UFO art-exhibition to travel the world

by Abha Malpani on


When I lived in Dubai I worked in PR so I have been witness to many a crazy publicity stunts — but this one takes the cake.

Designer brand Chanel will put a huge gleaming white “Mobile Art Container” in the sky to fly the world from 2008-2010, displaying work of 20 international artists. Brainchild of Chanel’s creative head Karl Lagerfeld, the container has been designed by Iraq-born artist Zaha Hadid and will be made of collapsible fiber glass.

The artists were given a brief to create art in connection to Chanel’s handbags and curious participants include Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono, celebrity yoga guru Subodh Gupta, and offbeat modern artist Arakinbuyoshi.

They’ve tagged the mad idea a “noble research investment”. Urrrm — no I don’t understand either, but I’d go check it out just to walk into an absurd container like that.

Not sure how it’s going to fly — but over a two year period the thing will travel form Hong Kong to Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, London, Moscow and Paris.

[Via Wallpaper]

Roller skates and Halloween

by Jamie Rhein on

I used to have a pair of roller skates with metal clamps that fastened to my shoes. No matter how I tightened them, they wouldn’t stay put. Finding out about Halloween roller skating events has made me nostalgic. Around the world people don costumes and roller skates this time of year for organized Halloween skates. These are not at a skating rink, but out on the town. I was in a Halloween run at midnight once, but roller skating sounds a lot more fun.

If you agree, then check out this list of places around the world you can skate in honor of the ghoulish holiday:

  • Pari Roller happens on Friday nights in Paris, France. This Friday, is Randoween when people dress up. This section of the Web site is in French and I don’t know how to read French all that well, so if you show up on Friday in a costume and no one else does–sorry.
  • If you read Dutch, here’s the Halloween skate event in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Part of the Web site is in English so you could probably find out where this is taking place.
  • London’s event, London Skate is this Sunday. After the skating, there’s a party.
  • Philadelphia might have the least attractive people (I don’t believe that, by the way) but they sure know how to have fun. There are two Halloween skating events mentioned on its skating club Web site.
  • The Beach Bladers in South Florida had three different Halloween skates according to its calendar.
  • In San Francisco, The Midnight Rollers‘ Halloween themed skating event is tomorrow night, Oct. 26.
  • New York City, as you might expect, also has a Halloween Skate, and it’s on Halloween. This one is a parade that starts at Union Square and heads through Greenwich Village. The photo, thanks to Edward Sudenta, was taken at a Halloween skate in Central Park in 2005. I love the dreamy quality. Check out his others.

Here’s a Web site devoted to roller skating Halloween events. The dates are last year’s, but I’ve checked links and they go to this year’s. There are even costume suggestions and other Halloween tidbits.

One for the Road: Walking Haunted London

by Kelly Amabile on

We’ve already mentioned some spooky travel-related titles for folks who may find themselves in Louisiana, California or Indiana this Halloween. But how about a suggestion for folks who may be visiting our pals across the pond? Walking Haunted London is a collection of 25 walks that explores the city’s ghostly past.

Home to Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, London is considered to be one of the most haunted capitals in the world. This guide features original walks that highlight this sinister side of the city. Author Richard Jones (who looks scared silly and/or really creepy in this photo) is owner of a tour company that organizes ghost walks and other London tours. The book features easy-to-follow route maps for each walk, as well as information on dates and times when ghosts are most likely to appear. Which is handy to have, of course, because you wouldn’t want to travel all that way and miss out on a paranormal sighting, right?

From narrow alleyways to the Tower of London, this ghostly guide will take you on a spine-chilling journey into the darkest parts of the city, ensuring a hair-raising look at London.

London Rents Beat Fifth Avenue by $50

by Iva Skoch on

Thanks to the crumbling dollar, the US is losing yet another transatlantic battle of the richest. According to The Guardian, it is no longer home to the world’s most expensive shopping street. New York’s Fifth Avenue was replaced by London’s Old Bond Street, where annual rents per square foot are $1,400.

Bad news for the competitive New Yorkers. Good news for shopaholic Londoners, already booking their Christmas-shopping air tickets to New York.

Free (and Almost Free) in London

by Catherine Bodry on

Fodor’s Travel Wire recently put out a comprehensive list of sites and activities in London that are free, or close to it. I’ve never spent as much money in as short amount of time as I have when I’ve been in London. The last time I was there the dollar was significantly stronger than it is now, yet I managed to blow through my (admittedly meager) savings in a weekend.

Fodor’s list includes free or cheap art museums, free concerts, and cheap theater, opera, and movies. The “offbeat experiences” are the best: look up ancestors in a public record office, visit Hyde Park or Covent Garden, or watch fishmongers in Borough Market.

Don’t forget to account for the cost of transportation when planning your budget — the Tube is not cheap, although it’s the least expensive way to get around London besides walking.