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Month: March 2024

Bountiful snowfall has ski resorts in the Southern Alps rejoicing

by: Elsa Carpenter
04/03/2024

While it rained, rained and rained some more on the coast over the weekend, the vibe couldn’t have been more different in the mountains of the region. Snow fell thick and heavy to the joy of ski resorts and holidaymakers who now look set to enjoy a week of incredible conditions. 

Beginning on Saturday 2nd and continuing all throughout Sunday 3rd March, the mountains of the south of France have been graced with a welcome dump of soft and fluffy snow of up to 80cm in some areas. 

Though road access to resorts in the east of the region, particularly the route to Isola 2000, was complicated – simply impossible in some cases – the majority of the snow, fallen trees and landslides had been cleared away by Monday 4th March to allow families and winter sports fans looking to get away during the second week of the holidays to reach their holiday destinations.  

The substantial snowfall also caused numerous pistes to be closed in the interests of safety, but staff in all local resorts worked throughout the night on Sunday to ensure that as many runs as possible could be opened.

Certain resorts, particularly those in the Mercantour, have been more affected than others by the heavy snow and were offering discounted passes at the start of the week, such as in Isola 2000, where a full day pass cost just €12.30 on Monday 4th March, and in Auron, which decided to offer skiers and snowboarders 50% off daily forfaits.  

Avalanche risks remain elevated across the region and those staying in ski resorts in the Alpes du Sud over the weekend would have become well-accustomed to hearing detonations from high up in the mountains.

By the morning of Monday 4th March, clear skies and sunshine had arrived to provide the set-up for near-perfect conditions on the slopes. Another dusting of fresh powder is due on Tuesday 5th March and then again at the end of the week. Temperatures are forecast to remain favourable to the integrity of the snowpack, meaning that an excellent weekend of skiing is to be had in the south!  

Check out our reel of the conditions in the Val d’Allos Espace Lumière resort over the last few days: 

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Norway’s Kenneth Blom to enjoy premiere Monaco exhibition at the Kamil Art Gallery

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/03/2024

The Kamil Art Gallery on Avenue Princesse Grace is set to host Norwegian Kenneth Blom and his Silhouettes Unveiled collection this April. It will be the first time that the artist’s work has been on show in the Principality.  

Born in Demark and raised in Norway, Kenneth Blom’s inspiring use of ethereality has led to comparisons between himself and his fellow countryman, the great Edvard Munch. Though Munch was more drawn to the human figure, Blom’s interests address relationships in the exterior realm, with industrial or empty landscapes dominating his style, but with the same haunting impact as his compatriot.  

The 57-year-old painter’s blend of the real and the figurative is highlighted even further by the way his use of colour gives the appearance of subjects melting into one another to great emotional effect.  

FIRST FOR MONACO 

Blom’s paintings have been celebrated all over the world, with shows in cities such as London, Berlin, Beijing, New York, and Oslo to his name. Now he is coming to the Principality, where the opening of his Silhouettes Unveiled collection at the Kamil Art Gallery will coincide with the start of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tennis tournament.  

Held in conjunction with Galerie Birch, Silhouettes Unveiled will showcase a series of new works made specially for the occasion that explore “undefined space between abstraction and figuration, the silhouettes that emerge draw us into the mysteries of human psychology.” 

The exhibition will be available to view from Monday to Saturday between 11th and 22nd April, and from 10am to 7.30pm. There will be a special preview event at 6.30pm on 11th April. For more information, click here. 

 

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Photo credit: Kennet Blom, Sight, 2023, Oil on canvas, 95 x 76 cm, courtesy of the artist 

France bans vegetarian and plant-based products from using meat terminology

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/03/2024

The French government has cracked down on vegetarian product labelling and producers with a new decree ruling that they can no longer use certain terminology, such as steak and sausage, to describe their meat-free contents.  

Incited by complaints from the meat industry, who insist that vegetarian packaging is confusing for customers, the French government has ruled that vegetarian and vegan items can no longer use descriptors traditionally used for meat products. These include titles such as escalope, bacon, fillet and ham. Items like Cordon Bleu, which include dairy and plant-based ingredients alongside meat, are unaffected.  

