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Riviera Life Archive 4 - April / May 2009

Riviera Life News Archive 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dom Joly: Unhappy expat? Should have gone to Iceland  The Independent On Sunday 31 May 09 I'm in the South of France for a week. One of the ways to get under the skin of wherever you are is to read the local newspapers. I bought myself a Nice-Matin but also found a curious little magazine called the Riviera Reporter. Dom Joly.

Living the Nice life on the Cote d'Azur  Vancouver Sun 30 May 09 Old town puts you where the markets, shops and action is -- no need to drive. We chose Nice as our home base because it's the hub of the Cote d'Azur. We developed a two-week plan of self-directed day trips, building in enough flexibility to allow for bad weather or simply our mood of the day. Nothing was fixed. Tom Casey.

Warning over suspect in Paris hotel murder  The Independent 30 May 09 Mr Griffin called for his Porsche 911 and drove off without checking out of the room on Tuesday night. One theory put forward yesterday is that he could have headed for Ms Legg's yacht in the French Riviera. Police on the Côte d'Azur have warned members of the public not to approach Mr Griffin. "Port and harbour authorities have also been told to stay alert for anyone matching his description," a spokesman said. Terri Judd.

Britons see French as sexier, but less witty: poll  Yahoo! 29 May 09 Britons who have settled in France say they are happier and healthier, seeing French people as having stronger family values, and suffering from less crime and less stress, according to the survey. AFP.

Explore the magic of Cannes   Times South Africa 28 May 09 It is a great, but expensive, weekend getaway of sun and sightseeing and the ideal place from which to embark on a tour of the Provence region, famous for its food and wine. Reuters.

Digital radio roll out begins  The Connexion 27 May 09 Digital radio broadcasts will begin in Paris, Nice and Marseille before the end of 2009, it has been announced. The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA), which oversees France's radio and TV broadcasting regulations said four new stations would be available nationally on digital frequencies.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson unveiled as a Toulon player Telegraph.co.uk 27 May 09 Jonny Wilkinson completed the formalities of signing for Toulon on Wednesday by addressing the local media in French and assuring them that he felt fitter than ever. Brendan Gallagher. 

Wolf Pack Downs Nice All-Stars 113-83  Nevadawolfpack.com 27 May 09 All seven players scored as the Wolf Pack men’s basketball team won its second game on its European Tour, turning in a 113-83 victory over the Nice All-Stars on Wednesday. Press Release.

France's Oft-Derided Largess Insulates Many From Slump  Washington Post 25 May 09 In recent years, Jean Beaufranqui and his wife have spent most of their time in Menton, enjoying the sunshine and gentle Mediterranean breezes that have made this little town into a retirement haven, France's version of Miami Beach. Edward Cody.

Backstage at F1's most fashionable party BBC.co.uk 23 May 09 F1 and fashion went hand-in-hand as the drivers swapped the grid for the catwalk to raise money for the Elton John Aids Foundation. They snuggled up in sweaters and long coats to model Petra (daughter of F1 boss Bernie) Ecclestone's winter collection.

Travel writer is dismayed  Canada.com 23 May 09 Since 1968, Brégançon has been the summer retreat of French presidents from Charles de Gaulle to Nicolas Sarkozy, while common folk have settled in the area around the nearby port and waterfront town of Le Lavandou. Susan Spano.

Clinton calls for charity during economic chill  Reuters 22 May 09 Bill Clinton called on guests at an amfAR AIDS research charity gala to give more during the recession. The glitzy party, held late on Thursday and hosted by Sharon Stone, is held every year during the Cannes film festival to raise funds for amfAR. Mike Collett-White. 

Power failure ends at Cannes Film Festival  EarthTimes.org 19 May 09 Power was renewed to Cannes Tuesday after angry unionists shut down the electricity supply earlier in the day as it was staging the world's leading film festival. DPA.

French Riviera Capital Declares 2009 'Tunisia Year'  AllAfrica.com 18 May 09 The city of Nice in France has announced that it will declare 2009 "Tunisia Year". As of September 2009 the cities of Nice and Sousse will be twinned.

