Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Gatsby’s mansion was modelled after Hotel de Ville in Normandy, that we know. But which building did F. Scott Fitzgerald use as the blueprint for his character’s opulent home? No doubt one of the sprawling estates that litter the Gold Coast; possibly a mansion that once belonged to a Guggenheim, an Astor or a Vanderbilt. But as Fitzgerald, his wife, Zelda, and young daughter, Scottie, used to love to socialise at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, I’d like to think that maybe just maybe, this enchanting Napoleon III style hotel had something of an influence.

Situated on the southern tip of the Cap d’Antibes, shrouded in a forest of Aleppo pines, Hôtel du Cap is nothing short of a fairytale. There’s a palpable magic in the air here. Before its incarnation as a hotel in 1889, Villa Soleil as it was then called, was a writers’ retreat. The gravitational pull for artists and writers continued through the nineteenth century, and now it’s the hotel of choice for A-listers seeking peace and privacy whilst attending the Cannes Film Festival, which comes to a close on Sunday evening.

Today, all seems fairly laid back out on the terrace, as I sip my tea and take in the unforgettable panorama: a staggering expanse of blue (still feeling nostalgic post screening of Luc Besson’s The Big Blue) but last night was a different story. The hotel was the glittering setting for this year’s amfAR gala, hosted by Sharon Stone, which raised an estimated $25 million at the gold-themed auction for AIDS research; a tradition begun by amfAR’s founder, Elizabeth Taylor. Shirley Bassey sang, whilst Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman sprinkled the room with pure hollywood gold dust.

Fittingly, this week also saw the unveiling of the Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge. For years, the great and the good have plotted love lives and world politics as they’ve sipped a chilled glass of France’s finest, sitting on the deck of the Eden-Roc, with its stunning views of the Mediterranean, the property’s pine forest, and of course, the hotel’s iconic swimming pool built into the rock. Offering champagne cocktails from the best champagne houses in France, the hotel is working exclusively with 13 different companies selected by Head Sommelier Xavier Dinet. There will also be exclusive vintages on offer such as Jéroboams of Louis Roederer “Cristal Or” 2002, of which only 200 were created worldwide (the latter’s unique bottle is covered with a gold coin hand-made by a goldsmith). The Champagne Lounge will remain open until 1 September, so there’s still plenty of time…!

For further information please visit: http://www.hotel-du-cap-eden-roc.com/eng/welcome/

Muir Woods

I’ve always had a thing for redwoods, and when I’m in the UK, I get my fix from a visit to Kew Gardens. In the US, I head out to Muir Woods; a remnant of ancient coast redwood forests that blanketed many northern California coastal valleys. Located just 11 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, a visit to this enchanted forest is a blissful way to spend a couple of hours.

In 1905, a local businessman, William Kent, bought land in this valley to protect one of the last stands of uncut redwoods. To ensure permanent protection, he donated 295 acres of redwoods to the federal government, resulting in President Roosevelt proclaiming the area a national monument in 1908.

There are two species of redwood in California: the coast redwood – found in Muir Woods – grows on a 500-mile strip of Pacific coast from southern Oregon to Big Sur. Closely related are the giant sequoia – bulkier, but not as tall; these can be seen in Yosemite.

The coast redwood are the tallest living things. The tallest tree here is over 252 feet and the widest over 14 feet. Most mature trees are 500 – 800 years old, but some redwoods are more than 1,000 years old.

The coast redwoods grow best in moderate temperatures, protected from the wind and salt spray. They need substantial soil moisture from rainfall and summer fog, growing tallest on the plains that flood periodically.

Its spongy and fibrous bark – from six to 12 inches thick – insulates the mature redwood against fire damage. The trees get their colour, and name, from the reddish-brown, bitter chemical tannin. The tannin makes both bark and wood resistant to fire, and to attack by insects and fungi.

It’s amazing to think what this cone (below) will become. No bigger than an olive, redwood cones mature in a about a year and will drop seeds, 50 to 60 tiny flakes per cone, in late autumn. Within one month, a seed can germinate. A seedling may then grow two to three inches in its first year of life.

Muir Woods is part of Golden Gate International Biosphere Reserve – one of the planet’s richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life. Each year, nearly one million visitors from around the world visit, and in doing so, help preserve this wondrous ecological treasure for all.

For further information please visit: http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm

All images by Julie Eagleton.

The Vogue Festival 2013

This year’s Vogue Festival which takes place at the Southbank Centre in London at the weekend, will be the second of its kind. Last year, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, Christopher Bailey and indeed David Bailey, all made appearances at its two-day inaugural event, celebrating all things fashion.

Bringing together designers, models, editors and photographers, this year’s line-up includes: Donatella Versace, Mario Testino, Anna Dello Russo, Alexa Chung, Victoria Beckham, Natalie Massenet, Paul Smith and Michael Kors, who will all share their industry stories.

