Le Festival des Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel is celebrating its fourth year of exceptional concerts by jazz, hip-hop, electro and acoustic artists in a setting unparalleled on the Riviera.
Launched in 2018, Le Festival des Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel may be one concert series that has slipped under the radar. That is almost certain to change after this year, as a line-up of international musicians join the roster, along with stars from the event’s own Dime On Music label.
Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel The setting at the ever-elegant Hotel Cap Estel in Eze, with its emerald-green lawn, two restaurant choices and comfy lounging sofas, is the ideal place to hang out and enjoy a night or two featuring a wide variety of musical styles, from jazz to electro, hip-hop to acoustic. The idea for the series came about in 2018 when singer-songwriter Medi, founder of the music label Dime On, joined up with Ketz Communication Agency to stage an event different from the rest. Void of huge stages and massive amounts of sound equipment, the concerts were formulated to be played in harmony with the surroundings and meant to be enjoyed in an intimate, therefore rather exclusive, locale. Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel
This year’s line-up features international artists including Ben L’Oncle Soul, Madame Monsieur, Malo, Victor Mechanick, Theo Lawrence, Jil is Lucky, Ehla and Ma Saisara.
Additionally, Dime On’s own artists will be on the bill, including Kitchies, Jack Daniel, Jonh Wadies, Hilly Mandara, Keeka and Elise Allasia. For the opening and closing nights, these artists will perform together under the moniker of the Dime On All-Stars.
The programme runs from 2nd July to 27th August. For the complete line-up and more information, visit https://dimeonmusic.com/shows/
Wednesday saw the official end of lockdown in France with the lifting of many restrictions including capacity limits in restaurants and a return to normal wedding celebrations.
Some of the last of the lockdown measures are being rescinded in France, just as summer hits its stride.
Bars, cafés and restaurants will now be able to welcome customers at 100% capacity, weddings will no longer need to restrict the number of guests they allow, and concert goers both indoors and out can stand, dance and singalong to their favourite bands so long as the total number of people remains under 1,000.
Cruises are able to resume operations again, albeit with a 1,000-person limit and on the condition each passenger is in possession of a health pass. Additionally, shops of all sizes will no longer have the limit of 4m2 per customer.
The much-maligned curfew was lifted 10 days earlier than the rest of the new rules.
A few lingering rules remain, though, including the obligation to wear masks indoors, in open air markets, while circulating on terraces, and whilst standing in queues. Standing and drinking at a bar is still not allowed.
While nightclubs are to remain closed for now, they can reopen on 9th July with a specific set of rules regarding health protocols.
The easement of lockdown rules started on 19th May 2021 when the French government allowed outdoor bar and restaurant services to resume, curfews were reduced, and museums, theatres and cinemas were able to reopen their doors.
Since 9th June, France has welcomed foreign visitors, including Americans, upon the presentation of a health pass.
Fears from health officials over the fast-spreading Delta variant have cast a slight shadow over all the good news, with the government saying areas that show signs of rising cases and hospitalisation numbers may reverse back to certain restrictions.
France hopes that its vaccination programme, which has hit a milestone of 50% of the population having at least one jab, will stop the need to backtrack and prevent a fourth wave this autumn.
Photo of Four Kicks band playing at a wedding by photographer Clara Rice
After 25 years of partnership and almost the same time on the jerseys of AS Monaco football players, Fedcom will give way to the eToro brand from this July.
EToro is an online trading platform that joined the Red and Whites in 2020 and was visible on the back of the players’ shirts. According to a statement from the club on Wednesday, come 1st July, eToro will be elevated to main sponsor of AS Monaco for the next two seasons, replacing Fedcom’s prime position.
“We are delighted to take this new step with AS Monaco and bring another dimension to our collaboration,” said Valérie Kalifa, Marketing Director France of eToro. “We are proud that our first presence on the front of a jersey is on that of AS Monaco, which we will support more than ever in the coming season. Our vision is to open financial markets to everyone and we see this partnership as an opportunity to reach the fans of the team and to interest more people in investing.”
Etoro will also benefit from greater visibility at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco and all the club’s communication media.
“One year after the start of our collaboration, we are very happy that eToro has become the official main partner of AS Monaco,” said Oleg Petrov, Vice-President and Director General of AS Monaco. “This is the opportunity to strengthen our ties with a company that, like us, places development, competitiveness and innovation at the heart of its concerns. The evolution of the partnership also shows the attractiveness of AS Monaco. Together, we hope to have a season full of emotions.”
The partnership marks a new era for AS Monaco, which has had Fedcom as its main sponsor for a quarter of a century. Fedcom has now been given ‘Legacy Partner’ status and will still be displayed on the jerseys during European Cup matches.
“Fedcom is a long-standing and loyal supporter of AS Monaco. This longevity has enabled us to create a strong and special relationship over the years. We are therefore delighted to be able to continue, through this partnership, to experience strong emotions and look forward to the future together,” said Petrov.
