#The shop has the most wonderfully curated selection. The first time I walked in there | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tripstations · 5 years ago

Text

Short stay: Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, Belgravia, London, UK

By Paul Johnson on Jun 22, 2019 in Accommodation, Attractions, Europe, Featured, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts is widely regarded as one of the most luxurious and innovative hotel brands in the world. With more than 20 hotels in key locations across the globe, the brand’s five star Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel is perhaps atypical of many in the group. Hidden away in a discrete but central location and housed in a Belgravia mews house, it is worlds apart from the likes of the Jumierah’s famous Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai and has little in common with many other hotels within the brand, but for the group’s consistently keen eye for quality and careful attention to detail.

The welcome

From the moment I arrived and the doorman greeted me and offered to take my case, I was welcomed with smiles and instantly felt at home. This positive first impression continued as I was offered a hot towel and made to feel a valued guest by Neil on reception who dealt with the check-in process in a swift and efficient manner.

The room

My superior room was relaxing and uncluttered. The bed was very comfortable and the room had everything you would need for a true home-from-home experience.

The room looked out over a small square to the rear of the hotel, close to a number of eateries.

A turn-down service was offered each evening, with a sleep spray left on the bed and slippers laid out nearby. In-room reading material included a Jumeirah-curated magazine titled ‘The Beauty Issue’, Business Traveller, Belgravia and The English Home magazines. Complimentary newspapers were available at breakfast and a digital newspaper could be read on the in-room tablet (which also has info on concierge services, in-room dining and an A-Z of guest services).

On my first night, I did arrive quite late – and had work to do – so opted for the comfort and convenience of dining in my room. Executive Chef Martin Gabler has especially designed an in-room dining menu that offers an enticing selection of dishes. The menu highlights healthy and hearty options, as well as a number of signature dishes. The curries and beef burgers are firm favourites, but freshly made stone-baked crispy pizzas are also a speciality.

I had the prawn and avocado salad – sautéed king prawns with sliced avocado, mixed leaves and cherry tomatoes, finished with a sesame soy dressing that was full of flavour.

For my main I chose from the ‘Flavours from the East’ section of the menu and opted for the signature dish of chicken tikka masala with basmati rice, cucumber raita and warn naan bread.

The bathroom

The bathroom offered ample space with a bath with a shower over it, a single basin and WC. Thick, white bathrobes were supplied as well Temple Spa toiletries.

The facilities

Breakfast is served each morning in the Lowndes Bar & Kitchen between the hours of 7am and 11am, with a choice of Continental and cooked options that included the full English or lighter alternatives such as poached eggs and avocado on toast.

Dinner is also served in this brasserie-style restaurant, with the focus of the menu being on modern British cuisine.

When dining there I had the crispy duck and watermelon salad with cucumber, minted leaves, mint, coriander, toasted cashew nuts, sesame seeds and Hoisin sauce. New to the menu, this is a very refreshing salad, light but full of flavour, and with the duck still warm.

For my main, I had the grilled sea bass fillet, which had a wonderfully crisp skin, and was served with green asparagus and an orange hollandaise. Additional sides such as tender stem broccoli, buttered green beans and rocket Parmesan salad are available as optional extras. As well as the mains on the menu, there is a changing menu of weekly specials available from Monday to Friday.

I didn’t have space for dessert but diners could choose from temptations such as strawberry and pistachio nut pavlova with whipped cream and a raspberry coulis, warm chocolate fondant with Madagascan vanilla bean ice cream and apricot and almond Frangipane tart with a passion fruit coulis and crème Chantilly.

Guests staying at the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel also have unlimited access to The Peak Health Club and Spa at the nearby sister property, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, which is just a two-minute walk away. It’s open 7 days a week (24 hours a day to guests) and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a 20-metre indoor swimming pool which is something of a rarity for hotels in London. There’s also a spa offering a range of luxurious and exclusive treatments ton ensure you are feeling renewed and rejuvenated, as well as osteopathy and physiotherapy services available. However, please note that this facility will be closed for renovations from 1st September until the Summer of 2020.

