THE WEEK OF JULY 6, 2009
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L E A R N I N G
Light and bright Leonard Drake offers a new way to counter hyperpigmentation
Primed to perform The Lotus Evora may revolutionise the way we drive
Green rooms The Fairmont Singapore joins the chain’s eco-friendly cause
A life of
discovery As Discovery Network Asia-Pacific celebrates its 15th year in the region and its growth, from one channel to seven, executive vice-president and managing director Tom Keaveny talks about awards and ratings
OP2 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
BUY RIGHT
SAMUEL ISAAC CHUAH/THE EDGE SINGAPORE
| BY AUDREY SIMON |
Where tradition is respected The opening of Tag Heuer’s flagship store marks the start of its 150th anniversary celebration Tag Heuer, known for its prestigious collection of sports watches and chronographs, will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year. However, plans are already underway to mark the occasion with the unveiling of its flagship Southeast Asian store at ION Orchard, the retail giant that has been gaining much attention as the date for its grand opening, July 21, draws near. The design of the 1,060 sq ft store is based on the Tag Heuer 360 museum in Switzerland, where modern meets tradition. The boutique will highlight Tag Heuer’s traditional watch-making culture as well as feature accessories, such as eyewear, and its latest communication instrument, the Meridiist.
EDITOR/REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR Tan Boon Kean (bktan@bizedge.com) SECTION EDITOR Audrey Simon (audrey.simon@bizedge.com) CONTRIBUTORS Chin Wee Ping, Joan Koh, Tony Watts COPY-EDITING DESK Elaine Lim, Evelyn Tung, James Chong, Patrick Fong, Chew Ru Ju, Ezanor Kasah PHOTO EDITOR Samuel Isaac Chua (samuelisaac.chua@bizedge.com) PHOTOJOURNALIST Gwyneth Yeo (gwyneth.yeo@bizedge.com) EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rahayu Mohamad (rahayu.mohamad@bizedge.com)
Goldheart’s Trés Bleu range, with striking blue diamonds, takes centre stage in its coloured diamonds collection. The accessories, from rings to pendants and earrings, are made of blue pavé diamonds. Needless to say, this collection is made for women who are not afraid to defy convention. Prices start at $495.
ADVERTISING + MARKETING REGIONAL GENERAL MANAGER | Edward Stanislaus (edward@bizedge.com) SENIOR MANAGER | Colin Tan (colin.tan@bizedge.com) MANAGERS | Cecilia Kay (cecilia.kay@bizedge.com) Jeffrey Wong (jeffrey.wong@bizedge.com) Windy Tan (windy.tan@bizedge.com) COORDINATOR | Nor Aisah Bte Asmain (nor.asmain@bizedge.com) MALAYSIA REPRESENTATIVE | Helen John Corry (helen.johncorry@bizedge.com) CIRCULATION+SUBSCRIPTIONS REGIONAL SENIOR MANAGER | Suresh Kumar (suresh@bizedge.com) EXECUTIVE | Cesar Banzuela De Jesus, Jr (cesar.banzuela@bizedge.com) ASSISTANTS | Juliana Ibrahim (juliana.ibrahim@bizedge.com) Iryanti Zainol (iryanti.zainol@bizedge.com)
Looking sharp Male Bulgari fans will be pleased with the wide range of products in its spring/summer 2009 collection. Leather accessories include shoulder bags in calfskin leather, briefcases in ostrich skin, neckties and cufflinks. The cufflinks pictured here are made of sterling silver and enamel. Make your way to Bulgari stores for ideas on how you can update your look.
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Hit the jackpot The Vintage 1945 Jackpot Tourbillon from Girard-Perregaux is an extremely complex watch, bringing together the intricate designs of a tourbillon and that of a slot machine. When you pull the lever at the side of the watch, the jackpot reels on the dial will spin and, if you hit the jackpot, the timepiece will chime the familiar slot machine tune. A cut-out allows a view of the tourbillon with the golden bridge. View it at authorised retailers.
PRINTER KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd 57 Loyang Drive Singapore 508968 Tel: (65) 6543 2222 Fax: (65) 6545 3333
Pseudonyms are allowed but please state your full name, address and contact number for us to verify.
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Blue crush
DESIGN DESK Tan Siew Ching, Christine Ong, Chan Yoke Lin, Jamy Gan
We welcome your comments and criticism. Send your letters to The Edge, Raffles City Post Office PO Box 218 Singapore 911708 Tel: (65) 6232 8622 Fax: (65) 6232 8620 e-mail: feedbackspore@bizedge.com
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This is the life Well-off Americans know that come the weekend, the place to be is The Hamptons, where most own a second home. It is against this backdrop that Baume & Mercier created the line of watches devoted to the idyllic lifestyle of the rich. Its latest Hampton collection features three outstanding designs: Hampton Classic, Hampton Manchette and Hampton Magnum. Featured here is the Hampton Classic XL Open Balance, which has a cut-out on the dial so you can view the watch’s heartbeat. Available at authorised retailers.
Lig Second time around Uniqlo is happy to report it is on track to open its second store next month at ION Orchard. The Japanese casual clothes company is set to make a larger impact on Singapore in terms of sheer size — 10,000 sq ft of retail space compared with 8,700 sq ft at its first outlet in Tampines 1. The new store promises more varieties of clothes that will cater to men and women of every age.
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THEEDGE SINGAPORE | JULY 6, 2009 • OP3
Your WeekOut
Mastering the complication Surf’s up Ocean Minded, the environmentally friendly footwear and apparel brand, is now available in Singapore. The company makes use of recycled materials, such as plastic, to produce items like flip-flops. Lending their names to the designs are surfer chick Bethany Meilani Hamilton (above) and surfer dude Bede Durbridge. Prices are between $29.95 and $34.95. The store is located at 02-62 VivoCity.
There are only 88 pieces in white gold of the Manufacture Tourbillon by Frédérique Constant. The highly complicated in-house tourbillon features the Silicium Escapement Wheel, which works without lubricants, thus eliminating oil spillage inside your timepiece. The strap is hand-stitched alligator leather with a water-resistant lining, and comes with a folding buckle. Available at authorised retailers.
Aqua men The Laniege skincare range for men features active ingredients that are known to help skin stay hydrated. The range consists of the Sebum Free Scrub Foam (right) that deeply cleanses skin; Sebum Free Multi Fluid to soothe troubled skin; Dual Wrinkle Manager, the eye cream and moisturiser to keep wrinkles at bay, and Sun Block Leports SPF 50 for perfect skin protection. Available at leading department stores.
