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Month: October 2025

Monaco to crown world’s finest caviar

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/10/2025

Monaco will become the centre of luxury caviar for one day on November 6th, as the Yacht Club de Monaco hosts the second edition of the World Caviar Awards.

The international competition will bring together premium caviar producers and merchants from 20 countries, including Russia, Iran, France, Italy, China and the United States, to compete for top honours in a blind tasting judges by Michelin-starred chefs and gastronomy experts.

The event, founded by caviar specialist Laurent Morin and held under the high patronage of Princess Yasmine Murat, Princess of Pontecorvo, marks a significant step up from its inaugural edition at Saint-Émilion Grand Barrail in October 2024.

How the competition works

Each caviar entry will be evaluated under strictly controlled conditions, with identical temperatures, portions, and unmarked containers to ensure complete impartiality. Two sworn bailiffs will oversee the juggling process, where jury members will asses samples individually without consultation.

The competition features two distinct categories: producers who farm their own fish and create caviar, and merchants who source, refine and sell caviar from various farms. Separate juries will judge each category.

Judges will score entries on appearance, texture, balance and length of flavour on the palate, with results determining the year’s most outstanding caviars.

When it comes to the judging panel, among the notable names are Gérald Passedat from Marseille’s Le Petit Nice, Pascal Garrigues of Monte-Carlo Beach, and Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club. The panel also includes multiple Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF) title holders, world freediving record holder Pierre Frolla, and Christian Garcia, chef to Monaco’s princely palace.

Beyond the competition

The blind tasting, scheduled from 10am to 2pm, represents just part of the day’s festivities. Some 220 guests will enjoy a premium cocktail reception followed by an exclusive ten-hands caviar dinner, where renowned chefs will collaborate on specially created dishes for the occasion.

“Caviar is no longer reserved for an elite few,” said Morin, who has worked in the caviar industry for over 15 years. “Thanks to the creativity of chefs, it’s now regarded in haute cuisine as a full-fledged ingredient, while retaining its aura of rarity.”

The event aims to celebrate caviar’s diversity while providing an international platform for producers, much like the already established competitions for wine and cheese

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Main photo credit: World Caviar Awards

Valentina Castellani-Quinn appointed artistic director of MATIFF with global peace initiative

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/10/2025

Filmmaker and producer Valentina Castellani-Quinn has been named Artistic Director of the Matera International Film Festival (MATIFF), where she unveiled a new programme designed to promote dialogue and understanding across borders.

The initiative, titled A Drop of Hope, uses film as a platform to foster empathy, reflection, and engagement around issues of peace, reconciliation and shared humanity. It was introduced in Matera – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former European Capital of Culture – chosen for its historical role as a cultural crossroads.

Castellani-Quinn said the initiative was inspired by the work of The Parents Circle, a grassroots organisation made up of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families who advocate for peace. She hopes to encourage audiences, particularly young people, to look beyond the fast-paced content of social media and reengage with storytelling as a force for change.

“Cinema today is one of the most powerful platforms for conveying ideas,” she said at the launch. “Through imagery and dialogue, it transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the soul.”

Bridging cultures through cinema

The A Drop of Hope programme is intended to support cultural diplomacy and interfaith understanding through carefully selected films and conversations. Castellani-Quinn, who lives between Europe and the United States, brings to the role a background in both independent film production and international cultural outreach.

This year’s edition of MATIFF featured over 100 international films, including Eleonor the Great, the directorial debut from Scarlett Johansson, and I Bambini di Gaza (The Children of Gaza), a documentary by Loris Lai and produced by Tarak Ben Ammar, which premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and was awarded Best Feature at MATIFF.

Also screened was a newly restored colour version of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Il Vangelo secondo Matteo (The Gospel According to Matthew), shown in its international premiere.

Positioning film as a cultural force

With Castellani-Quinn at the helm, MATIFF is placing itself at the intersection of creativity and conscience, reflecting a growing trend among international festivals to take on social and humanitarian issues.

Her vision for the programme extends beyond this year’s festival, with plans to involve global partners, educators, and cultural organisations in future editions.

“Peace does not begin in politics,” she said, “it begins in the human heart—and often, it begins with a story.”

As geopolitical tensions remain high in many parts of the world, A Drop of Hope aims to remind audiences of the unifying power of film, and the importance of platforms that prioritise listening, shared experience, and human connection.

