This is a place to relax and forget that you’re in the administrative capital of Europe. Housed in a superb deco building, a visit to these baths will transport you to another world. It is managed by Eddie and Jean-Louis who can provide you with a massage or simply let you relax in the pool, take a steam bath or an invigorating ice-cold shower. If that’s not enough, how about a Turkish bath? Just remember that unisex rules don’t apply and that men and women have different days.
Aden is local band with a Steely Dan obsession – two of their albums, ‘Black Cow’ and ‘Hey 19′, were named after SD songs – that doesn’t sound anything like Steely Dan. Their mid-tempo guitar sound brings to mind groups like the Smiths and the Dentists and their introspective lyrical concerns are charmingly low-key. Catch the band on their home-turf at Arlington’s Galaxy Hut, a no-cover joint with lots of local flavour and a great selection of beers on tap.
The Sydney Theatre Company has opened The Wharf 2 Gallery at its refurbished Pier 4 home. First up is an exhibition of new works from 16 of Australia’s foremost graffiti artists that will demonstrate many of the different techniques used in this art form. It’s a measure of the strength of graff that, in spite of overwhelming public distaste, its number of practitioners seems to be growing since its first spray-painted appearance over 20 years ago.
A bar that resolutely refuses to leave the 1930s in one of the coolest parts of twenty-first century Brussels. The door is always locked at L’Archiduc and you’ll have to ring to be allowed entrance to a sumptuous art-deco world. Comfortable sofas will allow you to relax and enjoy a cocktail or two in the company of some of the city’s young ‘movers and shakers’. On Saturday afternoons around 5pm, for those tired of exploring the area’s shops, there is the added bonus of free jazz concerts.
Morgan’s Lane, Tooley Street, SE1 (020 7940 6328)
London Bridge tube/rail. Open Mar-Oct 10am-6pm daily (last entry 5.15pm); Nov-Feb 10am-5pm daily (last entry 4.15pm). Admission ?5; ?3.90 students, OAPs; free under-16s. Credit MC, ?TC, V.
Website: http://www.hmsbelfast.org.uk
One of the most spectacular sights on the Thames, the 11,500-ton
battlecruiser, built in 1938, was instrumental in the sinking of the
German battleship Scharnhorst during World War II and remained in
active service until just after the Korean War. Exploring its seven
decks, boiler and engine rooms and massive gun turrets is great fun -
especially for children. Interestingly, the front two turrets are
trained on the Scratchwood motorway services on the M1, 122 miles
(20km) away to the north-west of London – more, one assumes, to
demonstrate the guns’ great range than to comment on the quality of
motorway food.
County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 (020 7928 1800)
Westminster tube or Waterloo tube/rail. Open 10am-6pm daily (last entry 5pm). Admission ?9.95; ?6.50 4s-15s; ?7.50 OAPs, disabled, students, ES40s. Credit AmEx, MC, ?TC, V.
Website: http://www.hall-of-fame.co.uk
Not a bad stab at
giving a history of football from its origins to the present day
(although you might want to give the first exhibit, the lamentable
Football Physics Laboratory, a miss). The exhibition mostly comprises
information panels and interesting interactive screens, with the odd
dummy here and there, but disappointingly few bits of memorabilia. Not
surprisingly, much is made of England’s World Cup victory in 1966. The
final two exhibits are a bit of a letdown: the eponymous Hall of Fame,
with lifelike but few models of famous footballers such as David
Seaman, Alan Shearer and co (but, surprisingly, no Michael Owen), and
the section where you get to play on footie video games.
(30 June-9 July) – various venues near the Thames at Greenwich & Docklands (020 8305 1818)
Website: http://www.festival.org
The festival features dance, theatre and music at locations along the river. See also 31 December.
A companion show to the Smithsonian’s Indian Photography exhibition currently on display at the Sackler Galley, this show focuses on a wide range of Indian painting, from folk studies to modern oils. Many are pieces by British artists living and working in India, as well as many court paintings and portraits from the famous Rajasthan kingdoms. All contain a fascinating depth of emotion that should open the eyes and minds of art lovers unfamiliar with the Indian continent.
Masks have been the hallmark of Venice’s il Carnevale di Venezia since the 11th-century, although mask makers weren’t officially recognised with their own guild until the 1400s. Masks were used in the 18th-century as a way to trade sexual favours without fear of recognition, however Napoleon’s troops stopped the practice. For about 20 years they have made a comeback as both souvenirs and as dress-up during Carnevale. This exhibition embodies the spirit of Venice by celebrating two master mask makers.
Thanks to MTV’s ‘Unplugged,’ a whole new generation has fallen in love with this classic crooner. Sinatra and Martin may be gone, but Tony Bennett is still cooking. In a career that spans seven decades, Bennett’s voice has only become richer. Tonight, he comes to Miami to play his greatest hits, including ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’. Whether you’re old or young, this is a show you don’t want to miss.