So, what's the attraction, Jonny? Wilko completes his move from Newcastle to Toulon  Daily Mail 19 May 09 It must be tough giving up the snow-blown winters of Tyneside for the rich blue seas and golden sun of the Cote d'Azur for a meagre £750,000 a year. But, hey, someone has to do it and Jonny Wilkinson has made the sacrifice by completing his move from Newcastle to Toulon. Peter Jackson.

One-of-a-Kind Fiat 500C by Diesel to be Auctioned at Cannes AIDS Fundraiser Luxist 19 May 09 Just one example of the special-edition Fiat 500C by Diesel will be made, joining big names like Sharon Stone, Harvey Weinstein, Annie Lennox and former U.S. President Bill Clinton in helping the American Foundation for AIDS Research break last year's record $7 million raised at the gala held in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival. Noah Joseph.

Penelope Cruz sidelined by food poisoning at Cannes Film Festival  Newsday.com 18 May 09 Penelope Cruz has had to miss an event at the Cannes Film Festival after suffering food poisoning. AP.

Lewis Hamilton is teaching Beyonce how to drive like a racing pro  Mirror.co.uk 18 May 09 Lewis Hamilton may have found one formula to stop his halo slipping at Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix - teaching Beyonce to drive like a pro. The world champ has been steering the bootilicious babe and her hubby Jay-Z around the course since their arrival from the Cannes Film Festival.

See France through artists' eyes  The Observer 17 May 09 The genius of Cézanne and Picasso is celebrated in a show opening next week in Aix-en-Provence. Visit the museum, then tour the hills and coasts that inspired them, says Rosemary Bailey.

La Réserve's new Ramatuelle hotel  Independent 16 May 09 La Réserve, which already has a chic hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva and ultra-luxurious apartments in Paris, is opening a new hotel in Ramatuelle on the French Riviera on 29 May.

Nude cyclists give Cannes crowd an eyeful  abc.net.au 16 May 09 Crowds hoping to glimpse the stars on the Cannes festival's red carpet got an eye-popping surprise as a team of nude Belgian cyclists paraded down the Riviera seafront. AFP.

No downturn for old money Monaco  Variety 15 May 09 During a global recession, how does Monaco market its lure of gilded revelry to a planet in fear of going broke? "Here we call it a challenging economy," says Michel Bouquier, director of the Monaco Tourism and Convention Board. "Monaco is actually doing pretty well. Alene Dawson.

Nice jazz festival returns to its roots  Variety 15 May 09 The French Riviera isn't famous only for its Cannes Film Festival and rose wine. It also hosts one of the world's oldest jazz festivals in Nice — an event that dates to 1948. Elsa Keslassy.

Find a new name for the French Riviera  Times Online 11 May 09 Say the word France and the images that flash to mind will probably include Paris and some sunny, lavender-tinted scene from Provence. Since 1976, the Provence area is part of the entity known as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and there lies a problem. Charles Bremner.

Christian Audigier to Celebrate Birthday With a Bash During Cannes Festival  StreetInsider.com 11 May 09 Famed fashion designer Christian Audigier is celebrating his 51st birthday with an exclusive, invitation only party during the Cannes Film Festival on May 21. The celebration includes special celebrity performances from Lenny Kravitz and 50 Cent, with a special appearance by Dave Stewart.

Jonny Wilkinson to join Toulon next week  Mirror Sport 15 May 09 Jonny Wilkinson will be unveiled as a Toulon player on Monday in a deal which includes a yacht, a house and a car. Wilkinson, 29, has been courted all season by the French club's multi-millionaire president Mourad Boudjellal. Alex Spink.