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Monaco’s Collège Charles III to Roll Out Standard Uniforms for All Students in 2026

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/10/2025

Monaco’s Collège Charles III will introduce a compulsory school uniform for all pupils starting in February 2026, marking the first time a public secondary school in the Principality has adopted a full uniform policy.

The decision, announced by the Princely Government on Wednesday 29th October, builds on a model already in place in Monaco’s primary schools and is intended to strengthen student cohesion, promote a calm and respectful school atmosphere, and reinforce the school’s public image.

Each student will receive a starter pack containing four short-sleeved polo shirts, two hooded sweatshirts and a cap in burgundy and navy. The set will cost €140 and will be available for collection from the school, with home delivery also offered at an additional charge. Families may purchase further items individually if needed.

While the top half of the uniform is standardised, trousers or skirts will remain at the discretion of families, provided they are dark in colour to maintain a sense of visual unity. Students who fail to wear the required attire will not be allowed to attend class, officials have said.

The initiative follows significant modernisation efforts at Collège Charles III, including the school’s recent relocation to a new facility and the earlier introduction of a sports uniform for certain classes.

The introduction of a uniform at the secondary level is part of Monaco’s broader education strategy, which, according to the government, seeks to combine high academic standards with a shared sense of identity, discipline and belonging among students.

See also: 

Collège Charles III opens its doors: a new era of education in Monaco

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Photo compilation by Monaco Life

Beausoleil mayoral candidate Nicolas Spinelli to hold public meeting

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/10/2025

Nicolas Spinelli, an independent candidate for mayor of Beausoleil, will hold a public meeting on November 6th at 7pm at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques. 

The meeting comes as part of Spinelli’s campaign for the municipal elections scheduled for 15th and 22nd March 2026, which will determine the town’s mayor until 2032. Beausoleil, which shares a border and close ties with Monaco, is preparing for an election that Spinelli says will address key issues including the relationship between the two neighbours.

During this meeting, Spinelli plans to discuss his candidacy, clarify Beausoleil’s political situation, and present the main lines of his programme. Key topics will include excessive urbanisation in the town, fighting corruption, security concerns, transparency in municipal action, and relations between Beausoleil and Monaco. Doors will open to the public at 6:30pm, and a “surprise” has been planned for 7pm when the formal programme begins.

Building a programme with residents

Spinelli’s campaign has launched a citizen consultation running from October 1st until December 15th, inviting residents to share their views on the town’s future. The campaign, where participants can contribute anonymously or provide contact details, promises to visit every neighbourhood to meet with residents, including young people, working professionals, retirees, families, shopkeepers, associations, and representative from sports, culture and health sectors.

The candidate describes his list as totally independent from property developers and political parties, stating that “the only people we will work for are the people of Beausoleil”.

Spinelli has previously served as an elected official in Beausoleil for 18 years, holding positions including municipal councillor, deputy mayor, CCAS administrator, and vice-president of CARF.

Among the priority projects outlined in his campaign are the development of the Devens area into a sports and leisure centre, the creation of a municipal retirement home, and the reorganisation of the municipal market.

A question-and-answer session and informal reception will follow the speeches. The event will take place at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques, located at 6/8 avenue du Général de Gaulle in Beausoleil.

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Main photo provided by Nicolas Spinelli 

NeueHouse bankruptcy leaves Monaco’s future flagship building without brand

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/10/2025

A dramatic bankruptcy in the United States has left Monaco’s newest architectural centrepiece without a tenant. The Renzo Piano-advised building replacing the former Portier roundabout — once set to host the European flagship of luxury co-working brand NeueHouse — is now facing an uncertain future.

NeueHouse, the members-only workspace known for its celebrity clientele and lavish design, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September after announcing the abrupt closure of all its locations across Los Angeles and New York. The move left Monaco’s nearly completed 150-metre-long structure without an operator, just months ahead of its expected shell delivery at the end of 2025.

NeueHouse collapse: a $83 million downfall

The sudden shutdown followed years of financial turmoil and internal mismanagement. According to bankruptcy filings reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, the company’s debts ballooned to $83.7 million by March 2025, with liabilities across leases, failed restaurant ventures, and unpaid taxes.

NeueHouse’s Hollywood flagship — housed in the historic CBS Studios building on Sunset Boulevard — was once a hub for the city’s creative elite. It hosted Netflix premieres, HBO parties, and panels with stars like Keanu Reeves. But behind the scenes, executives had overrun their expansion budget by a reported $40 million and committed to high-rent leases that strained cash flow.