SPEND An Enchanting Evening with Les Petits Chanteurs De Monaco. The 31-strong Little Singers of Monaco under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco has wowed the world with its renditions of sacred and Renaissance music and French chansons. Its touring repertoire includes works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Andrew Lloyd Webber. July 7 and 8, 8pm, Victoria Concert Hall. Tickets at $25 to $60 from Sistic*. CHECK out Timeline Revisited, which reunites sound artist Joel Ong, video artist Kun Yi Chen and choreographer Melissa Quek after their first multi-media collaborative piece Timeline. In the sequel, they explore deeper the effects time has on one’s mind and body. July 9 and 10, 8pm, Drama Centre Black Box. Tickets at $20 from Sistic*. DON’T miss Imelda’s Boys, inspired loosely by the former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, and produced by the same people behind the hit standup comedy show Singapore Boy. This new comedy follows Filo, a medical doctor-turned-dancer-turned-actor-turned-comedian and his take on shoes, maids and gay men. July 9 to 12, 8pm (additional 3pm on Sat and Sun), The Room Upstairs @ Action Theatre, 42 Waterloo Street. Tickets at $30 to $40 from Sistic*.
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WATCH Public Enemies (opens on July 9), a film adaptation of Bryan Burrough’s non-fiction book, Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34. Set in the US during the Great Depression, it tells of how an FBI agent tries to take down notorious gangsters like John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a period of crime sprees. Directed by Michael Mann, it stars Johnny Depp, Conrad Vernon, Billy Crudup and Todd Phillips.
GET a dose of Tchaikovsky in the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Extravaganza by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Pianist Stephen Hough takes on the master composer’s Piano Concerto No 3, while the orchestra also performs his Concert Fantasy in G Major. Also on the programme are Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite and Ravel’s La Valse. July 10, 7.30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets at $11 to $75 from Sistic*.
Ultimate urban carrier Weathered leathers such as deerskin, calf, lamb and goat are used in the Bottega Veneta fall/winter 2009 collection for men. The focus this season is on bags designers dub “urban carriers”. This satchel is a gorgeous carryall with space for your laptop, iPod, BlackBerry and other gadgets you need while on the go. View the collection at Bottega Veneta boutiques.
Lighten up Weighing in at only 7lbs, Tumi Light is the lightest travel case ever made. The Tumi Light Alpha collection has two styles: The carry-on duffel has a garment cover with a compartment for your suit while the international carry-on comes with zippers that allow the luggage room to expand. The collection features abrasion-resistant FXT ballistic nylon fabric, making the products last and look good longer. View the range at Tumi stores.
MAKE a date with Stefanie Sun in her concert, The Answer Is... Stefanie Sun World Tour 2009. The homegrown singer, who kicked off the tour in Taipei in May, is bringing a visual feast here, with big names like famed Hong Kong art director William Chang as her image consultant and photographer Wing Shya as concert artwork designer. July 11, 8pm, Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets at $78 to $168 from Sistic*. lanade Concert Hall. Tickets at $11 to $75 from Sistic*. CATCH Spectrum, a performance by The Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale. Written in 1918, the piece about a soldier who barters his violin to the devil for a book that will enrich him, is scored for just seven instruments. It also boasts a blend of jazz, tango rhythms, marches and a waltz. July 12, 7.30pm, Esplanade Recital Studio. Tickets at $24 from Sistic*. *Sistic hotline: 6348 5555
OP4 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
EXHIBITION
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or the first time in Singapore, Officine Panerai will be showcasing its Manifattura Collection that features a range of in-house calibre watches, timepieces from the Contemporary collection and selected special-edition pieces. This rare treat, called P.9000 Movements, is open to the public for free from July 8 and 9 from 11am to 6pm at the Asian Civilisations Museum. A new case was specially made for the new Those who made it to movement, as seen in the Luminor 1950 3 the Salon International de Days GMT Automatic PAM 320 la Haute Horlogerie early this year would have already seen Panerai’s three movements under the P.9000 series. These bring the number of Panerai’s in-house movements to eight in just seven years, which some say is the highest technological feat ever achieved by a watch manufacturer. The three movements — P.9000, P.9001 and P9002 — each provide a different function, but shares the same automatic winding function with a power reserve of three days and a particular technical design that makes these movements immediately distinctive. With these new movements comes a new case, which takes the form of an updated version of the Luminor 1950 made with a slightly less convex sapphire crystal that does not jut out over the bezel. Fans of Panerai timepieces should not miss this rare opportunity to meet those with whom they share a common bond — the love for the Panerai range, a brand that was started in 1860 in Florence. The company, which began life by producing specialised timepieces for the Royal Italian Navy, is known for its Radiomir and LumiE nor series.
Of great calibre Officine Panerai’s new in-house movements make their debut
P.9000 MOVEMENTS Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place Hours: 9am to 6pm Admission is free
Expect to view the intricate workings of Officine Panerai’s new movement at the P.9000 Movements exhibition
BOOKS
| BY ZINTA LUNDBORG |
T
hree ravishing young sisters sneak out of their family party at the Plaza Hotel. Struck with pity for an old carriage horse wearing a silly straw hat, they impulsively attempt a rescue. It swiftly ends in horror, sirens wailing, hand-sewn silk gowns soaked in blood. So begins Alice Hoffman’s latest novel, The Story Sisters. The oldest, Elv, creates a parallel fantasy world for herself and her siblings, but they all seem caught in a fairy-tale curse, their young lives ravaged by rape, drug addiction, fatal ailments and tragic accidents. Hoffman wrote her first novel, Property Of, at 21, while studying creative writing at Stanford University. She has become the best-selling author of 25 books, and her work has been translated into over 20 languages. We spoke at Bloomberg global headquarters in New York. Lundborg: Is failed rescue one of the themes of your novel? Hoffman: I really don’t know what
the theme of a book is when I’m writing it. I know what the story is, I know who the characters are, but the theme is something that really plays itself out in the writing. I think it’s very much about wanting to be rescued, about wanting to rescue someone, and the final realisation that you really can’t rescue anyone. You can only rescue yourself.