Cézanne Country Rises Up Against French Rail Plan  New York Times 14 May 09 A new plan promoted by President Nicolas Sarkozy, would extend the high-speed, or TGV, rail line from Aix to Nice. Not incidentally, it’s also embraced by his political allies in the center-right government of Nice. Naturally, the Aixois are back on the barricades. Michael Kimmelman

Cruz Gathers Theron Amd Moore For Charity Dominoes Game Contactmusic.com 14 May 09 Penelope Cruz, Charlize Theron, Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher will pit their wits against one another at the Cannes Film Festival next week (18May09), when they take part in a charity dominoes game with a celebrity twist.

Iron Man Shoot In Monaco 14 - 25 May RLTV 13 May 09 The second Iron Man Movie directed by John Favreau is shooting Grand Prix scenes in the Principality. RLTV

Full House in Cannes  PR Leap 09 May 09 At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the Wilhelm & Karl Maybach Foundation and the Sunflower Children Foundation will team up to host a celebrity poker night to raise money for their charitable projects May 17 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Host of the VIP table is the American actor, screenwriter and director Edward Norton.

Provence enchants with sensory delights  Monterey Herald 11 May 09 But what made Provence so enchanting for me was a triple sensory experience for the eyes, nose and palate—the scenery, scents and food—along with a detour off the beaten path to Monieux, a small town surrounded by lavender fields. Deborah Yao / AP.

Roll out the red carpet. We're off to Cannes for a family holiday  The Independent On Sunday 10 May 09 As the world's movie stars and directors head for the French seaside resort, Jonathan Brown asks if it's possible to take a budget break in this Mediterranean haunt of the rich and famous.

The Complete Guide To: The Italian riviera  The Independent 09 May 09 The colour-splashed Ligurian coast packs in spectacular scenery and history and has been luring tourists – and stars – since the time of Byron and Shelley. Henry Palmer.

Nice airport welcomes 11 airlines starting new routes since early 2008  Anna Aero 08 May 09 Nice Côte D’Azur airport has long been the busiest airport in France outside of Paris and last year handled just over 10 million passengers down fractionally from 2007

Video Euronews France remembers troops of southern D-Day  SFgate.com 08 May 09 President Nicolas Sarkozy paid homage Friday on a Riviera beach to soldiers from French colonies who 65 years ago landed in southern France to help defeat the Nazis in what is known as the "forgotten D-Day." Elaine Ganley.

Designer Cardin Discharged From Hospital Contactmusic.com 07 May 09 rench fashion icon Pierre Cardin has been released from hospital and is on the road to recovery after impressing doctors with his "perfectly satisfactory" health. The couturier, 86, was airlifted from his residence in Lacoste, in the south of France, to Marseille after fainting from high blood pressure. 

French Vintners Find E.U. Concoction Unpalatable  Washington Post 04 May 09 To the buttoned-down European Union bureaucrats in Brussels, the idea was simple: squeeze costs, conquer new markets, maximize profits. But to the vintners of Taradeau, a sun-splashed Provencal village 800 miles to the south -- and a world away, mentally -- it was an attack on their Mediterranean heritage, a crack in French civilization, a fraud against wine lovers everywhere. Edward Cody.

That Poker Dude - High rollin' in Monte Carlo Toronto Sun 01 May 09 I’ve got to admit, this is a great city in which to hold a poker tournament. Monte Carlo, especially with the Grand Prix just a week or two away, is humming with activity. Just shy of 1,000 players made it into the field for Pokerstars EPT Grand Championships, and the field is a great one. Chris Tessaro.

It's All About...Cannes  New York Times 03 May 09 The beauty of the festival is that it combines mass entertainment with work from the farthest corners of international filmmaking, and it showcases this mélange in a theater set against the sparkle of the Mediterranean. Lynn Hirschberg.

The Cannes outlook is cloudy  Los Angeles Times 30 Apr 09 The yachts will still cruise in, but there won't be as many. The parties will continue well into the night, yet not with the same excesses. And while most American distributors will still come to the French Riviera, some others won't. John Horn.

Monaco fest focuses on compassion  Variety 29 Apr 09 Part film showcase, part cultural salon, the Monaco Charity Film Festival is unlike any other. Four films per day are screened, for one week; all sessions are free to the public. A five-member jury awards prizes for film, director, scriptwriter and actor/actress. In addition, there are charity auctions and panel events and a closing-night black-tie gala dinner. Shane Danielsen.

