In light of a new report that has linked screen use to rising rates of depression, obesity, anxiety and poor sleep in children, the French government has released a guide for parents that advises limits on screen time for all ages groups.
The average two-year-old spends an hour watching television or using a handheld device every day. This increases to around an hour and a half for children aged three, with screen use continuing to increase incrementally until the teenage years, when as much as nine hours of screen time a day is common.
The French government recently released the findings of a new report commissioned through the Screens Commission, and its contents make a worrying read.
The report links excessive screen use to a range of issues, such poor physical health due to overly sedentary lifestyles, lack of proper sleep, obesity, vision problems, depression and anxiety.
The study has prompted the French government to compile a guide for parents and children regarding screen use, which includes recommended daily limits on exposure to screens.
According to the guide, children under the age of three should not be watching or using screens in any instance. Screen use is not recommended for children under six either, but if this age group is watching television or using a phone or tablet, the government recommends that this is done in the company of an adult and the content should be educational in nature. Screen use should be moderated for children over the age of six.
“Our children need to play, they need adults to forget about their phones to give them time, they need dialogue with grown-ups and find them to be available, at home, in parks, during their activities, in cities as well as in the countryside,” counsels the report.
For more information on the guide and its recommendations, click here.
Chocolate, charity and creativity will come together at the inaugural Chokolashow, with the chosen theme for the event taking its inspiration from the upcoming Historic Grand Prix of Monaco.
On Thursday 9th May, the Riva Tunnel in Port Hercule will play host to the very first edition of the Chokolashow, a celebration of chocolate artistry and up-and-coming talents from the local art world.
Eight students from Monaco’s Pavilion Bosio and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Sanremo, the Fine Arts Academy of Sanremo, will be putting their sculptural skills to the test by carving eight large blocks of chocolate into sleek reproductions of the single-seaters that have raced on the famous Monaco street circuit over the years.
Following the event, these sculptures will be auctioned off by Wannenes, with the proceeds going to a selection of Monaco-based charities.
“Artists usually work with paint, so this will be an interesting challenge working with chocolate,” says Caroline Bergonzi, a Monegasque artist who will be guiding the students.
The Chokolashow concept is the brainchild of Maria Bologna, the president of the Monaco International Hub and a life-long lover of chocolate.
“I am from Turin so chocolate runs in my blood,” she says.
Alongside the sculptures, visitors will also be able to enjoy a range of workshops, tastings and ice creams made specially for the event by Claudio Rossi from the Bottega del Gelato.
The display will be open to the public at 8 Quai Antoine 1er from 10am to 6pm on Thursday 9th May.
Online applications for Monaco’s foreign language learning support scheme have now opened.
The Department of National Education, Youth and Sports has launched a scheme to help improve the foreign language skills of the population.
It is open to students enrolled at schools or higher education establishments, civil servants, Monegasque nationals and their families, and foreign residents who have lived the Principality for a minimum of 10 consecutive years.
The types of courses covered by the scheme vary according to the applicant.
Secondary school pupils, for example, must choose a language that is already being taught at a state or private school in Monaco. The funding will help cover the costs of five courses lasting between two weeks and two months outside of school hours. For students that are studying English+ or are enrolled in a European Section or International Section, the number of stays are unlimited in number, but are covered by the same time periods.
University students can benefit from a similar offer, with funding available for two stays lasting between two weeks and two months or one stay lasting two months to the equivalent of a university year.
All applications must be submitted by 30th August. For more information, click here.
The creative minds behind Nikki Beach have breathed new life into the Croisette with Lucia Cannes, a vibrant and delicious new cocktail bar and restaurant that encompasses the very best of the Mediterranean in a lux but casually-Cannes way.
Inaugurated in early March, Lucia Cannes is the new “baby” of the luxury hospitality group Nikki Beach Global, adding to an ever-expanding list of Nikki Beach venues in other sought-after travel destinations like Monte-Carlo, Saint-Tropez, Miami Beach, Marbella and Koh Samui.
This new culinary adventure, right here on the shores of the French Riviera, offers a unique vibe, a very different look and an exciting journey for the tastebuds across the Mediterranean Bassin.