BLOOMBERG
Hoffman ‘sisters’ fight demons, do drugs, find love
Hoffman has written 25 books, and her work has been translated into over 20 languages
Why does the mother know so little of her children’s real lives? Annie is a typical mother. I think most mothers don’t have a clue as to the interior lives of their children. Those who do are very rare, and it often comes later in life. But, during the time they’re adolescents and young adults, I don’t think we know the first thing about them. They keep it secret from us. Partially, we don’t want to know, but, partially, they don’t want to tell us.
Why are the grandmothers so strong? I was very close to my grandmother. Children with grandparents are really lucky, since you don’t have those issues you have with your parents, and it’s a freer, more loving relationship. The two grandmother figures are like the fairy godmothers: they really understand the children and they try to set things right. In your book, what are the limits of love? Love is all you have. There is noth-
ing else, and that’s what the characters discover. But, you can’t save someone from their own fate or their own destiny or their own willfulness or the traumas that happen to them. You can love them, but you can’t necessarily save them from living their lives. The oldest sister creates a separate reality with its own language and myths and draws the other two in. Does this ultimately help or hurt them? Do stories help us work out reality, or is it a way to avoid reality? I tend to believe that stories help, and that making a narrative out of the real world is a way to understand it at a very deep level that is very hard to get to in our conscious waking lives. And, that’s why people tell stories and always have: Whoever tells the stories creates the society. Why do you make animals so important in the sisters’ lives? There’s a depth and honesty of connection, and loyalty, that’s hard to find in the human world. For a lot of characters in the book, it’s a salvation. They are able to understand love and then move toward the human world. You have pets, I gather? I’ve had lots of animals all my life, though at the moment I have only one, a Polish sheepdog, who’s anti-dog. He just wants
to look out the window and be left alone. What’s your reaction to being described as a “magical” writer? I like to write about real people in mythic ways because I see them that way. The tradition of literature is magic, whether it’s fairy tales or Kafka, Shakespeare or the Brontës, and the whole idea of realism is a new and not-sointeresting idea. What’s the most memorable response you’ve gotten to your work? I received a beautiful letter from a woman whose son was in the second tower on 9/11, and she said reading my book allowed her to feel some of the feelings she was staying away from as too scary. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock starred in Practical Magic, one of the novels made into films, plus you’ve been a screenwriter. How has that affected your writing? Practical Magic wasn’t the book, but it was a fun Hollywood movie with six great women in it. Screenplays taught me to cut away some of the excess and think about what’s really important. I collaborated with my husband, since you got a lot more respect if you went in with a male E partner. — Bloomberg LP
THEEDGE SINGAPORE | JULY 6, 2009 • OP5
BEAUTY
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Light bright
The latest light therapy for hyperpigmentation problems can now be found at your nearest neighbourhood beauty salon, writes Chin Wee Ping
The R I Hyperpigmentation treatment gradually lightens and improves skin pigmentation and skin blotchiness and refines skin texture
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hen it came to “instant” results for problem skin, IPL (intense pulsed light) was the anti-ageing buzzword of the early 1990s. Today, researchers have found a breakthrough in high-tech skin treatments by combining IPL technology with bipolar radio frequency to create electro-optical synergy (elos), to rejuvenate skin. Compared with its predecessors, it offers better results, more flexibility to treat only selected areas according to skin needs and skin sensitivity, and has lower risks of pigment changes and scarring. You can now enjoy this high-tech salon treatment with Leonard Drake’s R I Series, which incorporates the elos technology to stimulate collagen production in the deeper dermal layer of your skin. Results are instantaneous and will improve over time with regular treatments, says Karin Boo, technical manager for Leonard Drake Skincare & Health Spa. “We recognise that our clients are busy and want something that solves their problem effectively in minimal time.”
From the many skin-rejuvenating treatments ranging from firming to whitening that fall under the R I Series, Options tried out R I Hyperpigmentation. With our high exposure to UV rays in Singapore, it is also no coincidence that some 80% of Leonard Drake’s female clients receive some form of treatment to brighten their complexion, even out skin tone and lighten hyperpigmentation. “Most of them change their treatments according to their skin condition, especially when they engage in more outdoor activities,” Boo says. The treatments are grouped according to the results you are looking for, with R I Hyperpigmentation focusing on brightening skin tone. It tackles skin pigmentation and skin blotchiness, or spider vessels, and refines skin texture. The reported results are an 80% to a 90% improvement on existing brown spots and freckles after seven treatments. The treatments can be carried out every two to three weeks. This non-invasive treatment is combined with the use of natural botanical products from Dermalogica pre- and
post-treatment. There is no downtime, which is usually needed for treatments that have side effects. Most clients are said to leave the treatment room with a slight tinge of pinkness, at most. Improvements to pigmented skin and vascular irregularities appear obvious very soon, although brown spots temporarily become more obvious for a few days after E the treatment before lightening sets in. Chin Wee Ping gave up a hectic full-time career to become a freelance writer
R I HYPERPIGMENTATION TREATMENT $320, per session of 70 mins and $1,920 for seven sessions. Available at Leonard Drake (except for its Ang Mo Kio and Parkway branch). Go to www.leonarddrake.com.sg/leonarddrake/about/visit.html to find the branch closest to you.
The experience After a thorough analysis of my skin and lifestyle habits and simple instructions on aftercare, the therapist starts the session with a short facial. It includes the usual gentle facial scrub and hydrating treatment mask (both before and after the R I Hyperpigmentation treatment). In pre-treatment, the hydrating mask preps my dry skin for the treatment, while it helps soothe my skin after.
The apparatus “head” is placed on my skin, and this directs the treatment to the hyperpigmented areas. It leaves a subtle hot sensation on the skin each time the light energy and bipolar radio frequency are administered. The therapist starts working from my cheek area to my jawline in the first round. As the treatment progresses, my skin gradually feels more
taut, and the treatment area is gradually reduced to finally target only the freckles on my cheeks. Each time the therapy is administered on my skin, I feel a slight and bearable warm prickling sensation that lasts for a few seconds. And as a safety precaution, my skin is allowed to “rest” for a few seconds before each round of treatment.
Aftercare To ensure my skin receives proper hydration, I have to slather on Dermalogica After Sun Repair twice a day for the next few days, specifically to soothe my skin. To protect it, I wear Dermalogica Extra Rich Faceblock SPF30.