Location

The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Knightsbridge Underground station on the Piccadilly line. This is a busy and fashionable shopping area, close to the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

I was in area for a work event being held at Chelsea Football Club which was easy to reach by taking the Piccadilly line to Earl’s Court, and then the District line to Fulham Broadway.

Tourists exploring London will find themselves centrally located for exploring the city’s many attractions and museums, with Hyde Park and the West End within easy walking distance, and Buckingham Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum both less than a mile away.

Other nice touches

In my room was a personalised welcome letter from General Manager Ian Richardson, along with some practical ‘need to know’ information. Complimentary water, chocolate-coated dates – perhaps a small nod to Jumeirah’s Middle Eastern routes – and a plate of fruit were all provided.

Finally, another nice touch is that they even have bespoke red, white and blue Belgravia bicycles that you can borrow during your stay.

Cost

Superior rooms start from £186 and suites from £314 when purchased in advance.

Guests staying at any Jumeirah property can join Jumeirah’s SIRIUS loyalty programme where you can collect points and redeem them against a variety of products and services.

The best bit

For me the location was both central and beautifully quiet; rarely do you find both at the same time and this suited me perfectly, particularly for a business trip.

The final verdict

With 88 luxurious rooms including 12 suites, this chic, contemporary hotel still feels intimate and personal, and retains the individual touch that is often lost by much larger hotels. High standards are carefully and consistently maintained throughout the hotel

Disclosure: Our stay was courtesy of the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel.

The post Short stay: Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, Belgravia, London, UK appeared first on Tripstations.

from Tripstations http://bit.ly/2WYmyCC via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Tripstations

0 notes

jokermatt · 7 years ago

Text

2017’s Turner Prize hit Hull, in the kind of City of Culture-linked synergy that should give a strong boost to the post-‘is it art?’ conversation the Prize craves. But can any selection ever be impressive enough to escape three decades of that perception?

Leaving this year’s Turner Prize, and the wonderfully well-used space it dominates on the ground floor of Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery, I heard that customary mantra, or the start of it: “Like with any Turner Prize, some questionable…” Hmm. Displays? Floor panels? Light switches? Anywhere else it might be anything. But as the voice trailed off it was undoubtedly “choices” that was lost on the pavement of Carr Lane. A different venue, another year, the same challenge.

34 years on, a significant part of the Turner Prize’s identity, and one it shows no sign of growing out of, is its inability to a seize universal goodwill from its patrons. This year’s complementary newspaper ‘The Ferens Echo’ may lead with, “Have a completely fresh conversation about art”, but people will always get stuck up on, well, taste. No matter how thought-provoking it can be from year to year, that’s totally different from fulfilling and celebrating that central, core concept of finding and celebrating the most innovative artist born, living or working in Britain. There’s hope in the curator’s introduction that the Prize’s profile has risen over three decades to deepen the conversation beyond “is it art?” but I think it’s too broad a question to ever leave. And it’s in that context that selections of varying, range, scope and quality must be judged. Every year.

It may be inherently tricky when tackling four artists across multi-media, but it goes some way to explain its embrace of social media. The Turner Prize launched too early in that respect. But now the internet’s dained to catch up. Pointers tagged #TurnerPrizeQuestions posed a series of enquiries that encouraged sharing far and wide. It’s a core component of Hull’s City of Culture status this year, part of the Prize’s welcome and ongoing mission to take alternate years away from its established gallery space in Pimlico. Those questions hung between the prize and its current gallery, (What does the Turner Prize achieve? Must the gallery stay free to enter?”), generally letting the work speak for itself. And of course, the links between the artists that are there as much as they aren’t. This year’s Prize had a need to keep an eye on the past, present and future to reflect its host nation.