Having recently become a Vogue contributor, I’m really looking forward to the discussion: Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot with Vogue’s British editor, Alexandra Shulman. For those just starting out in the business, there are also some really useful and inspiring talks, too: So, You Want To Be A Fashion Designer? examines what it takes to lauch a successful fashion career, or a Fashion Journalism Mentoring Panel where you’ll get to pick the brains of several Vogue editors, and a Modelling Mentoring Panel where you can meet bookers from Elite and Storm modelling agencies.

Paul Smith will talk about his 40-year career in fashion, whilst Natalie Massenet, the founder and executive chairman of Net-a-Porter, and chair of the British Fashion Council will talk about the period that saw her rise from magazine junior to digital pioneer, and in doing so, revolutionise the way we shop. And for fashion eco-warriors, “queen of green”, Livia Firth will be part of a discussion that examines how fashion can change perceptions and convey messages in Can Fashion Change The World?

Besides interviews, panel discussion and talks, there will also be plenty of other hands-on, high glamour activities, including cover-shoots, workshops, makeovers and demonstrations.

See you there!

The Vogue Festival 2013 runs from 27 to 28 April. For further information please visit: http://www.vogue.co.uk/special-events/vogue-festival-2013

Please visit here to purchase the last few remaining tickets.

Man Ray Portraits, National Portrait Gallery

Last week I found myself in London with a rare spare hour in between meetings, so took the opportunity to view the exquisite Man Ray Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Extra special, as it is the first museum exhibition to focus on Man Ray’s photographic portraiture.

Including more than 150 vintage prints from Man Ray’s career, taken between 1916 through to 1968, there are many works on display that have never been seen in the UK; having been drawn from private collections and museums from around the world.

Man Ray’s celebrated contemporaries are shown alongside his personal and often intimate portraits of his eclectic social circle. Marchel Duchamp, Andre Breton, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Coco Chanel and of course, Lee Miller, represent just a small selection of the friends featured.

Photography was not Man Ray’s first choice of career;  he turned down a scholarship to study architecture so that he could devote himself to painting. The only reason he taught himself photography, was so that he could reproduce his works of art. But in 1920 he began to work as a portrait photographer to fund his artwork. In 1915, whilst at an artist colony in New Jersey, he met Marchel Duchamp, and together they tried to establish New York Dada. This friendship led to Man Ray’s move to Paris where he began to work with the avant-garde and surrealist movement. During this time, he developed a type of photogram which he called ‘Rayographs’ along with the process of solarisation, as seen in the enigmatic Lee Miller portrait, above.

Following the outbreak of World War II, Man Ray left France, moved to the USA, and settled in Hollywood. There, he decided once more to dedicate himself to painting, yet many new photographic portraits have been unearthed from this period, and make their debut here at the NPG, including this ravishing shot of Ava Gardner taken in 1950. The actress is in costume for Albert Lewin’s Pandora and the Flying Dutchman.

A must-see.

Man Ray Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery runs until 27 May 2012.

For further information please visit: http://www.npg.org.uk

All images, copyright of DACS.

Le Marocain at La Mamounia, Marrakech

La Mamounia is the stuff of legend. Regal to the last, this grand old dame of Marrakech has been welcoming presidents, prime ministers and the glitterati since the 1920s. Winston Churchill was a great fan and famously referred to is as “the most lovely spot in the whole world.” This Moorish and Art Deco jewel positively radiates with opulence. Situated on the edge of the walls of the medina, seconds from Jemaa el Fna square, the hotel takes its name from the surrounding 200-year old gardens which were given as a wedding present to Prince Moulay Mamoun in the 18th century. Today, the exquisite grounds cover almost 20 acres. Having recently closed its doors for a three-year 120 million euro refurbishment, this five-star Arab-Andulusian palace has never looked better.

I’m a frequent visitor to Marrakech, and La Mamounia has always been a favourite stop for a pre-dinner cocktail, but this was my first visit since its re-opening at the end of 2009, and it really was akin to stepping into an Arabian Nights adventure.

Keeping with tradition, myself and dining partner, stopped for a glass of fizz at the Churchill Bar, with its ruby and burgundy velvet seemingly unchanged.

Then it was on to dinner at Le Marocain which is tucked away in a Riad right in the heart of the gardens. Its three floors include a magnificent terrace on the ground floor, and a bar on the top floor, with dramatic views of the Atlas Mountains. Le Marocain specialises in Moroccan cuisine, presented via an intelligent blend of tradition and modernity, created by Chef: Rachid Agourey.

As it was such a beautiful evening, we chose to take advantage and dine outside on the terrace. I’m such a lover of Moroccan food (always on the hunt for good tagines in London) so I chose the ‘Menu Traditionnel’.

A delicious Moroccan Harira soup with dates to begin with, followed by a Fes style baked red sea bream and couscous, together with an assortment of Moroccan salads. I had to forgo the tagines on this occasion as they were meat-based. For dessert: a cinnamon scented orange salad, sprinkled with orange blossom water, and an orange sherbet on the side. Heavenly.

All accompanied by traditional music from a local trio.

And last but not least, the arrival of a tray of delicate French pastries, and pot of steaming sweet mint tea. The perfect end to a Barmecidal feast.