Despite attracting high-profile investors and opening architecturally notable venues, the business model proved unsustainable. By late 2024, it had reportedly ceased rent payments, faced lawsuits, and laid off nearly half its 300 employees. Founder Joshua Abram passed away in August, just one month before the company shuttered completely.

Photo by Monaco Life

Monaco left without a flagship tenant

In Monaco, the NeueHouse-branded development – approved in 2021 – was intended to house co-working spaces, cultural venues, and a rooftop restaurant, echoing the hybrid model of its US locations. The project was backed by the State and designed by architect Emmanuel Deverini, with early conceptual guidance from Renzo Piano to integrate seamlessly with the adjacent Mareterra extension.

But with NeueHouse now defunct, the future of the site — previously marketed under the NeueHouse name — is unresolved. During September’s Journées européennes du patrimoine, construction manager Romain Bizet confirmed to visitors that the building is structurally close to completion, but its interior remains a blank canvas.

“The shell will be delivered by the end of the year,” Bizet said, “but the layout depends on the future tenant, which hasn’t been confirmed.”

A green gateway with no defined role

The five-level structure, developed by J.B. Pastor & Fils, is one of Monaco’s most visible new urban features. Designed to hide the previously exposed ‘dorsale’ traffic ramp, it will be clad in mature vegetation and planters, aligning aesthetically with Mareterra. The exterior uses the same natural stone and ultra-performance concrete (BFUP) seen in the neighbouring marine extension.

The project also includes a pedestrian plaza, multiple public footbridges and lifts linking boulevard Louis II to the Larvotto and Mareterra zones.

Despite the delays and the tenant setback, the State remains committed to the project. Discussions are believed to be underway with prospective operators, though no public timeline has been given.

When contacted by Monaco Life, the government’s Department of Finance and Economy said it was not appropriate to comment on the situation.

Photo by Monaco Life

The end of an era, and a pause before the next

The site was previously home to Ni Box, a six-storey youth centre opened in 2010, which included a bowling alley and nightclub. Its demolition signalled Monaco’s shifting focus toward mixed-use, eco-conscious urban design — ambitions that NeueHouse, at least initially, seemed well-suited to deliver.

But the global implosion of the brand has cast doubt over the model itself, leaving behind architecturally ambitious yet empty properties from Venice Beach to Downtown Los Angeles — and now, Monaco.

As the Portier development nears external completion and awaits a new chapter, the name NeueHouse will likely disappear from any future branding.

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Main photo by Monaco Life

Monaco Red Nose Day set to return with special collector’s edition

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
29/10/2025

Monaco will once again turn red this December as Les Enfants de Frankie celebrates two decades of its popular fundraising tradition.

The charity’s 21st Monaco Red Nose Day takes place on December 6th, timed to coincide with Saint Nicholas Day. However, this year brings something different – a special collector’s edition featuring every red nose design released since 2005. It’s a chance for long time supporters to revisit old favourites and for newcomers to see how the campaign has evolved.

Les Enfants de Frankie has been supporting sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across Monaco and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region since 1997. Meanwhile, the association gained additional recognition in 2023 when Prince Albert II became its honorary president.

The collector’s range includes the classic red nose that started it all, along with the cheerful yellow smiley variations featuring stars, hearts, and winks that came later. There are also red and white versions, shopping bags, and Christmas baubles. All items are priced at €2.50 for noses and bags, and €5 for baubles, with every cent going directly to help vulnerable children.

Where and When

Sales already kicked off in mid-October and run through to the end of December. The red noses will be available at familiar spots including Carrefour, post offices across Monaco, local pharmacies, and at dedicated charity stands. The association will set up stands at Princess Grace Hospital in October 22nd and November 5th from 11am to 4pm, at the train station on October 29th from 8am to 6pm, and at Fontvieille Shopping Centre on November 12th and December 6th from 9am to 6pm.

This year also brings a social media element to the campaign. Supporters are encouraged to share photos or videos wearing their red noses with the hashtag #FrankieMonaco. The most popular post wins a prize from Frankie, the charity’s clown mascot. The idea is to spread awareness beyond Monaco’s borders and give the campaign a wider reach.

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Main photo credit: Les Enfants de Frankie Facebook