A large panel in the Prize’s central hub highlights the innovation inspired by that name it honours. As it says, Turner: innovative in his lifetime and subsequently regarded as one of Britain’s greatest artists. While many great names have claimed the Turner Prize since 1984, Jeremy Deller, Grayson Perry, Chris Ofili and Antony Gormley to name four, there are few visiting the exhibition who come expecting to remember a name for the future. It’s that kind of contrary. And this year served up an interesting mix. With conversation and snapping encouraged, no surprise that this is one of the loudest art galleries you’ll find, and that’s no bad thing.

I walked straight ahead from the hub to the large, attractive paintings of Harvin Anderson, Fusing abstraction and representation, the wide room housed two bodies of work. His expansive studies looping into final pieces, like portraits of landscapes, built from transparent studies. And intermingled with it his barbershop series, stretching from stark evocations of civil rights to minimalist studies of the shop space that brings space to time. Their mixing is a broad brushstroke representation of the “push and pull” essential to Aderson’s work, although it remains far more sophisticated in the paintings themselves.

Alongside, a real and instant beauty emerges the thoughtfulness of Anderson’s lush abstraction of nature, and much more, in giant canvasses that interpret the flora outside his Soho studio, as well as reminiscences from Jamaica and his childhood town of Birmingham. Studies reveal the transparent sheets and grid structure he uses to reposition elements for his final pieces, and uncover that vision he really wants to see. And they’re beautiful, no doubt about it. There’s a huge amount to see from what first appears to be an abstract life study, or darting your eyes away too soon keeps their power raw as it is soft.

New pieces Ascension and particularly the magnificent Greensleeves have an ethereal quality, with hints of myth-building and a distinct sense of time. The corner of the space, where the tropicality of Last House sits between Greensleeves and one of the minimalist Peter Barbershop pieces makes for an unintended and stunning triptych.

Recalling some early, and late, Hockney, in use of colour and geometry, it’s as fascinating how the abstraction elevates the floral work as tracking the removal and absence of elements in his Peter series. The most outwardly politic part of the room where traditional headshots of hairstyles are painted out or replaced with icons of the civil rights movement.

While the central figures remain late into the run of barbershop pieces, the mirrors and posters in front of them are replaced or removed until we’re left with the stroking blue bounding walls alone. Those walls provide the blunt challenge of perspective, while other parts of the series break down important if slight infrastructure in a subtler way: the central seat columns that connect, the left side of a shadow. In the trailing legs of his subjects Anderson conjures a highly enviable watercolour quality from the oil. Stunningly, beautiful, and of great appeal to my painterly heart. But really it’s the methodical grid and cycle between the end of each painting and the start of the next that’s most stunning. This is the kind of rugged innate concept in the painterly tradition the Turner Prize was built to thrive on.

The politics didn’t stop in that room, in a necessarily charged year, there’s a stark contrast in Andrea Buttner‘s space…

It’s a close call, but Buttner’s addition is the most multimedia, and the exhibit most overtly playing with time and space. It’s traditional and modern, from imagery to method. History is carried through to modern capitalist symbols stretching thoughts as much as the audience is made to move forward and back, or stoop through the vertical, to appreciate the pieces, sometimes much like the position of her recurring beggar motif. The only artist to take two rooms (excusing Nashashibi’s cinemas), Buttner’s art is confrontational and dazzlingly varied, some are lurid and others simply beguiling. Again there are two broad strokes of work, all filtered through crafted histories and references to provenance and her “line of artistic ancestors”. The table of collated historic works relating to beggars pushes that provenance to the fore using an original catalogue format. It’s catching, but not as much as the long line of her woodcut beggar series, dominating a wall and elsewhere separated; whittled down to a geometrical shape.

