Name: Basketball: AS Monaco vs REAL MADRID
Start: 2025-01-31T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-01-31T21:00:00+01:00
Location: Salle Gaston Médecin

Call for extras ahead of filming of new Karl Lagerfeld biopic in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman

28/03/2023

The life of legendary designer and former Monaco resident Karl Lagerfeld is being turned into a television series and the producers are looking for “elegant women and men” to be a part of Kaiser Karl.

If anyone’s life deserves to be made into a series, it is Karl Lagerfeld. The iconic designer, who died in 2019 at the age of 85, had a turbulent life filled with contradictions and excitement that would make for seriously good viewing… And now it will.

Disney+ has commissioned a biopic television series that will partly be filmed in Monaco and the production company is looking for extras to be part of the ride.

TO BE AN EXTRA

The range is broad, with the advertisement asking for elegant women and men between the ages of 18 and 80. There are a few specifics, such as men needing hair to be at least two inches long, and for women to not have “overly colourful” hairstyles. No one is to have visible tattoos.

The Monaco part of the series will be set in the 80s and 90s, and shooting will start in mid-May.

A FASCINATING LIFE

Lagerfeld, who took over the Chanel empire a decade after the death of Coco Chanel, considered the Principality home for many years, and his story would be incomplete without its inclusion.

Disney+ has used an adaptation of Raphaëlle Bacqué biography to create the series, which starts in 1972, just after Chanel’s death, and traces Lagerfeld’s rise. It hits on his rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent, and his love story with the dangerous and flighty Jacques de Bascher. The show will feature German heart throb Daniel Brühl in the starring role.

“More than a period piece, Kaiser Karl will delve into Lagerfeld’s world and his personality – a character who, while quite famous, cultivated and maintained an air of intense mystery,” said Disney in a press release. “It will shine a light on the high-end fashion houses of the 70s as well as how Lagerfeld built his unique and sometimes controversial personal brand in a world where appearances are everything.”

For a chance to be part of this historic series, register here.

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco archives

Monaco to streamline its legislative process with dedicated “go between” committee

by: Stephanie Horsman

27/03/2023

A new Legislative Work Monitoring Committee has been established to streamline Monaco’s law-making process and facilitate communication between the government and National Council.

As the result of a common wish between the Principality’s government and the National Council, the new consultation body, called the Legislative Work Monitoring Committee, has been set up to help move the wheels of law forward in a faster, more efficient way. It builds upon a similar body used back in 2009, and one of its key missions will be to strengthen the dialogue between these two major decision makers.

Prioritisation and coordination

Monaco is moving fast, regularly introducing new or revised laws to its books. Thus, choosing which ones require the swiftest action and priority has become a complex task. This is a role the Legislative Work Monitoring Committee will now take on.

“We must better coordinate ourselves to work better in the service of the common good; this is all the more necessary since, as you know, important deadlines are coming our way,” said Minister of State Pierre Dartout to the National Council earlier this year.

Two meetings of the Legislative Work Monitoring Committee have already taken place, helping direct the National Council’s objectives and talks during the spring session, which begins in a few short days.

The results were solid, with both sides – the government and the National Council – agreeing to methods of organisation and operation, as well as which topics were to be given precedence. The flurry of activity has ensured the spring session will be busy, particularly as the government has said it anticipates several bills, currently awaiting review, will be registered for the agenda at the upcoming Council meetings.

Moneyval recommendations on the immediate agenda

In addition to the backlog, the government intends to present several bills intended to address the recommendations of January’s Moneyval anti-money laundering report, which showed Monaco was not entirely where it should be in terms of risk management. This is something the government is keen to rectify.

In an official communiqué, the government has stated, “Legislative work in this area will be very technically demanding and will require total coordination between the two institutions to achieve the objective that the Principality will have a legal framework in line with international standards by the end of the spring session.”

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Photo source: TILS for Unsplash

Jardin de l’Arménie: Nice’s oldest public park to get €3.85 million revamp

by: Elsa Carpenter

27/03/2023

The Jardin de l’Arménie, the slice of greenery at the edge of Nice’s Carré d’Or, will look very different by the end of this year.

Sandwiched between the more famous Jardin Albert Ier and Le Méridien, the Jardin de l’Arménie is Nice’s oldest public park. It’s hard to say when the park first opened, but Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi says it was already a tree-lined space enjoyed by locals and visitors before the Paillon River was covered over in the 1860s.

Now this little haven, which borders the Avenue de Suède and its luxury boutiques to the north, the Avenue de Verdun to the east and the four-star Le Méridien to the west, is set to receive a much-needed lift in order to better integrate the park with the general redevelopment of the area.

In total, 97 trees of varying heights will be planted, providing a cool and shady space for inhabitants and tourists to rest in solace from the sun. Mediterranean species of trees, along with shrubs and native flowers, will cover the southern end of the garden, while more exotic varieties will be found on the north side.