Each summer, the Orchestra of Monte-Carlo puts on six performances in the courtyard of the Prince’s Palace, blending warm evenings and a regal setting with excellent music to make for unforgettable experiences.
The annual concert series put on by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo in the courtyard of the Prince’s Palace is special for many reasons.
They celebrate a tradition that has been in effect since 1959 and are held in a place rarely open to the public. The courtyard enjoys incredible acoustics due to its shape, making the event not only pleasurable from a location standpoint, but from an auditory one as well, and the open-air setting takes full advantage of the balmy Monaco summer evenings, creating evenings of magic for all who are lucky enough to attend.
The summer concerts were brought to modern Monaco by Prince Rainier III in 1959, who was a great lover and patron of the arts. He had the courtyard completely renovated and restored to welcome his guests and put the palace completely in charge of running the event. This has continued to this day, and every year, people look forward to this wonderful series of nights.
The first concert will be held on 15th July for an evening of works by Claude Debussy and Hector Berlioz conducted by Velery Gergiev.
This is followed on the 18th with a night of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by the Choeur de L’Orcherstre de Paris accompanied by Soprano Chen Reiss, Mezzo-Soprano Marianna Pizzolato, Tenor Paolo Fanale, and BassNahuel Di Pierro under the conducting skills of Václav Luks.
Piano lovers will have a treat on 22nd July when Katia and Marielle Labèque perform pieces by Francis Poulenc and Bedrich Smetana, conducted by Tomáš Netopil.
Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock will lead the soloists of the OPMC featuring music by Mozart and Félix Mendelssohn. The players on this evening will be Matthieu Petitjean on oboe, Marie-B. Barrière Bilote on clarinet, Franck Lavogez on bassoon and Andrea Cesari on the horn.
August opens on the 1st with a concert led by Kazuki Yamada with violinist Sergey Khachatryan playing works by Toru Takemitsu, Jean Sibelius and Franz Schubert.
The final concert of the series will be held on 5th August with pianist Alexandre Kantorow being conducted by Kazuki Yamada. Pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns and Georges Bizet are on the bill.
All concerts begin at 9:30pm and end promptly at midnight, with doors opening at 8:45pm. Jacket and tie are required for gentlemen and appropriate comparable attire for ladies.
In the case of bad weather, the concert will be cancelled, and tickets refunded. Additionally, social distancing and other health protocols will be in effect.
Tickets can be purchased from the opmc.mc website.
A spate of reopenings are marking the Monaco social scene, giving residents and visitors a reminder of what summer in the Principality is all about.
Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) this week announced its latest summer openings, providing the public with some amazing options for local nightlife as well as fine dining experiences.
On the heels of the season launch on 21st June with Swing Monte-Carlo, new openings are cropping up all over town. Around Casino Square, there is the Mada Lounge pop-up in the Jardins des Boulingrins, just a short distance from another summer favourite, the pop-up Crystal Lounge located in the Excelsior Garden at the Hermitage Hotel, which will be open until 12th September.
From Thursday 1st July, there will be some much anticipated reopenings of iconic locales to add to the fun.
Photo of Chef Marcel Ravin, La table le Marcel at Blue Bay, by SBM
Marcel Ravin will be back at the Blue Bay at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort offering his Michelin-star fare from Wednesday through Saturday evenings for dinner. Ravin used his time off to revisit his Caribbean roots and revamp his menu, blending the best of the islands with the best of his adopted country.
Party people can rejoice with the reopening of La Rascasse, as well. Perched on one of the most famous corners of the Monaco Grand Prix, the bar is an all-time favourite, known for its festive atmosphere and friendly staff. Happy Hour runs from 6pm to 8pm and the bar has a DJ spinning all the biggest hits every Tuesday to Saturday night.
Diners can also take a ride on the Train Bleu, the emblematic restaurant in the Casino, where every Thursday to Sunday Chef Thierry Saez-Manzanares prepares elegant dishes in an equally elegant setting.
Photo of Le Train Bleu at the Casino de Monte-Carlo by SBM
From 4th July, the Buddha Bar will open its doors once more, offering visitors a taste of the East. The lounge is open from 6pm and dinner is served from 7pm six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. Chef Eric Guillemaud’s Asian-influenced dishes are the perfect complement to the signature musical vibes the Buddha Bar is known for.
The only wild card yet to be determined is the reopening of Jimmy’z. As of now, there is no word as to when the iconic nightclub will be able to welcome guests again, as the health situation dictates the schedule.
With all the choices and all the fun to be had, everyone in Monaco now has many good reasons to get out and mingle again this summer, health protocols considered, of course.
Fashion Designer Alessandra Vicedomini shares her experience at the Hotel Royal Evian Resort, a magical palace designed to restore your body and reconnect your mind, in an idyllic natural setting.