Alongside, that woodcut line a high-visibility coated wall is one of her works, framing three works shuffled to the far right, next to an affecting, rather hideous triptych “Duck and Daisy”. These guide through to the physical, townhall rows of exploration of the human condition. That travelling exhibit, formed around the text of Simone Weil, presents a loaned piece as extension and balancing point to her own, wisely placed across from that final, simple geometric woodcut.

There’s a huge amount here, esoteric, but cumulative. the opening line of exploring the ethic along with the aesthetic is exactly right. for much of the dualism pieces that spell out their own name and intention demonstrate the strong, determined line of literalism. It necessary for the works’ cohesion and power. But also, with those trademark painted walls and makeshift bench, the rooms that would easily coax you into sitting on or leaning against an artwork without realising. It’s a lot, and perhaps a little too strong for the Turner Prize, who’d have thought? Next came the similarly history-led and combative Lubiana Himid.

Himid’s is such a balanced exhibit, it momentarily shuts the conversation down. The confrontation of the repurposed ceramics on one side, intricate, fragile but also jarring. Across the space, the line of repurposed newspapers, the most overtly politic part of a Prize riddled with it. These are Humid’s previous exhibitions vying for attention. Her earliest work from the late ’80s took black people within historical painting as its springboard, and here are two multi-layered developments, one on ceramic, the other on media, both from 2007 onwards. The third wall has the stagey, perhaps even pantomimey cut-outs as part of the modernist The Fashionable Marriage – until you take a closer look. And opposite, on the fourth wall in solitude, in stark relief, the single portrait of the literal, time-stopping rendition of a slaveship. Surreal, interpretive, instant, modern, timely. Le Rodeur: The Exchange, from 2016, is the work most likely to stay with you most when you leave.

It’s quite an astounding range in a compact display that knows how to play to Humid’s strengths. Collective association is irresistible, especially when this well staged.

Rosalind Nashashibi’s Turner Prize video. See the original and the other short-listed artists here.

Moving through to a dark hexagon, two films from the Prize’s youngest artist, Rosalind Nashashibi. Hugely political once again, the introductory notes makes clear the danger and prescience of these films; particularly the account of Nashashibi suspending production on the Gaza strip under bombardment in 2014. On screen, incidental details blend in to form lived, compelling and real narrative. It’s a wonderful technique, her own style of foreshadowing jump cut that makes multiple styles work for the subject. The framing of motion art in between, the framing jumping slightly between different shots or recurring out of sequence. It encourages your mind to wander, then leaves you in no doubt that you’ve missed something as slight as it is hugely relevant.

Nashashibi is a collaborator, a painter, a sculptor and a printer. Her works explore the domestic and the state, mixing astute observation and lyrical montage. She finds places distinct and in possession of their own quality, within other larger geographies, concerns, or concepts. In doing so, she showcases the unnoticed and the overlooked. Perhaps the artist who’s most explored the essence of what it means to be an artist through other works, the powerful resonance of her work is certain to grow. And that’s as much about her treatment as the subject matter.

While my painterly side is always drawn to the expansive expression exemplified by Harvin Anderson’s work, I agreed with the award of this year’s Prize to Lubaina Humid. The sheer weight and the balance of her exhibit stands at the head of a generally well-structured exhibition, quietly exuding a raw and challenging power. Her emergence ahead of three thought-provoking artists on the back of that compact representation of a sheer wealth of work is striking.

I entered that exhibit in a mixed crowd, each person already preparing their exhibition takes for the exit, only to meet a notable change of atmosphere. that’s not as frequent as it should be in The Turner Prize. The quiet brilliance of Nashashibi’s film screenings notwithstanding, the challenging reach of Buttner’s multimedia sat alongside, the personal and vibrant journey of Anderson a counterpoint: The power of the politics, perfectly tied to an unexpected, original and repurposed core of creativity meant Humid had it.