Aftermath As soon as the session ends, my skin feels “lifted” and more supple than before. Looking at
myself, I feel the result is well worth enduring the prickling sensation. My skin texture appears more refined and moist with hydration, while my face appears to be slightly lifted. My skin also feels tighter and firmer. This improved condition lasts for the next few days. The hyperpigmented area darkens gradually over one week before my skin peels very subtly to reveal a brighter complexion.
OP6 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
SAMUEL ISAAC CHUA/THE EDGE SINGAPORE
THE ASCOTT INTERVIEW
Keaveny says the awards won by the company are not just for show, but are a visual reminder for the staff to feel a sense of pride
A life of
discovery As Discovery Network Asia-Pacific celebrates its 15th year in the region and its growth, from one channel to seven, Audrey Simon talks ratings and awards with executive vice-president and managing director Tom Keaveny
and managing director of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, concurs. “Yes, Singapore may be a small market, but it has relatively high levels of cable penetration and is quite advanced in terms of the offerings,” he says. Singapore did go the way of digital and high definition (HD) television way before other organisations. Keaveny admits that if DNAP were purely a Singaporean company, the business model might not work. The economies-of-scale model, which enabled Discovery Channel to launch in Singapore successfully, is based on
the vast content library belonging to the company. “Whatever [programme] is popular in Singapore, is also popular in Brazil,” he adds. Which brings us to speculate that since Discovery Communications has signed a deal to create the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in the US, there is surely a chance that Singapore will soon also enjoy this channel devoted to talk show host Oprah Winfrey who, according to Time magazine, is the second most influential person in the world (she was dethroned by
Angelina Jolie this year). After much cajoling, Keaveny admits that plans are on track to bring in OWN by 2010 — whether early or late in the year, we will just have to wait for the official announcement. In the meantime, do expect OWN to carry the very essence of what Winfrey stands for: to empower people, to celebrate life, to inspire and to entertain. Keaveny says Discovery’s top three most-watched programmes with universal appeal are Deadliest Catch, which shows the treacherous conditions fishermen in the Bering Sea have to deal with during the crab-hunting season; Man vs Wild, featuring ex-SAS soldier Bear Grylls showing viewers ways to survive in unfriendly situations with an energy that leaves you breathless; and Mythbusters, a popular science-based show where hirsute hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman attempt to bust myths, rumours and urban legends. However, its strength lies not only in popular programmes; the marketing of Discovery is just as smart. How many times have we, caught in a moment of awe over Mother Nature, quietly sung the “I love the world”, or rather “boom-deah-dah”, theme song recorded by stars of Discovery Channel and others in praise of the beautiful world we live in?
The popular science-based Mythbusters features hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman attempting to bust myths, rumours and urban legends
PICTURES: DNAP
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as Vegas native and creator of drama series Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), Anthony E Zuiker, credits Discovery Channel for the success of his CSI franchise that now includes CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. Zuiker reveals on the CSI official website that he was fascinated by a Discovery programme called The New Detectives, where a camera crew follows real-life forensic scientists to various crime scenes and shows how crimes are solved based on science and evidence gathering. The CSI series grew and has garnered a huge following, not to mention a few Emmy Awards and a string of accolades. Discovery Communications, parent company of Discovery Network, was started in the US in 1985 by John Hendricks with its flagship network Discovery Channel. Discovery Network Asia-Pacific (DNAP) now celebrates its 15th year in the cable network business in the region and 14 years in Singapore. Along the way, it has grown from one channel to seven: Discovery Channel introduced in 1995; Animal Planet in 2000; Discovery Travel & Adventure in 2002 and rebranded Discovery Travel & Living three years later; Discovery Science in 2004; Discovery Health, later renamed Discovery Home & Health, in 2004; Discovery H&L launched in 2004, rebranded Discovery Real Time in 2005 and relaunched as Discovery Turbo in 2008; and Discovery HD launched last year. Some might say this is an ambitious growth for a small market like Singapore. Tom Keaveny, executive vice-president
Awards and accolades Looking at all seven channels running on large flat-screen TVs in the DNAP’s 30,000 sq ft office at
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THEEDGE SINGAPORE | JULY 6, 2009 • OP7
Deadliest Catch shows the treacherous conditions facing crab fishermen in the Bering Sea
Changi Business Park, one can see why the company has much to celebrate. At the reception counter, numerous awards accumulated over the last 15 years line the top shelf. These include a recent one, the prestigious Cable & Satellite Network of the Year from the Asian Television Awards, which it received for the second year running. We ask Keaveny about winning awards and leveraging on them. “Awards,” the 40year-old Briton says after a short pause, “are satisfying, but at the end of the day, we are a business. [Awards] are recognition of what we do and that we are not only successful in the business, but we’re also getting some critical acclaim. These awards are not populist awards, but rather one that is judged by your peers — the people in the production community in Asia.” Keaveny stresses that the awards are not placed at the reception area for decoration; to him, they stand as a visual reminder for the staff to feel a sense of pride as, after all, “it’s not always you get to see ratings, but awards are there and that, to a degree, is justification”. Ratings, awards and more are all in the line of Keaveny’s work. Based in Singapore, he looks after the Asia-Pacific region, which has a growing portfolio of channels reaching out to 442 million cumulative subscribers in 32 countries. He is not new to Asia, having worked in Singapore as the company’s senior vice-president, sales and revenue, from June 2001 to May 2003, before being posted to Miami to look after the Latin American market. But, with a promotion in 2005 came the lure of the Asia-Pacific region, which he feels “is the most dynamic part of the world”. Besides, he says with a smile, his wife and two sons like it here too. Apart from his work at DNAP, Keaveny sits on the board of directors for the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia and the Media Development Authority of Singapore. Keaveny’s portfolio may seem huge, but he still finds time to stay fit and runs marathons when his busy schedule permits. The other thing he does when he’s not travelling is to catch up on what’s happening on television, and that means crossing the blurred line between work and leisure. Instead of relaxing and watching TV, Keaveny channel surfs to check out what the other networks are up to. Plus, of course, “I flick through all our networks to see if they are up and running”. His two boys, aged seven and nine, stay loyal to the Discovery Network by watching such programmes as Mythbusters, convincing Dad at one point to fork out a tidy sum while they experimented with