Style: Cannes  Variety 29 Apr 09 You may negotiate foreign rights like a pro, but don't bother haggling with Cannes boutique owners. Let Nice native and personal shopper Anne Davene-Vantalon do the talking. Her tours can be customized for any splurge, from designer shoes to local delicacies.  Monica Corcoran.

Zara Phillips moonlights in Monaco as a Bond girl  Daily Mail 28 Apr 09 Zara Phillips was one of the star attractions at a charity poker event in the South of France. Miss Phillips, 27, was in Monte Carlo to support her rugby player boyfriend Mike Tindall, who was competing in the Ante Up For Africa contest.

English-language newspaper to launch in France  Media Guardian 27 Apr 09 An English-language newspaper for expats living in France will launch in June. The French Post, founded by the former Emap magazine publisher Nicki Wade and run by a team of former London journalists living in the French countryside, defines itself as a quality monthly paper, which will resemble the weekend editions of British broadsheets. Angelique Chrisafis.

Roger Daltrey and Harvey Goldsmith to talk at Cannes 09  Campaign India 27 Apr 09 Cannes Lions 2009 will bring together two of the music industry's giants - the legendary Roger Daltrey (pictured, left) and music industry impresario Harvey Goldsmith (pictured, right), who will grace the stage as speakers.

Wealth Check: Help us make the most of our Riviera odyssey  The Independent On Sunday 26 Apr 09 Maggie and Ken Seaton are planning a life-changing move to the South of France, after Ken accepted a job in Nice. But the couple have only had a few weeks' notice to arrange their affairs, and they are worried about how to manage their money once they have settled overseas. Kate Hughes.

No French doping action against Armstrong  TheWest.com.au 25 Apr 09 The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) said Friday it would not be launching a disciplinary procedure against seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong... Armstrong claims he was given permission to shower by the official who turned up after a training ride in the French riviera town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on March 17. AFP.

Iraq to rent out Saddam's French villa  ABC News 24 Apr 09 Iraq has announced it will rent out the executed dictator Saddam Hussein's mansion in the French Riviera because of the global economic crisis and the fall in housing values. His family, which had all of their assets frozen by the United Nations, owned two properties on the Riviera, one on the hills above Cannes which was bought for 10 million euros ($18.4 million) in 1982. AFP.

Old favourites make a return to Cannes  Euronews 23 Apr 09 There will be a host of familiar faces at the Cannes Film Festival this year with, in addition to the usual glamour, the return of several big name directors. Organisers have just released the line-up for next month’s edition of the world biggest film festival and it offers much for the purists.

Cannes Film Festival touched by the global downturn  France 24 20 Apr 09 The world's biggest media event, after the Olympic Games, has been affected by the global economic crisis. Much of the hotel industry in Cannes is having to offer perks to attract customers in advance of the 62nd edition of the festival. AFP.

Rivals pool resources before Rome contest  The Australian 20 Apr 09 A month before world record-holder Eamon Sullivan and Olympic champion Alain Bernard square off for the world title in Rome, they will take the extraordinary step of pooling their talents in France. Sullivan and the NSWIS super squad will spend a week training in Bernard's home pool at Antibes on the French Riviera in the lead-up to the Paris Open meet, from June 19 to 21. Nicole Jeffrey.

Nadal Wins Record Fifth Straight Monte-Carlo Crown  Rolex Monte Carlo Masters 19 Apr 09 Reigning ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal captured his fifth straight Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title on Sunday with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory over third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia in two hours and 44 minutes to extend his winning streak to 27 matches at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament.

Oligarch Chalva Tchigirinski to lose Monaco palace  The Sunday Times 19 Apr 09 Among the assets included in the agreement are the palatial Villa Maria Irina in Cap Martin. The clifftop property overlooking Monaco is valued at $250m, making it one of the most expensive residences in the world and includes its own helipad and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Danny Fortson.