It’s not just chalk and cheese in the Ferens. The painterly to filmic, the ceramic to textile. Politics has never been a stranger to the Turner Prize, it can’t be. But this year it’s acute in a diverse field. It’s not the loudest Prize, but it’s one of the most regional and international. there are jaw-dropping moments, but mainly a quiet and powerful quality that stays with you – proving the Prize’s relevance for another year, if never quite answering that central question.

Still, when the guide closes with the line, “Whatever you think about Turner Prize 2017, you’re right” it seems like a Prize far more comfortable with itself than many people think.

The Turner Prize 2017 runs at Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square, Hull, until 7 January 2018.

Turner Prize 2017 – Quiet confrontation in Hull 2017's Turner Prize hit Hull, in the kind of City of Culture-linked synergy that should give a strong boost to the post-

#City of Cuture #Hull #Turner Prize

0 notes

spencerthorpe · 7 years ago

Text

Idealist City Guide: PRAGUE

One of the great joys of the city of Prague is its potential for exploration, which is why we’re following John as he wanders through Prague’s maze of cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards.

Prague, capital of Czech Republic, is situated at the center of Europe positioned on the River Vltava’s banks. Equal of Paris in terms of beauty, Prague is best known for its beautiful art and architecture and some of the best shopping you can find. Its history goes back a millennium. And the beer? The best in Europe.

Must-See Attractions

Old Town Square: If you want an authentic way to feel Prague’s history, head down to Old Town Square. Beautiful architecture is the highlight of this scenic part of Old Town. Don’t miss the old town hall and the astronomical clock. Address: Staroměstské náměstí 110 00 Praha 1,Staré Město, Czechia

Charles Bridge: After floods wrecked the Judith Bridge in 1342, the Charles Bridge was built to replace it. Construction took place from 1357 to 1402. The bridge is decorated by the statues of 30 saints. Address: Charles Bridge, Praha 1 – Staré Město, Czechia

Vysehrad National Cultural Monument: While some of the details are a bit muddled, officials believe Vysehrad was built sometime during the 10th century, and is home to some of the oldest, most historically significant buildings in Prague. Address: Vyšehrad, V Pevnosti 159/5b, Praha 2 – Vyšehrad, 128 00

Dinner Cruise: What’s better than seeing the beautiful sites of Prague from the quiet luxury of a cruise? Eating dinner at the same time, of course. The cruise is 3 hours long and follows the Vitava River. Address: Cechuv Bridge, Dvorakovo nabrezi, pier 5, Prague, 11000, Czechia

Style Shopping

Flamant Home Interiors: Flamant was founded by three brothers as an expansion of their father’s antique business. This shop does a great job of combining modern and antique design trends to create a unique look. We especially love their sleek industrial chests and stylish lighting. Address: Flamant Store, Slovanský dům, Na Příkopě 22, Praha 1 Czech Republic +420 221 451 790

Konsepti: When curating their collections, Konsepti has one main focus: uniqueness. Their wide selection includes brands such as Flos, E15 and Cassina. We love their large variety of unique seating choices; you’re sure to find something you love. Address: Komunardů 32, 170 00 Praha 7, Czechia +420 266 199 452

Modernista: Having two stores is part of what makes Modernista so great. The Municipal House location has a unique collection of Art Deco pieces and can be found in the basement of the Municipal House. The Pavilon, the flagship location, has a stronger focus on interiors and contemporary design. Check out their stylish metal lighting and elegant glassware — we love them! Address: nám. Republiky 1090/5, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia +420 222 002 102

A La Maison: If you’re only looking for some smaller accessories and accent pieces to finish off a room, check out A La Maison. Beautiful candlesticks and candle trays, rugs, chandeliers, vases and more highlight this shop’s collection. Plus they carry great brands like Möve and Balmuir. Address: Šafránkova 1238/1, 155 00 Praha 5, Czechia +420 233 322 563