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Coca-Cola and Mentos sweets to create the magnificent fountain of brown fizzy spray. On a safer note, Keaveny says his children now also watch locally produced shows, such as the comingof-age drama Fighting Spiders. At this point, Keaveny, always the inquisitive network man, asks me what my favourite channel is. This, of course, is Travel and Living, with hot programmes like Australian chef Kylie Kwong’s Simply Magic, Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and Nigella Express, where Nigella Lawson teaches us that it is okay to raid our fridge in the middle of the night for a snack. However, these programmes alone are not enough to generate the revenue needed to run a network. Keaveny says: “Our primary revenue stream in Singapore is via distribution revenue that we get through the cable operator. The secondary stream is in advertising sales, subdivided into three avenue streams [like] global advertising sales, [which are] global deals done out of the US, Asia or Europe. The second part is regional advertising sales and, finally, local advertising sales handled by StarHub.” Adding to that are programme sales revenue, online media revenue and print, namely the bi-monthly glossy Discovery Channel magazine, a collaboration between DNAP and Reader’s Digest, which acts as a supplement to your viewing pleasure. In the last 15 years, it was not all about the overseas-fed programmes, as DNAP has made inroads into tapping local talent to In Man vs Wild, ex-SAS soldier Bear Grylls teaches produce in-house documentaries. viewers how to survive in unfriendly situations The most remembered is the compelling 2005 three-part History of Singa- Chew family as they exhume the remains pore. Of this milestone in the company’s of their family and follows the rites that 15-year history, Keaveny says it is a “very go with it, all in the name of urban redeimpactful programme that is very well velopment. The documentary premiered in the region in 2001, and later won Dismade, and we are very proud of it”. DNAP also works closely with local covery Channel’s Asia First Time Filmfilmmakers to produce documentaries, maker Award. Injecting local flavour into programmes such as Moving House by Singapore filmmaker and Student Academy Award winner is something Keaveny is passionate about. Tan Pin Pin. The documentary tracks the He cites one example. “Travel and Liv-
ing is another of our great networks that has got local flavour to it. We get a lot of chefs coming through and a lot of local production happens here and in Taiwan. So, that works and it allows us to give a flavour of the region, yet it also works around the world. You were there, you saw it.” He is referring to the successful fortnight of annual feasting at the World Gourmet Summit in April, where celebrity chefs David Rocco and Bob Blumer hosted sold out dinners. An evolution Can another network, say, National Geographic, compete or even prove to be a tough competitor for DNAP? Keaveny pauses for a long while before he answers this delicate question. “[National Geographic] is a competitor in terms of advertising sales,” he says. People don’t wake up in the morning and plan to watch Discovery Channel or National Geographic — they want to watch a genre. So, in terms of competitor, we could be competing against all media. I know this is going to sound bizarre, but the more competitors we have, the better we perform and the better our audiences perform.” With competition rife, Keaveny is always on the lookout for how to improve on what they have, and that is content evolution — how one content can be branched into other ideas. He gives an example, “After a programme goes on air, we ask ourselves, ‘does this have online capability?’ or ‘is this a magazine article?’ or ‘could this be a podcast?’ We are constantly looking at how this one content can evolve.” On further reflection, Keaveny volunteers that people have lamented the death of TV — not quite the thing the head honcho of a large TV network company wants to hear. Surprisingly, he is not fazed by such comments. In fact, Keaveny stays upbeat, “I actually think we are in the golden age of TV. Some of the programmes we have on TV at the moment are amazing. Lost is one such programme that has a fantastically scripted drama that is exceedingly well produced.” Of course, the CSI franchise is the one that Keaveny and indeed the global Discovery Communications team is the most proud of. “It completely endorses us,” he says of the show that integrates and relates to The New Detectives, one of the highest-rated documentaries in the history of E Discovery Channel.
03/07/2009 6:07 PM
OP8 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
DRIVE The Evora is the first all-new vehicle from Lotus in 13 years
PRIMED for
performance
Is the Evora, the only mid-engined 2+2 sports car currently in production, set to revolutionise the way we drive? Tony Watts checks it out.
E
nthusiasts may know the name but, to a large degree, Lotus Cars is under the radar of the general public. That may change with the launch of the Evora — the first all-new vehicle from the Hethel, UK, manufacturer in 13 years. Modest production targets of 2,000 a year ensure the Evora is not going to be as ubiquitous as a Toyota, but the figure is expected to nearly double. Mark Fullalove, territory manager, EU and international sales, Lotus Cars Ltd, speaks to Options on the occasion of Evora’s launch in Singapore. Is it a good time to be at Lotus, with the arrival of Evora? Yes. There’s obviously been a lot of variants from the Elise platform. There was a totally facelifted Elise that came out in 2000, followed by the Exige in 2004. There have been new cars based on that platform but, in terms of totally new cars, from the ground up, this has been the first one in 13 years. What other Evora derivatives are planned? In just over a year’s time, there will be an automated gearbox option on the car: Paddle shift, with an auto mode as well. That’s obviously important for certain markets. Within Europe, most people just want a stick shift but, outside of that, particularly in Asia, we know this sort of gearbox is very popular. So we want to meet those demands. There’s scope within the design of the car to do plenty of variants. We’ve packaged it to do a spyder version in the foreseeable future and no doubt, there’ll be other variants of the theme.
Fullalove: There’s scope within the design of the car to do plenty of variants. We’ve packaged it to do a spyder version in the foreseeable future and no doubt, there’ll be other variants of the theme.
