TRADE IN OLYMPIC MEMORABILIA IS GATHERING PACE | May 11th 2008

The Beijing Olympics will be swarming with commemorative souvenirs. Fiammetta Rocco, Books and Arts editor of The Economist, identifies a few worthy investments--and reveals why this ornate relay torch isn't one of them ...

From ECONOMIST.COM*  read more »

THANKS, NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME | MAY 10th 2008

jmenard48/flickr

Stephen Hugh-Jones finds his way to the nearest open NGS garden. There he finds homemade cake, good company and herbaceous borders worthy of Jane Austen's squires ...

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A SCEPTIC'S PILGRIMAGE | May 9th 2008

Pingu1963/Flickr

A cranky cynic, Anand Prakash didn't know what to expect from his summer of ashram-hopping. But he found something unexpectedly heartening in the story of Anandathirtha, a formidable monk and his namesake ...

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ORCHESTRAL PLEASURES | May 8th 2008

Naseer Shamma "Oriental Orchestra"

Abu Dhabi is eager to become an international centre for the arts. But instead of importing orchestras and ballet troupes, it would do well to invest in regional traditions, Sana Munasifi writes. Naseer Shamma and his oud could point the way ...

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MARTIANS, READING IN TEHRAN, JEROME ROBBINS AND THE BARD | May 7th 2008

Iran Cultural Affairs Institute

Special to MORE INTELLIGENT LIFE

Our guide to what's on around the world, compiled by Jessica Gallucci  read more »

SPARKS WILL FLY | May 6th 2008

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Sparks are to begin performing their entire oeuvre next week in Islington. Singer Russel Mael tells Nick Coleman it's like buying pork futures ...

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, Spring 2008  read more »

OPENING CEREMONIES | May 5th 2008

Half Chinese/flickr

In an era of DVDs, Netflix and digital home projectors, why show films in public at all? Royal-purple ticket in hand, Alex Travelli investigates the crowds and pageantry before the theatre lights dim ...

From ECONOMIST.COM*  read more »

TAKE A TURN | May 4th 2008

"The Marquess of Worcester's dappled grey stallion, with Worcester House beyond", Christie's

Niall Hobhouse made his name dealing in Anglo-Indian art. Now the contents of his magnificent Palladian home are for sale at Christie's, writes Fiammetta Rocco, Books and Arts editor of The Economist ...

SOMETIMES A SWORD IS PREFERRED | May 4th 2008

_StaR_DusT_/Flickr

 

A city lousy with aspiring authors, New York boasts an embarrassing amount of writing workshops to choose from. Rebecca Ford reports on her time in the trenches ...

'TIS THE SEASON | MAY 3rd 2008

PhillipC/flickr

Village cricket is a spectators' delight. No stands, no roaring crowds, no need to understand the rules to join Stephen Hugh-Jones for the most beautiful scene in England, sun high in the sky, birds circling overhead ...

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