Le Patio: No, they don’t only sell patio furniture. Le Patio is actually a high-end interior retailer specialising in unique furniture, accessories and lighting. Le Patio’s goal is to improve the rooms people use, thus improving the quality of their life. Some of our favourites include the EA Deco woven baskets and Zenza lighting collection. Address: New Living CenterJungmannova 748/30, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia +420 224 934 402

Hotels

Residence Agnes: Featuring all of the regular amenities and a central location in Prague, Residence Agnes is a great place for anyone who wants to do plenty of walking and exploring. The hotel lobby’s beautiful contemporary decor provides a great atmosphere upon entry. Price level: Medium Address: Haštalská 19, 110 00, Prague 1, Czech Republic +420 222 312 417

MOODs Boutique Hotel: The cornerstone of MOODs is the unique design, and I can’t emphasise the unique part enough. They also offer great food and drinks and a spa treatment, so you’ll barely have to leave your hotel to get everything you need. Price level: Budget Address: Klimentská 28, 110 00 Prague 1, Czechia +420 222 330 100

Hotel General: If you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Prague, the Hotel General is the place for you. While it’s a bit further from all the activities, its lovely atmosphere and friendly staff more than compensate for that. Price level: Medium Address: Svornosti 1143/10, 150 00 Praha 5-Smíchov, Czechia +420 257 318 320

Galleries & Museums

National Gallery in Prague: For art lovers, the National Gallery in Prague is the perfect museum. With a range of both permanent and temporary exhibitions, you’re sure to find something you love. They have many permanent exhibits, including “European Art from Antiquity to Baroque” and “The Art of Asia.” Address: The National Gallery in Prague, Staroměstské nám. 12, 110 15 Prague 1, Czech Republic +420 220 397 211

Wallenstein Palace Garden: Constructed right near the Wallenstein Palace in the 17th century, this garden is truly a sight to behold. It features expert landscaping and beautiful Baroque bronze statues which are replicas of the originals, which were created by Adrien de Vries and subsequently stolen by the Swedish army. Address: Wallenstein Garden, Letenská, Praha 1 – Malá Strana, 118 00 +420 257 075 707

Lobkowicz Palace: While beauty is abound here, the main focus is on Prague’s (and Czech Republic’s) place within European history. Their gallery includes paintings by Velazquez, Canaletto and Brueghel, as well as annotated manuscripts from legendary musicians. Address: Prague Castle Jiřská 3 119 00 Prague 1, Czechia +420 233 312 925

Food

The Portfolio: You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone complaining about this fine dining establishment. The chic atmosphere perfectly complements the food. Their monkfish in a roasted black truffle sauce is a favourite. For dessert, try their creme brulee or carmalized fruits and ice cream. Address: Portfolio restaurant, Lannův Palác, Havlíčkova 1030/1, 110 00 Praha 1 , Czechia +420 224 267 579

Vegan’s: If you’re looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary, try Vegan’s. Even those who aren’t vegan will appreciate the wonderfully crafted food. Their burgers are a great substitute for non-vegans, and their wonderful selection of cheesecakes and pies will satisfy your sweet tooth. Address: Vegan’s Prague, Nerudova 36, 11800 Praha, Czechia +420 735 171 313

Ristorante Pagana: This is a great local spot for a host of Italian food, including pasta, seafood and antipasti. They also have reasonably priced dishes, which can be difficult to find at a good Italian restaurant. Don’t forget to try their chestnut tiramisu! Address: Ristorante Pagana, Vladislavova 17, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic +420 224 056 300

Chocoffee: The perfect spot for fanatics of all things chocolate, Chocoffee serves up Belgian chocolate on tap in three varieties: white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. You can have your chocolate in a waffle, in a cone, or with fruit, nuts or pretzels. Address: Spálená 8/80, Praha 1, 11 000, Czechia +420 775 583 450

Getting There From London

The easiest way to travel from London to Prague is by plane. For round trip tickets spanning less than a week, flights can cost anywhere from £40 to £120 each way. The flight will take about two hours each way.