean Tribute Award winner, considering the public votes.
The winning idea will be supported with 20,000€ prize money.
The 2020 Ocean Tribute Award was presented to the Sea Women of Melanesia project, which involves young, committed Melanese women who are specially trained to establish marine protection zones around the largest coral reefs in the world.
Applications can be made online at https://bit.ly/32TbgET
The Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is returning this month for the 2020-21 season with a slew of new events to entice music lovers of all ages.
After a long Covid-inflicted break, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is back and ready for their new season under the theme ‘At the heart of the music’.
The season’s line-up runs the musical gamut and will include family-friendly cine-concerts, concerts by celebrated musicians, young people’s shows, and for those so inclined, musical happy hours. These are in addition to regular seasonal favourites such as the Christmas concert and the summer concert series held at the Prince’s Palace.
Conductor, Artistic and Musical Director Kazuki Yamada is back on 20th September for the Grand Opening Night of the season at the Grimaldi Forum at 6pm which will kick off with a Beethoven concert series featuring Antje Weithaas on violin, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker on cello and Martin Helmchen on piano. This will be followed up with three more nights of Beethoven on the 25th of Sptember at 8pm, the 26th also at 8pm and the 27th at 6pm, all at the Rainier III Auditorium.
“2020 has been a straining year, as unexpected and difficult events came across our lives,” Yamada says in his open letter on the Philharmonic’s website. “Our very perception of life has been challenged, altering our vision on music and culture as well.”
“Music has always had a tremendous impact on people’s emotions, therefore we decided to set the theme of ‘at the heart of the music’ as we approach the new season. May we remain united and face the upcoming obstacles thanks to the healing power of music.”
The upcoming season will take place from September to June and will hit the ground running. In addition to the regular concerts, the Philharmonic will be presenting their works to the retirement homes of Monaco as well as to those at Princess Grace Hospital.
Additionally, in a programme being run in conjunction with the Department of Education, the Philharmonic will offer workshops with the artists to school-aged children in the Principality. Pre-schoolers will be able to learn each family of instruments, middle school aged kids will look at orchestration and the high schoolers will be taught to make the link between music, art and literature.
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