7 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
in the spotlight
Giving you the heads up on what’s going down
1Chill Max
If you’re off to the mountains but don’t want to snowplough your way to Losersville on the nursery slopes, then get some practice in at Manchester’s Chill Factore. It has the longest real-snow slope in the country and a baby slope for absolute beginners, as well as fun stuff for activity dudes such as tubing and luging. www.chillfactore.com
2 Stars Say “Cheese!”
If you want to see Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Jude Law and Kristin Scott Thomas, then head to Manchester’s Lowry gallery from now until January, they’ll all be there - in print, that is. Photographer Simon Annand has taken portraits of actors during the 30 minutes before curtain up, known as “the half” (that’s theatre talk, dahling). Go and get a glimpse of how the greats transform themselves before a performance. www.thelowry.com
3 Icecreamists
If your vice is cold and creamy, then London’s Selfridges should be guilty pleasure central this season. From now until 1 November the London store will be hosting a huge ice cream boutique serving cryogenic cocktails made with liquid nitrogen. The Sex Pistol ice cream is served as a shot in a pink water pistol. Lunchtime licks all the way. www.selfridges.com
4 Best Of British
Just St James in Mayfair is boasting a Best Of British menu which includes potted Cornish crab, smoked Scottish venison and Wye Valley rainbow trout, as well as
English (yes, English!) wines. Just St James says, did you know that…
• In 2008 the British skipped 120 breakfasts a year per person. The main excuse was “not feeling hungry”
• Britain produces 700 cheeses… that’s even more than France
• As a nation we boil, poach, scramble, fry and bake around 26 million eggs every day
5 Muscle Madge
Madonna has been named the least admired celebrity body in a survey by a confectionary company. Allegations that Guy Ritchie told his mates getting fresh with her was like “cuddling up to a piece of gristle” can’t have cheered her up either. But for us normal bods it’s further permission to ease up on the weight training and tuck into some comfort food as the weather turns chilly.
6.Chocs Away
Woo! Finally it’s National Chocolate Week (12-18 October) and the award-winning Black Swan Hotel in north Yorkshire has gone cocoa crazy with a special package that includes overnight accommodation, Black Shiraz wine, chocolates from Green & Black’s, a full English breakfast and a six-course dinner in the hotel’s Rutland Restaurant featuring chocolate-inspired dishes. If choccie week passed you by, you can still enjoy the hotel’s tearoom and patisserie, which serves artisan pastries and more than The Chocs Away package costs £99 per person, and is valid from Sunday to Thursday throughout October. www.blackswan-helmsley.co.uk
7.Suite Music
If you dream of being seduced in your hotel room by VV Brown or Lauren Laverne then your luck is in. In Bed With, the new compilation from Mr & Mrs Smith, features tunes chosen by these and other well-travelled types to make you want to raid the mini bar and bounce on the mattress. Tracks include That Dress by Marc Almond, and 25p from the sale of each CD goes to homeless charity Shelter. www.mrandmrssmith.com
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