An homage to an Armenian legacy

Sculptures, including one of Charles Aznavour (1924-2018), will be erected in the park to honour the lives lost in the Armenian genocide.

“Our region is the oldest land of welcome for this community and 6,000 people [of Armenian origin] live in Nice,” Estrosi told local press on launching the project. “The park is a symbol of the relations of friendship and solidarity that have existed between our city and Armenia for more than a century.”

The plans will make the space not just beautiful, but useful as well. According to Estrosi, the planting scheme will help soak up two tonnes of CO2 each year.

The sidewalks and pedestrian zones that encircle the park will be repaved, meaning that a total footprint of 10,000 square metres will be renovated during the project. The current taxi rank and kiosk will be moved to a different location.

The works are expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will cost €3.85 million.

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Photo source: Ville de Nice

Basketball: Mike James makes return in Monaco defeat

by: Luke Entwistle

27/03/2023

Mike James’ return for AS Monaco Basketball against Limoges on Sunday coincided with the team’s first loss in 11 fixtures (83-76).

James’ (seven points) return from suspension wasn’t a winning one. Seven of the Roca Team’s victories during their 10-game streak came without the American point guard, but a late capitulation on Sunday brought an end to that run.

Sasa Obradovic announced after Monaco’s victory over Valencia on Friday, which guaranteed qualification for the Euroleague playoffs, that James would make his return in the Betclic Elite against Limoges.

The Roca Team manager said that they “needed his quality, especially with the games coming up.” And whilst James showed glimpses of brilliance, it wasn’t enough for the victory.

A 12-point lead squandered

Monaco took the ascendancy in the second quarter, and at one point (61-49), had a 12-point lead over their Betclic Elite opponents, who beat them during the first half of the season at the Salle Gaston Médecin. Limoges didn’t look capable of repeating that feat, but a dominant fourth-quarter display (28-15) allowed them to overturn their deficit, and dominate in money time in order to secure the victory (83-76).

The victory brings Limoges within one victory of the playoff places, whilst defeat for Monaco does little to hinder their quest for the end-of-season playoffs. They remain three victories ahead of Boulogne-Levallois, a lead which they can extend during the Parisian side’s visit to the Principality on 2nd April.

Before that, Monaco have two Euroleague clashes. They first travel to Kaunas before a trip to Munich on Friday, with the Roca Team looking to consolidate their place in the top four.

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Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Priority vehicles only: Service stations in Nice and Cannes given strict designation amid worsening fuel shortages

by: Stephanie Horsman

27/03/2023

The ongoing fuel shortages felt across France have prompted local authorities in Nice and Cannes to close two service stations to all but priority vehicles.

The Total Relais Parc Impérial station located at 29 bis Avenue Paul Arène in Nice and the Total Relais Cannes Riou station at 57 Boulevard du Riou in Cannes have been strictly reserved for “priority” professions.

Those able to use these two service stations include: health care workers; public service workers such as those working in civil security, the police, the gendarmerie and customs ; maintenance and safety operators for Enedis, RTE and EDF; La Poste; funeral services; and taxis.

The decree will remain in place until Wednesday 29th March, but could be extended if needed.

40% of the filling stations in the Alpes-Maritimes are currently experiencing total or partial shortages. Refuelling limits have already been set for the general public.

Fuel limits imposed on the French Riviera as shortages worsen

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Photo source: Engin Akyurt for Unsplash

Flights, trains and schools to bear the brunt of the next round of strikes

by: Stephanie Horsman

27/03/2023

Tuesday 28th March will mark the 10th day of widespread strikes. From cancelled flights and trains to school closures, here’s what to expect.

SNCF

Due to a national interprofessional social movement, trains will be disrupted on the SNCF network from Monday 27th March. “Severe” disruptions should be expected on Tuesday 28th March. Check the website here before travelling.

AIR TRAVEL

Air traffic will be disrupted from Monday 27th to Friday 31st March. France’s aviation authorities have asked companies to reduce their flight programmes at Paris-Orly, Marseille and Lyon airports. While Nice Côte d’Azur is not part of this list, checking the status of your flight before travelling to the airport is highly advised.

OTHER TRANSPORT

The CGT has called on dock and port workers to join in with the strikes, possibly affecting ferry journeys.

Blockades and the famous Opération Escargot could create delays on motorways as union members from this sector participate in the strikes.

SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Some education unions are planning to be part of the demonstrations. For children in nursery and primary schools, school services will alert parents in advance if a teacher will not be attending class on Tuesday 28th March, but this is not the case for middle and senior schools. The teachers for older children do not need to warn establishments in advance, meaning parents should be prepared for such eventualities.

Municipal services such as the school canteen, after-school care and nurseries could also be disrupted.

Additionally, civil servants may join the picket line, disrupting public services, and rubbish collectors belonging to protesting unions will almost certainly be on strike.

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Photo source: SNCF

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