Has the Evora’s Low Volume Versatile Vehicle Architecture been designed with alternative powertrains in mind? Absolutely yes. The new platform, the centre section of it particularly, which is the main occupant section of the car, can be easily adapted and redesigned to suit a different package. All we’d have
to do is to redesign a new front-end section and rear-end section and you’ve got a different vehicle altogether. That chassis is going to be the underpinning of the future for us. It’s the ideal solution for the volume and type of manufacture we do — it’s the whole strength of the design of it. Is there a figure for the Evora development budget? I wouldn’t want to put an exact figure on it, but it is probably achieved on significantly less budget than more mainstream manufacturers. The car is global-engineered in terms of compliancy and crash testing — it meets all the global regulations. We’ve done more durability testing on this car than any other product we’ve made. It’s done hundreds of laps around the Nürburgring, the Nordschleife. It’s done hot-weather testing in the Australian desert, it’s done subzero testing up in Scandinavia in the Arctic Circle. We definitely don’t cut corners. We’re very thorough about how we engineer the car. I think the key to it is that we’re quite a small organisation. It enables us to work quickly and efficiently. We haven’t got a big corporate structure with board meeting after board meeting just to sign off a door handle. We make decisions quickly and we can do it efficiently and save money. Does satisfying customer expectations — say, making the Evora easier to get into than an Elise — dilute the appeal of the brand? The Elise was designed as a no-compromises driving machine. It set the world on fire for its focus and the way it performed. It was just completely undiluted, a pure driving machine. That always will suit a very niche number of customers, and we shouldn’t lose sight of that. That is what makes Lotus special. That’s why they are different from other vehicles and why they are so much fun. The way we have gone about engineering the Evora is very much still with the Lotus core values — efficient, clever engineering, performance through light weight, fun to drive, fantastic ride
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TRAVEL
Powering up Offering a “more refined ownership experience”, the all-new Lotus Evora features a 3.5-litre Toyota-derived V6 engine, capable of propelling the mid-engined sports car to 100kph in 5.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 261kph. Thanks to the Lotus “performance through light weight” philosophy, those figures don’t necessarily mean large fuel bills — the combined cycle fuel economy is just 8.7 litres per 100km. Lotus claims the Evora is designed to accommodate front passengers of up to 186cm tall and rear passengers of up to 152cm tall at the same time, and that it is the only mid-engined 2+2 sports car currently in production. The Evora is built on an all-new Low Volume Versatile Vehicle Architecture chassis, with extruded and bonded aluminium front and centre sections and galvanised steel for the bolt-on rear section, with composite body panels bonded to the chassis. It is expected to be delivered to local customers at the end of this year, and costs $328,800 for the 2+2 version or $316,800 for the two-seater.
A suite at the Fairmont Singapore, which recently stepped onto the eco-friendly bandwagon, promoting recycling and eschewing the wedding dinner-favourite shark’s fin soup
A greener Fairmont Fairmont Hotels and Resorts takes small, steady steps in adopting an eco-friendly attitude | BY JOAN KOH |
A
decade ago, going green may have meant roughing it out in a shack among the trees, as well as eating local produce harvested from a nearby farm. In luxury hotels, the option to reuse linen and towels might have appeared as if the establishments were scrimping on power bills. This is no longer the case. Whatever their motivation, conservation — for the environment or bottom line — is conservation. Hoteliers are taking small, steady, green steps that are sustainable and compatible with the level of luxury well-heeled guests expect. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, being among the first big hotel chains to embrace green practices, is one prominent example. The chain has a green partnership programme that dates back to 1990 in its Canadian hotels. Reducereuse-recycle-rethink green strategies are today adopted in Fairmont establishments throughout the world in varying degrees. Of note is its Eco-Innovations, where the hotels adopt a project that addresses the needs of the local ecosystem. The response is impressive. About 80% of its hotels around the world have initiated programmes ranging from reforestation (Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club and Fair-
and handling. Whatever product we manufacture, we must have these qualities, and the Evora very much has that, albeit in a slightly more rounded, practical package. What is the Lotus five-year plan? Is there a focus on the US? Yes. We’re well established in the US, we have in the region of 25 to 30 dealers and we’ve been selling the current Elise and Exige out there since 2004 but, I think in terms of volume, the Evora will suit that market very well. Volume is set to potentially almost double. The Evora is a big stage in that five-year plan. We’re also looking to do a new supercar, which is the halo product at the top of the tree. It won’t necessarily be an Esprit, but I guess in terms of spiritual replacement it is going to be a twoseater, mid-engine supercar. That’s the next big thing in the plan. I’m confident that if we play to our brand strengths we can deliver a car that’s dramatic and fairly iconic, unique, and it will drive better than the competition and be better value for money. I’m sure we can deliver that.
BLOOMBERG
and cle erion —
THEEDGE SINGAPORE | JULY 6, 2009 • OP9
Will it be competing in Bugatti territory? I don’t think it will be a Veyron beater, that’s hypercar territory. We’re talking more supercars, such as the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo… That’s the sort of cars it will be up against. A relatively affordable supercar. Will it have a Lotus engine? Not necessarily, no. In recent times, we’ve been using Toyota powertrains. It is undecided at this time what engine we’d use. We’re also looking at other green solutions as well. It might not necessarily be a straightforward solution. We’re going to look at trying to do something that’s very relevant, and something that’s right for the moment E in time. We have to look at all the options. Tony Watts is a freelance writer with a passion for fast cars and bikes
The Fairmont was one of the earliest big hotel chains to adopt green practices in its operations
mont Mara Safari Club in Kenya) to weekly park cleanups (Fairmont San Jose in California). In China, the 222room Fairmont Beijing, Fairmont Yangcheng Lake Hotel in Kunshan and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai have adopted sensible green practices, with the talk right now focusing on sustainable seafood. Perhaps, more critically, the Toronto-headquartered hotel chain is working to minimise the use of pesticide and water at its 17 golf courses worldwide. The Fairmont Singapore, following its rebranding from Raffles The Plaza in 2007, recently got on with the green movement. The 13-member green team, formed in June last year and headed by hotel manager Carlos Monterde, drives a comprehensive recycling programme at Singapore’s largest hotel operation (that’s 2,030 rooms including Swissotel the Stamford). “One can only imagine the amount of recyclable materials [there is],” says Belladonnah Lim, the hotel’s spokesperson. Lim is spot-on. In six months, Fairmont yielded close to 150,000kg of recyclable plastic, glass, paper, metal and aluminium. With the launch of green cuisine — read organic, healthy and trans-fat free — Fairmont Singapore’s green revolution has a public face: green dishes are now available at Alligator Pear, Plaza Market Café, Prego and Equinox, so health-conscious diners have a wider choice, including citrus fruit soup and oven-roasted kampong chicken skewers. The hotel is also committed to using, wherever possible, sustainable, locally sourced and organically grown produce. Prego’s chef de cuisine Salvatore Silvestrino, for instance, oversees a herb garden on the fifth floor where over 200 pots of herbs are fertilised with compost generated by cultured worms, which in turn have been fed discarded greens from the hotels’ kitchens. Going green has an attractive incentive — the herb garden has saved the hotel thousands of dollars. Additionally, shark’s fin soup, the critically endangered blue fin tuna and Chilean sea bass have been taken off the menu. Matrimonial couples who insist on having shark’s fin soup during wedding dinners simply have to look elsewhere. Fairmont Singapore’s general manager Ian Wilson reasons: “By choosing seafood wisely, we can take a leadership role and help shift demand away from fish and shellfish that are over-fished or poorly managed towards those that are in better shape. “Fairmont can contribute to the movement that encourages better fisheries management and abundance in the seas by letting our local suppliers know what we’d like to see and why. Eventually, if enough food service operators make responsible choices and explore sustainable options, our suppliers will follow suit. Also, we have the opportunity to raise awareness with our guests, and perhaps influence their choices.” Call it clever green marketing. Every step towards a E sharper environmental awareness helps. Joan Koh is a freelance travel and wellness writer
OP10 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
DINE OUT
SIPS & BITES
Major taste of mini dumplings Fans of Din Tai Fung’s signature xiao long bao (steamed pork dumplings) are in for a treat. The restaurant recently debuted its famous xiao long tang bao (mini steamed pork dumplings) at its Paragon branch. In Taiwan, these mini dumplings are only available on Sunday mornings and are normally sold out before 11am. The exquisite-tasting minis, 50% smaller than the regular xiao long baos, are served with a bowl of chicken broth that has been boiled for at least six hours. These delightful morsels are available from 3pm to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to noon on weekends.