Is it safe to dream again after all the restrictions of the pandemic? Can we leave our golden cages for a glamorous long-weekend getaway?
The answer is ‘yes’, and it is that time of the year again when our body screams for restorataion and our mind needs a complete reset. Our eyes have been deprived of all kinds of variety and beauty. We are ready to play with new colourful filters and smile again, mask-free.
A stunning invitation to join the Royal Hotel Evian Resort summer opening arrives in the mail the old fashion way, handwritten. It still makes me shiver when I take my carved 19th century letter-opener to disclose the content. It is a ‘yes’ from me without hesitation.
The many Covid restrictions forced us to decline everything for too long, and to be impulsive feels pretty nice and empowering these days.
So, here I am landing in the Swiss Alps, driving towards the world’s most well-known pure water source region, Evian-les-Bains in France. Fashion Designer Alessandra Vicedomini at the Hotel Royal Evian Resort
Water is one of the primary vital elements, it is “the” life source, an irreplaceable magnet for a health freak like me. Evian natural mineral water is a balanced combination of bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium and it is known to be weakly mineralised, pollution and clay-free, a true miracle of nature which gently protects skin PH. Evian is the most glamorous water brand, yet so naturally beneficial for our system.
Boasting a delightful location on the Leman lakefront with regal proportions, the Resort spreads over 245 acres, providing guests with a luxurious experience of relaxation. The wide selection of services include many ultra-chic veranda and terrace restaurants, one of which is the famous Michelin-starred Les Fresques. Chef Patrice Vander’s menu is dictated by the seasons, and his ingredients and aromatic herbs are grown directly on the estate. Photo of the Hotel Royal terrace by Evian Resort
Hidden together in this elegant resort, in which ultimate privacy reigns and you are blissfully unaware of the number of guests, are two golf courses with a professional academy, tennis and new-built padel courts, an impeccably organised kids club, game rooms, posh indoor and outdoor pools, a very well-equipped spacious gym and a very, very special spa. This newly remodelled spa operates exclusively on the Biologique Recherche Methodology, a visionary Paris based skincare brand born from medical researchers and biologists. My personal experience, performed by the utterly unique therapist Véronique who customised a facial plan to fit all the needs of my skin, left me speechless. After one hour of deep technical face massage with the cutting-edge P50 range, I looked many years younger! The epidermis is given a prime role as it communicates with our tissues’ deeper structure, and the replumping and glowing effect is immediate and long lasting.
Talking about unparalleled experiences, I was totally mesmerised by the idyllic Grange Au Lac, a theatre in the middle of the estate. Apparently, the aim was to challenge the Menhuin in Gstaad, building the structure in the same in wood. I can confirm that they definitely succeeded. It is a spectacular “tent” that went through major ecological challenges without digging into the rock to protect the Evian sources in a record time of eight months.
Have you ever heard of a concert hall entirely built from pine and cedar by architect Patrick Bouchain and Acoustic Yaying Gu, with a forest of aspen trees at the back of the stage, and Murano glass chandeliers? It is a must-go. You must find an excuse to visit one of the four major musical events of the year, playing host to the world’s most acclaimed jazz and classical artists. I was fortunate enough to enjoy André Manoukian’s duet with Robin McKelle amidst the sensational wooden aromas. It was elegant, magical and soulful. Photo of inside the Grange au Lac by Franck Juery
Owned by the renowned Danone Group, the Hotel Royal is a stunner and the landscape is epic. The sensory immersion with earth and pure air empowers and revitalises as soon as I approach. The moment I enter the gates, I already feel that this won’t be a simple weekend in a palace, but a unique customised experience. General Director Laurent Boussin welcomes me with the most interesting inside stories.
The establishment was built in honour of King Edward VII in the early 1900s and has drawn renowned personalities from all over the world until 2014, when it underwent a complete renovation. The smart concept epitomises the charm of traditional French style, with sumptuous interiors intertwined with modern details, which led the Royal Hotel being granted the sought-after Palace label status in 2018. “We had to go through so many procedures that culminated in a stressful two-hour interview with an ‘Illuminati’ elite commission made up of influential writers, architects and various artists,” Laurent Boussin tells me proudly. Photo of the Hotel Royal restaurant L’Oliveraie by Anne Moscatello
I have rarely encountered such a majestic jewel that combines history, impeccable service, and everything you can dream of in one unique location. Whether alone or with family, on a sporty or romantic mission, all expectations are fulfilled, and more.
And what about the nights at the Casino located directly on the waterfront promenade? You will also be tempted by the stunning in-house multi-brand boutique.
I will be forever thankful to the Danone Group and the great team at the Hotel Royal Evian Resort for spoiling me with real luxury and gifting me with a total feeling of peaceful reconnection with nature. They have so much to offer and explore that you risk experiencing a serious cases of FOMO (fear of missing out), so I am already planning my next trip.
See the gallery for more pictures of the Hotel Royal Evian Resort…
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