According to the decree, which was formalised on 27th February, these terms will be henceforth reserved for the meat industry alone. The recent ruling is based on a 2020 law that was suspended in June 2022 because of objections from Proteines France, a group of plant-based food companies that banded together in a consortium.  

The new ruling applies only to French producers, meaning that producers of imported vegetarian fare can continue to use meaty names on their merchandise labels. This contradiction has already caused an outpouring of criticism, including from Proteines France, who argue that the French law is not consistent with EU food regulations and is discriminatory against French brands.  

Fines up to €1,500 can be imposed on individual rule-breakers, going up to a hefty €7,500 for companies. In a not completely heartless move, the government has given sellers one year to offload stock with the current packaging before they will start imposing any levies.  

 

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Photo source: Like Meat, Unsplash

Basketball: Roca Team win big against FC Barcelona Bàsquet

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/03/2024

The Roca Team were en fuego on Friday night as they launched an impressive attack on EuroLeague opponents FC Barcelona Bàsquet to shore up their Top Four position in the rankings.

The Monegasque side had a bit of a slow start, despite the fantastic result (77-67). Their first quarter stats saw them down 12 to 21, but things turned around quickly in the second quarter. Stepping up the pace, the team scored 21 points and headed into the locker room only two points down.  

The second half saw a different team hit the court. In the third quarter, Monaco scored a massive 27 points versus Barça’s 16, and kept the balance in the final quarter. 

The formidable Mike James proved his star status once again, adding 17 points to his team’s total while also creating situations for his fellow players to shine as well.  

“He focused Barcelona’s defence a lot and was able to open up situations for his teammates, while also scoring important points. A very solid match from him ,” said Coach Sasa Obradovic.  

Also of note were Matthew Strazel, who scored 13 points, and Donatas Motiejunas, with 12.  

“We are very happy with this victory,”’ said Motiejunas. “It’s the first time I’ve won on the Barcelona floor! It was an important match [and] we are getting closer to second place. We all raised the bar in the second half to make the difference.”  

“It’s a great victory, a very solid collective and physical performance from the whole team who were remarkable in their investment,” added a jubilant Obradovic. “We won above all on defence. There was a lot of joy in our locker room, this should give us even more confidence for the future, but we will have to keep this same state of mind for the next games, it is very important.” 

The Roca Team will next be in action at home on 7th March when they host Red Star Belgrade in the Salle Gaston Médecin. For tickets, click here. 

 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basketball 

Golden Z Club to mark International Women’s Day with philanthropic gala

by: Niki Borisova
04/03/2024

An evening of fashion, fine cuisine and charitable giving will be held in the name of women’s independence and female empowerment at the Golden Z Philanthropic Gala in Monaco on 8th March.  

Set to take place at Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco, the gala, which is open to both women and men, will unite its 300 anticipated guests under a common goal: to support women’s empowerment and independence.

Among the highlights of the night will be a fashion show by Maison Malèna. There will also be a charity tombola featuring prizes donated by local businesses and brands, such as APM Monaco.  

Doors to the event will open at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at €89 per person and the funds raised during the course of the evening and charity tombola will be donated to projects dedicated to combating violence against women, ending forced child marriage and promoting education. Reservations can be made here.

 

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Photo via Le Méridien Beach Plaza, Facebook. This article was originally published on 11th January 2024. 

One dead and six injured in tragic accident on A8 motorway near Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/03/2024

A traffic accident on the motorway in La Turbie has claimed the life of one person, and seriously injured six others. It occurred during Sunday’s heavy rainfall.

Tragedy struck in the early afternoon on Sunday when a tow truck, being monitored by highway police, was called to assist with a vehicle that had been involved in an initial accident, when a second car collided with the scene.

One person was killed, an Escota worker, while six people were injured, including two police officers.

40 firefighters and emergency services were sent to the motorway at around 2pm as heavy rainfall continued to impact driving conditions.

The driver of the car involved in the major collision is believed to have been placed into police custody.

Among the victims, three are seriously injured while three suffered minor injuries.

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Photo credit: Vladimír Sládek on Pexels