At the Lighthouse
Located in the quiet suburbs of Bukit Timah is Mexican cantina Café Iguana
Tapas and tequila
The Lighthouse restaurant on the eighth floor of the Fullerton Hotel, which used to be a functioning lighthouse in the 18th century, is now a beacon of another kind. The newly refurbished 52-seat eatery serves authentic Italian cuisine whipped up by chef de cuisine Diego Martinelli. Diners drawn to this establishment will not be disappointed with dishes such as Grilled Polenta, Fresh Taleggio Cheese and Pickled Radicchio, Handmade Tagliatelle with Poached Lobster and Organic Asparagus as well as Grilled Suckling Pig Cheek with Green Apple Compote. There’s also a wide selection of Italian wines while dessert features specialities from various parts of Italy. For reservations, call 6877 8933.
Audrey Simon finds herself in a Mexican cantina far, far away from the city
W
ith one outlet already gaining a followThe food is a lively mix of the usual Mexican fare, ing among the suits at Riverside Point in such as fajitas, burritos, tacos and chimichangas. We the city, Café Iguana decided to tackle won’t lie and say the food will not add inches to your the leafy suburbs by opening its second waist; the portions are hearty with generous helpings outlet in Greenwood Avenue in the quiet of refried beans, rice, sausages and cheese — and we Bukit Timah residential area. wonder how Mexican screen siren Salma Hayek manThis Tex-Mex restaurant makes for a nice change ages to stay so slim. from the usual crowded restaurants in the city. Firstly, After you place your food order, get the waiter to the drive there will already set you in serve Mexico’s national drink, tequila a good mood as you veer away from — at Café Iguana, there is a choice from CAFÉ IGUANA the expressways and hit the quieter 100 varieties. There’s also the sweet/ 2 Greenwood Avenue roads. Design-wise, this outlet is not sour, refreshing Margarita made of teTel: 6462 1533 much different from the one opened quila, Triple Sec and lime juice, or with Opening hours: Monday to in 2000, with its happy mix of bright strawberry or mango. Whatever drink Thursday 4pm to midnight; colours like yellow, lime green, blue you select, it will go well with a dish of Friday 4pm to 1am; Saturday and scarlet — think of a typical Mextortilla chips and a tangy salsa or creamy 11am to 1am; Sunday 11am to ican cantina and you’ll know what guacamole dip. midnight we mean. Camarones al Diablo ($18.99) is one fiery start to your meal. This appetiser is made of prawns sautéed in habanero chili pepper, capsicum, ginger, cumin and lime with a side dish of cheese quesadillas, which is cornmeal dough stuffed with cheese or sometimes shredded chicken. Another must-try appetiser is the stew-like Carne de Puerco en Chile Verde ($14.99), where the pork is so tender you don’t need a knife to slice it. And, to mop it all up, Café Iguana serves the flat bread known as tortillas, and rice. Should you wish to up your calorie intake, you can opt for a dollop of sour cream in your stew. While you happily tuck into the appetisers, do remember to leave space for mains like the Smoked Salmon Soft Taco ($21.99). This is not the usual fold-over taco; instead, it is built in layers to resemble an openface sandwich, with cabbage, smoked salmon, lime, cream and pico de gallo, a condiment made up of finely chopped onion, tomato and chili pepper. Those who find the dishes not spicy enough can help themselves to any one of the three bottles of chili sauce with varying degrees of spiciness on each table. After-dinner pleasures include the flourless Ancho Chile Chocolate Cake ($10.99), a rich offering of chocolate cake with a pouring of margarita sauce and ice cream. With the meal over, you can kick back, loosen the notch on your belt and knock back more tequila shots. Start your meal with the fiery Camarones al Diablo, prawns served But, don’t forget to assign a designated driver first. E with a side dish of cheese quesadillas
A taste of Scotland at The Atrium, Pan Pacific Singapore This is tapas with a twist — done the Scottish style with culinary classics like Haggis with Neeps & Tatties (turnip and potato), Stovies (potato, onions and meat) with Sour Dough Toast and Black Pudding with Bacon and Square Sausage Burger. Priced at $18++ each, the Scottish tapas are available from 3pm daily. Connoisseurs of fine Scottish whiskies can savour the specially selected range that includes 12-year-old Glenlivet, Macallan, Singleton and Glenmorangie Original at $220++ per bottle or three bottles for the price of two. For enquiries, call 6826 8240.
Seafood platters at the Breeze Breeze, a rooftop alfresco seafood bar and grill at The Scarlet offers a scrumptious feast of fresh seafood and succulent meat and a view of Chinatown below. We recommend the Chilled Seafood Platter — a feast for two that consists of Maine lobster, freshly shucked Canadian oysters, scallops and mussels. The Grilled Platter includes grilled offerings such as rack of lamb, Moroccan beef skewers, red snapper and spring chicken. For reservations, call 6511 3323.