David Zimmerman wins top prize at Sony World Photography Awards The Independent 17 Apr 09 David Zimmerman won the coveted L’Iris D’Or Award, the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. Zimmerman received the award at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards Gala ceremony in Cannes last night. His winning landscape series "Desert" hauntingly depicts the American southwest desert environment as a fragile ecosystem.

Spike Lee named host of ad competition  UPI.com 16 Apr 09 MOFILM says acclaimed U.S. filmmaker Spike Lee has been named the host of the user-generated content competition at the Cannes Lions 2009 Advertising Festival. The event is to be held in the South of France June 21-27.

Toulon switch edges closer for Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson  Guardian.co.uk 16 Apr 09 Wilkinson's agent in France is still saying that "it's necessary to know how to be patient" but it is understood that only a few minor details remain to be ironed out on a two-year deal said to be worth €700,000 a season. Mike Averis.

Smelling like roses...or not  Global Post 16 Apr 09 On a recent visit to a horse stable, Viktoria Minya had to hold her breath until she could step outside...The Hungarian native is one of a dozen students from around the globe currently training at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery, located near the French Riviera, to become “noses,” or scent experts and creators of fragrances. Mildrade Cherfils.

Foça to Marseille route to be revisited  Hurriyet Daily News 14 Apr 09 Ships inspired by ancient vessels will set sail from the Turkish Aegean town of Foça on May 2 to travel the historical trade route to Marseille, in the south of France, over the course of two months. After stopping in the ports of Velia, Alalia, Nice and Antibes, the ship is scheduled to arrive in Marseille on July 1.

Liam Neeson takes family break  PR-inside.com 14 Apr 09 Liam Neeson and his family spent Easter in St. Tropez, France, the favourite holiday location of his late wife Natasha Richardson, who died after a skiing accident last month.

Tesla takes 711 orders for sedan  San Francisco Business Times 13 Apr 09 Electric car business Tesla Motors Inc. took 711 reservations, at $5,000 a pop, for its model S sedan, due out in late 2011, in the two weeks since it first showed the car. One of the Roadsters went 241 miles on a single charge in a recent alternative energy vehicle rally in the south of France and Monaco. Steven E.F. Brown.

Honeymoon on hold for newly-wed Federer  The Independent 13 Apr 09 Monte Carlo may sound like the perfect honeymoon destination, but this was probably not what Mirka Vavrinec had envisaged. Having married in Switzerland on Saturday, the bride flew here yesterday with her groom so that he could go straight back to work. Paul Newman.

Eeriness emerges from Bonnard's sunny work  TheStar.com 11 Apr 09 A nyone taking a break from our endless winter might well head south to Manhattan for some already perfect summer afternoons in Pierre Bonnard's sumptuous paintings. At least that's the promise behind "Pierre Bonnard: The Late Interiors" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until April 19, with some 80 paintings, watercolours and drawings taken from the painter's life mostly in Le Cannet, a small town in the south of France. Peter Goddard.

Severin Wunderman's House In The South Of France  Luxist 10 Apr 09 The estate of the late watch legend Severin Wunderman has put his French château and its contents up for sale for 18 million euros. He had purchased the 17th-century hunting lodge in La Colle sur Loup in the early 1990s and spent years restoring and decorating it. He died at the chateau last June. Deidre Woollard.

Lance Armstrong: French could ruin my Le Tour ambitions  Daily Telegraph 10 Apr 09 The AFLD's dispute with Armstrong relates to an out-of-competition test last month... Armstrong claims he was given permission to shower by the official who turned up after a training ride in the French riviera town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on March 17. Dan Harbles

Prince Albert II of Monaco says marriage is 'imaginable.'  Riviera Radio 9 Apr 09 Prince Albert II of Monaco has said whilst there are no firm plans, his marriage is “imaginable”, according to an interview with a local paper. His Serene Highness also spoke about Monaco’s recent removal from the infamous “black list” of tax havens, the Principality’s response to the world financial crisis and his Irish-American heritage on his mother’s side, the late Princess Grace.