Cannes’ new beachside drawcard
Situated on the famous Boulevard de la Croisette, Lucia Cannes is strategically located opposite the famous Carlton Hotel and is mere metres from the Palais des Festivals, wedged among the seaside private beach restaurants that line the iconic strip.
With an open-all-year commitment, Lucia is pushing the length of the Cannes season, offering a menu and ambience that changes with the seasons.
In summer, the restaurant will swell in size to include a large shaded terrace, outdoor bar and full-service sun loungers with a curated menu selection from the restaurant.
The cuisine at Lucia Cannes is a Mediterranean fusion, befitting its beachside location
Mediterranean fusion cuisine
The menu focuses on ‘Cuisine du Soleil’, with ingredients that have been touched by the sun and meticulously prepared by Lucia Chef Yvon Mbiavanga and Nikki Beach Executive Chef Allessandro Pizza.
Like the restaurant itself, the menu is a kaleidoscope of vibrant Mediterranean colours and flavours: zucchini and feta fritters, roasted marinated peppers with harissa compôte, sautéed prawns with halloumi, Iberian Bellota jambon, tuna crudo à la Niçoise… The entrée options are extensive and designed to be enjoyed beachside, under the intoxicating Riviera sunshine.
The mains are another celebration of the flavour-filled Mediterranean: Sisteron lamb cutlets, entrecôte panzanella, Italian seafood soup, Bomba rice with lobster bisque… It is a veritable “How to do Mediterranean-fusion”, with ingredients lovingly sourced from many of the French Riviera’s Mediterranean neighbours.
As Chef Yvon Mbiavanga tells us, “Nikki Beach is festive, Lucia is family.”
The tuno crudo is a delicious interpretation of the Niçoise classic
While Nikki Beach has a “let’s be wild and free” attitude, Lucia embraces a La Dolce Vita vibe, embodying a lifestyle of indulgence, pleasure and enjoyment of the finer things. At Lucia Cannes, amazing food collides with fine wine, impeccable service, creative cocktails and a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. Lucia invites guests to indulge in its chic, laid-back atmosphere during the day, with lively dinner service and great DJ sets offered during the summer months.
Collaborating with English-Italian artist Chiara Perano, the brand infuses creative, nostalgic designs into various elements, from the glassware and tiles to sun umbrellas and ceramics, drawing inspiration from vintage Italy and the vibrant hues of the Amalfi coast.
Nearly every detail has been crafted specially for Lucia by the brand’s Interior Design Architect Remi Viale.
The glasses are as creative as the cocktails at Lucia Cannes
Cocktails to complement the setting
As a self-declared cocktail connoisseur, I can confidently say that the cocktails at Lucia are like liquid poetry, with flavours that dance on your palate, and every sip is a journey of discovery.
These “ambience enhancers”, as Lucia calls them, have been skillfully crafted with herbs, liquors and aromatics to complement the setting: ‘Watermelon Sugar’ with Patron Silver Tequila, watermelon and passionfruit; ‘Mama Mia’ with thyme-infused gin, bergamot and rosemary; and the the barman’s favourite, ‘Light my Fire’, made with Del Maguey Mezcal, honey, finger, basil and cardamon are among the highlights.
A new era to mark 25 years
Lucia Cannes marks a new chapter in the 25th anniversary year of Nikki Beach Global. Established in 1998 by entrepreneurs Jack and Lucia Penrod, the luxury lifestyle brand pays tribute to the couples’ daughter Nicola, who was tragically killed in a car accident at the age of 18. Lucia celebrates the brand’s co-founder while also referencing the Latin word “lux”, meaning light.
Every detail has been considered in the design of Lucia Cannes
Cannes Film Festival and private events
Nikki Beach Global is accustomed to hosting events during the Cannes Film Festival with its pop-up space on the Croissette. This year, from 14th to 25th May, it will make the most of its firm foothold by hosting ‘Forever More: A Film Festival Celebration’, with music by resident DJs and special guest performers.
Lucia Cannes is open year-round for lunch from 12pm to 6pm, and dinner additionally in June, July, August until 11pm. The bar is open until midnight in high season, and closes at 10pm most other months.
See more in our experience in the Instagram reel below…