Cocktails and canapés at the Astor Bar, St Regis Spend your evenings enjoying classic cocktails paired with delectable canapés during Astor Time at St Regis’ Astor Bar. The Astor Time cocktail list includes favourites like Cosmopolitan, Martini, Mojito, Mai Tai and Margaritas. For ladies, Lady Astor Time offers a unique pairing of Moet & Chandon champagne and St Regis’ signature macaroons. Guests can enjoy their drinks and canapés while appreciating 10 original lithograph pieces of the Toro Series by renowned artist Pablo Picasso that adorn the walls. For enquires, call 6506 6868. — Compiled by Ellen Lokajaya
BLOOMBERG
THEEDGE SINGAPORE | JULY 6, 2009 • OP11
BEHIND THE BOTTLE
Fine port | BY ELIN MCCOY |
F
oot-trodden grapes are a hallmark of great vintage port for most wine lovers, but not for the Chinese. Too bad — the great 2007 ports need buyers. Let me explain. In April, Portugal’s port houses unanimously declared 2007 a vintage year. They only make a universal declaration when producers agree that the best estates in a particular harvest will make a few thousand cases of their most prestigious wine — vintage port. This happens about three times in a decade; the last declaration was for 2003. The best vintage ports are largely made the old-fashioned way, by barefooted people stomping on the grapes in traditional open granite vats called lagares. I’m convinced of that as I sample the 2007s from 11 top port houses at a preview tasting at New York’s Four Seasons restaurant. Tables covered in white are arranged around the room’s perimeter and each beaming producer is pouring an older vintage alongside his 2007 to remind us that port needs decades of age to show how good it is. The 2007s, though, are surprisingly delicious now, with floral aromas, opulent fruit, silky textures and appealing freshness. The wines will arrive in shops in a few months
at prices of US$55 ($80) to US$100. “As people tread the just-harvested grapes in lagares, you can see whether it’s a great vintage,” says Christian Seely, bow-tied managing director of AXA Millesimes, a division of French insurance giant AXA SA, which owns Quinta do Noval. “There’s something solid to the surface, it ripples but doesn’t undulate.” When I last spent an evening treading at Quinta de Vargellas, I was too busy to notice ripples. Clad in shorts, I was thigh-deep in a thick mass of grapes, stems, and deep purple red juice, squishing grape skins with my feet as I danced the Iberian version of “le chicken”. Keeping my balance on the slick grapes underfoot was tough work. Quinta do Noval sells well in Japan, sales director Aymeric de Gironde tells me, but so far, interest in China hasn’t taken off. One problem may be those feet. Rupert Symington, whose extended clan has been selling port since the 19th century and owns eight port houses, pours me a taste of 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio and explains. “A few years ago, at a Shanghai trade tasting, our sales manager showed a video of foot-treading the grapes,” he says. “After seeing it, none of the retailers wanted to taste the wines. We didn’t think about cultural differences and the disgust factor.” Here in the US, there’s no problem. Jumping into a vat of grapes is wildly pop-
ular at wine-country grape stomping festivals from late August through October. Luckily, mechanical feet are on the march. Manpower is increasingly scarce in the port vineyards of the Upper Douro. So port houses have been experimenting with ways to mimic the gentle pressing of the human foot. Several of the Symington family’s Quintas and others now use a combination of feet and robotic machines. Low, square, stainless steel tanks are fitted with mechanical treading pistons whose movements replicate the squishing action of feet. Still, no one is ready to retire the human foot. Among my 2007 favourites, dark, complex Taylor Fladgate and concentrated, chocolaty Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha are 100% foot-treaded, as are balanced, violet-scented Quinta do Vesuvio and super-rich Quinta do Noval. But I also liked deep, cherry-rich Graham’s; plummy
powerful Dow; and thick, exotically fruity Croft; all of which use a combination of human and steel feet. The 2007s put port’s best foot forward, but will they find a place in the stagnant US market for this classic wine? Everyone has a theory about why port’s now in the “out” cycle, saddled with a low hipness factor. Bartholomew Broadbent, importer of Quinta do Crasto and Broadbent port, blames high-alcohol California wines. He says port consumption was growing until about 12 years ago when many New World wines raised alcohol levels to 14% and even 15%, with very sweet intense fruit. That brought them closer to the 20% of most ports. Besides, there’s little incentive to buy wines that you have to wait at least 10 years to drink when you can get an older, readyto-drink vintage for not much more. The current economic situation hardly helps. Still, port is faring better in the recession than some other wines, says David Guimaraens, winemaker at the Fladgate partnership. “Port sales are only down 4%,” he says. “Champagne is down 40%. We think we’re doing well!” AXA’s Seely takes heart from the success of vintages during the Great Depression. “Look at the great 1927s,” he says. “They came out in 1929. Or the 1931, declared in 1933. If you’re in the wine business, you have to keep your eyes fixed on a distant horizon.” If only that distant horizon included E China. — Bloomberg LP
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OP12 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| JULY 6, 2009
SPECIAL EVENT
Beauty
&ART
Guests were treated to an evening of glitter and glam at Sir Elton John’s annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
F
From left: Chopard co-president Caroline GrouseScheufele, Sir Elton, Furnish and Italian jeweller and watchmaker Fawaz Grousi
One half of the Little Britain duo, David Walliams, with singer Natalie Imbruglia
Model and actress Elizabeth Hurley with Sir Elton
Actress Claire Danes
or the 11th year running, celebrity couple Sir Elton John and David Furnish welcomed stars and celebrities into Woodside, their mansion in Windsor, for the annual White Tie & Tiara Ball to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. As in previous years, Chopard, the Geneva-based luxury watch, jewellery and accessories company, partnered Sir Elton for the June 25 event. Woodside was transformed into an art gallery, complete with an open-air section with sculptures decorating the lawn, to fit the evening’s “Contemporary Art” theme. Sir Elton also displayed his private art collection in his new pavilion gallery. The night’s entertainment was provided by Sir Elton, who per- Kate Beckinsale glows with formed some of his songs, while Chopard jewellery Justin Timberlake also gave a short concert to guests, who included Natalie Imbruglia, Louise Redknapp, Claire Danes, Lily Allen, Kate Beckinsale and David Walliams. Chopard co-president Caroline Grouse-Scheufele launched a new watch collection together with Sir Elton. Of this collaboration, GrouseScheufele said: “I have chosen to support [Sir Elton’s] fight against AIDS through a dedicated watch collection, as well as through events such as the White Tie & Tiara Ball. We are delighted to be the main sponsor of this magical evening for several years now, and to thus contribute to ensuring that guests’ contributions directly serve to fund the foundation’s activities.” E The event raised £4 million ($9.5 million).
Hosts with the most, Furnish and Sir Elton
Ex-Spice Girl Geri Haliwell