No 'bon appetit' for French restaurant owners  The Independent 9 Apr 09 The turnover of top-quality restaurants in France has plunged by 50 per cent in the first three months of this year. As the recession bites, French businessmen, the rich and tourists are eating out far less. According to one of the main restaurant and hotel trade bodies, even the wealthy have cut back on dining in starred restaurants because they do not want to provoke the anger or jealousy of the less well-off. John Lichfield.

France still the top tourist destination despite declining tourist numbers  News.com.au 7 Apr 09 The number of foreign tourists coming to France declined last year, but it retained its position as the number-one destination for international visitors. Foreign tourists numbered 79.3 million in 2008, down three per cent from 2007. While 2008 began positively, tourism later declined as a deepening economic crisis squeezed pocketbooks worldwide. AAP.

Local rescuers go to Italy to help with earthquake devastation Riviera Radio 7 Apr 09 A team of voluntary firemen from St Laurent du Var have arrived in Italy, to lend a hand to their Italian counterparts in Aquila where a powerful earthquake killed over 150 people yesterday. Monaco has also sent a team to the devastated area, where there are thousands injured, many still missing and many thousands left homeless.

France finds 'Eta bomb factory'  BBC News 6 Apr 09 French police have found hundreds of kilos of bomb-making ingredients in a garage in the south-eastern city of Grenoble, officials say.

Madoff yacht 'Bull' chained up on the Cote d'Azur after court order in dispute with investors  Canadian Business.com 6 Apr 09 Another of Bernard Madoff's trophy assets has been seized, this time in the south of France. French authorities on the Cote d'Azur have chained up his $7 million yacht "Bull" at a marina in the exclusive Mediterranean enclave of Cap d'Antibes, between Cannes and Nice. Greg Keller.

Clinton set for Amfar fundraiser Variety 5 Apr 09 Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is set to join Sharon Stone, Harvey Weinstein and other regulars at Amfar's annual Cinema Against Aids fundraiser. Set for May 21, during the second week of the Cannes film festival, Amfar's starry dinner/live auction traditionally draws strong support from actors and execs who are in the South of France for the fest. Sharon Swart.

Lance Armstrong defends behavior during recent drug test  The Seattle Times 8 Apr 09 Armstrong says he didn't try to evade or delay testing process: Texan Lance Armstrong is defending himself against suggestions he misbehaved during a recent drug test in France.

Report compiled on Lance Armstrong's attitude at drugs test  HeraldSun.com.au 7 Apr 09 The AFLD sent a sample-taker to test Armstrong after a training session at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, on the Cote d'Azur, on March 17. The official took a sample of urine, blood and other bodily matter. AFP.

Playing Fast and Flying Blind at a Tournament in France  New York Times 4 Apr 09 What could be more enjoyable than playing a tournament on the French Riviera that offers large cash prizes and where little else is at stake besides pride? Not much, which is why this year’s Amber Chess Tournament in Nice attracted almost all of the world’s top players. Dylan Loeb McLain.

Nice Work for Seaton  All Media Scotland 2 Apr 09 A former deputy chief sub-editor at the Evening Times newspaper is headed for the South of France, to work on an English-language newspaper. Ken Seaton will be working on The Connexion, based just outside Nice.

It's Bye Bye Bulls For Madoff  Luxist 2 Apr 09 The yacht, a 1969 Rybovich, is valued at around $2 million and was towed while surrounded by federal law enforcement. The yacht is the medium-sized "Bull," Madoff also owns a $7 million yacht with the same name currently located in the South of France. Deidre Woollard.

All for the Monet  Miami News 1 Apr 09 Tourists stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. It's a peaceful Sunday afternoon, August 5, 2007, and Nice's wealthiest young partiers sip coffee at the Hotel Negresco. Two blocks away, a motorcycle and a blue Peugeot van pull up to the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Michael J. Mooney.

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