For further information please visit: www.manounia.com

All images by Julie Eagleton.

Julie was a guest of Le Marocain.

Cafe Zoetrope, San Francisco

For me, no trip to San Francisco is quite complete without a stop at Cafe Zoetrope. Conveniently located just along the street from City Lights bookstore, it’s the perfect spot  - post book-buying frenzy – to sit down, catch one’s breath, order a proper coffee, and dive into some great literature.

It is also the HQ of Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope. The director decided he would name his future studio “Zoetrope” after receiving a gift of zoetropes from Mogens Scot-Hansen, founder of a studio called Lanterna Film and owner of a famous collection of early motion picture making equipment. While touring Europe, Coppola was introduced to alternative filmmaking equipment and inspired by the bohemian spirit of Lanterna Film. He decided he would build a deviant studio that would conceive and implement creative, unconventional approaches to filmmaking.

Although the studio was set up in 1969, the historic copper clad Sentinel Building, has been home to American Zoetrope since 1972.  It also houses Zoetrope: All Story, a quarterly magazine devoted to the best new short fiction and one-act plays.

Cafe Zoetrope is a European-style cafe and offers authentic Italian cuisine. There’s a hearty selection of pasta and spaghetti to choose from, and the former is cooked to order, so be prepared to wait 20 minutes or so. Francis always makes sure he has a proper wood burning pizza oven on his premises, so even the simplest of pizzas are memorable.

There’s also a fantastic selection of Italian and Californian wines to choose from, including exclusive varieties that come from Francis’ wineries. My favourite is Sofia, the sparkling Blanc de Blancs, named after his daughter, Sofia Coppola.

The walls are dotted with photos and mementos spanning the auteur’s long and illustrious career in filmmaking, so there’s always something interesting to gaze upon, especially if you happen to be dining alone.

Visit here to read my interviews with Francis about his adventures in film and wine.

Cafe Zoetrope, 916 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94133. Open: Mon-Fri: 11.30 – 10, Sat: 12-10, Sun 12-9

For further information, please visit: www.cafecoppola.com

All images by Julie Eagleton.

David Bowie is, V&A Museum

David Bowie is - which opens at the V&A this Saturday – is a breathtaking tour de force of sound and vision. From the company which brought us the animation and video projection design for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, this is a groundbreaking exhibition for a groundbreaking artist. The minute you step foot into the first room, wearing the specially created bodypack and headphones, a giddy catapult into an immersive multi-media experience ensues, bringing Bowie’s 50-year career spectacularly to life.

The V&A were given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive, and the curators afforded the rare opportunity of selecting more than 300 objects which have been brought together for the very first time, including: handwritten lyrics, costumes, photography, film, music videos, instruments, album artwork and personal items. For an artist whose eclectic range of influences stem from Surrealism, German Expressionism, the Beat Poets through to Cabaret, West End musical and Kabuki Theatre, this task must have been at times, nothing short of daunting. But the V&A have pulled it off; capturing the true essence of this cultural icon, musical innovator and radical individualist.

It’s an exploration into how a quiet boy living in Bromley: ‘I was a kid that loved being in my room reading books and entertaining ideas, I lived a lot in my imagination. It was a real effort to become a social animal.’ could grow up to become Ziggy Stardust; a watershed moment which changed rock music and youth culture forever.

Or ‘an emotionless Ayran superman’: The Thin White Duke.

Or ‘the most beautiful clown in the circus’ as Bowie described his Pierrot costume for Ashes to Ashes.

The fact that Bowie not only possessed the genius to invent and become these different characters, but to sustain the reinvention across five decades, and yet aways know the right time to move on to something new, is simply extraordinary. Bowie has always been the creative director of both visual and musical director of his work as he expressed in his Rolling Stone conversation with William Burroughs in 1974: ‘I have to take control myself. I can’t let anybody else do anything, for I find that I can do things better for me.’ This applies to the music, the album covers, costumes, stage sets, even through to the merchandise on sale on his tours.

I found the insights into his creative process, particularly fascinating. How in the 70s, he used the cut-up technique – as did Burroughs and the Dadaists before him – to create a style of writing which in turn promoted a new perspective. He also used a bespoke computer program named the Verbasizer, that would randomly mix sentences into new phrases, which became a key creative tool in his songwriting process.

Likewise, I was intrigued by the section dedicated to his Berlin period. Bowie spent 14 months in the city with Iggy Pop, Brian Eno and Tony Visconti. It was a place to clean up from drug addiction and explore new musical ideas. It was also a time to rediscover his love of art. Bowie painted this portrait of avant-garde Japanese author, actor and film director, Yukio Mishima, and hung it over his bed.

The final part of the exhibition celebrates Bowie as a pioneering performer both on stage and in film. Giant screens fill the space projecting some of his most ambitious music videos, including D.A. Pennebaker’s film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. This is definitely a place to linger. A sonic and visual treat.

Unmissable.

For further information please visit: http://www.vam.ac.uk/

All images by Julie Eagleton.