What's on guide

There’s a new exhibition at the Musee d’Art Classique in Mougins.  It’s called Bleu-Tropique and features Belgian artist Johan Van Mullem, whose works will emerge from the blue portrait gallery during the exhibition.  It’s on until the 17th of March, so there’s plenty of opportunity to go along to the museum to see it.  All the details at the website www.mouginsmusee.com

If you or someone you know is a car enthusiast there’s a great exhibition of classic Ferrari’s taking place at the Prince of Monaco’s Motor Museum in Fontvieille in Monaco. About fifty of the brand's most iconic Grand Prix and Sports cars - those that forged the Ferrari legend and inspired millions of fans - are brought together at this exhibition. It’s on until the 15th of March. For opening hours, admission charges and further details, see the website www.mtcc.mc/en/

Jean-Antoine HIERRO is presenting an exhibition entitled "OR NOIR", a small retrospective of twenty pieces selected over twenty years.  There are paintings, inks, ceramics and bronzes on the dominant themes of gold and black. It’s on until January 30th at the Riviera GALLERY,  2, rue du Congrès in Nice  and you can get more information at the website www.riviera-gallery.com

There are many things to see and do at Monaco’s famous Oceanographic Museum, including the permanent exhibition “Monaco and the Ocean, from exploration to protection”. You can also explore the Whale Room, observe viper fish with sharp teeth and go diving through the oceans in 360 degree surroundings with four amazing films.  There are lots of other fascinating interactive exhibits. All the details at the Oceanographic Museum’s website www.oceano.mc

Every winter the Rainier III Nautical Stadium on the port of Monaco is turned into a 1,000 m2 ice skating rink.  It’s open until the 3rd of March for skating for all the family, but the rink is put to another use on several Sunday mornings in January and February when it’s turned into a racing track for model radio-controlled cars - that’s happening on 13/01/2019, 27/01/2019, 03/02/2019 and 24/02/2019. For more details about what’s happening at the ice rink and to get opening times and admission charges see the website www.mairie.mc or call (+377) 93.30.64.83

If you play bridge or would like to start playing, you might be interested to know that the Monegasque Bridge Federation are playing bridge again at the Monte Carlo Country Club every Sunday at 3pm. There’s free parking. Details & reservations by e-mailing federation-bridge@monaco.mc or phone Gil Vivaldi on 06 80 86 80 65

Running for the month of January, Mum Mondays is happening at The Studio in Antibes. Offering Pre Natal Yoga and Mum and Baby classes. Each week there will be a guest specialist speaking about baby massage, homeopathy, nutrition and osteopathy. There’s a €20 charge for a class, the talk and tea/coffee. For more information contact barbaradancefitness@gmail.com 

A Marriage Course is starting at Cornerstone Church in Vallauris on the 12th of January, but you can join the course at any time.  It runs for seven weeks and the cost is €70 per couple for the whole course. It’s for couples of all ages, married for one year or for a life time, with great marriages or not so great ones, but who want to enrich and enhance their relationship. More information from François by email fanch.fougere@gmail.com or phone 06 60 17 55 60. 

Club Vivanova have several events over the next few weeks.  They have a member’s only event here at Riviera Radio – that’s on Thursday, the 17th.  And then on Thursday the 24th of January it’s a Sparkling Brut and Vermouth New Year Terrace Party at the first floor private bar of THIRTY NINE Monte Carlo showcasing a variety of speciality aperitif cocktails from the Scarpa Winery in Piemonte. There’s also The Metabolic Balance Experience on Thursday 31st January at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Horizon Deck and Champagne Lounge. Details on all those events at  www.clubvivanova.com

The 43rd Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival is taking place later this month, from 17 to 27 January. You can book your tickets online, by phone or at the box office. Performances are at the Fontvieille Big Top as usual, where you can also find the box office. The Ticket Hotline is +377 92 05 23 45 or you can go to the website www.montecarlofestival.mc/en/

Roll up roll up because the circus has just hit town!! This year’s Monaco Circus Festival features a circus expo at the Fontvielle shopping centre, special postage stamps across the principality, and even a football match featuring Prince Alberts team versus the circus performers!  That’s all on top of daily shows at the worlds greatest circus, right here in Monaco from now until January 27th.  For full details and tickets go to www.MonteCarloFestival.com

Cornerstone Church in Vallauris are hosting a Restored Lives course for those who have gone through relationship breakdown and divorce. It runs over 5 weeks from the 19th of January.  More information by e-mailing admin@c-stone.org or calling 06 09 07 21 57.

This weekend, we have a very intrepid non-mountaineering explorer leaving the Riviera to climb Mount Kilamanjaro. Her name is Juliette Clarkin, and despite having zero experience climbing mountains, is taking the challenge to conquer Kilamanjaro to raise funds for our local cancer charity Mimosa Matters. She’s doing it with her brother Nicky and lots of small donations of 20 or 30 euro are rocketing their funding raising drive to their goal of 1 euro per metre climbed.  They’re doing regular Facebook updates on the journey, which includes the fundraising link, and you can find it by searching Facebook for ‘Climb Against Cancer

From Monday, you’re invited to preview many of the collector’s pieces being made available at the forthcoming Art Curial auction which starts next Wednesday. They include sumptuous jewellery from the Victorian era to today, including pieces by Cartier and Van Cleef; timepieces from the ladies collection to an incredible set of diving watches from Italian institution Panerai; and of course this years Hermes Winter Collection. The preview is available to you Monday and Tuesday at Monaco Yacht Club.  

Even living in such a beautiful place as we do, life can still be stressful L  However, a technique called Heartmath can help you control and reduce stress, and is very simple to use.  Hear more from a Riviera based licenced therapist, who uses the Heartmath bio-feedback system, which is proven to help you reduce stress and anxiety. They’ll be sharing all at a free pot-luck dinner, held at the Moonlight building just beside the port in Nice this Monday night from 6.45pm. To reserve a place for yourself, email contact@holisticinfo.directory or call Beverly on +33 6 47 74 04 03

This Tuesday, Monaco USA’s networking guests are the English business magazine Forbes Monaco for their networking event at Café Milano on the port.  Great contacts, early bird specials and half price drinks are the order of the night which kicks off from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

I love some of the brilliant names people come up with for pub quiz teams including Quizzy Mc Quizface, Never Gonna Quiz You Up or my favourite team name; “I thought this was speed-dating”!

If you love a quiz, there are two coming up shortly!   Fiona MacLeod , who has become famous for running exceptionally good quiz nights, is running her next one this Wednesday (23rd) at the Castle Pub in Chateauneuf.  The entry fee will raise funds for the popular local charity Mimosa Matters. And the British Association of Cannes are holding their quiz night this Friday (25th) at Holy Trinity Church in Cannes where the €15 ticket includes a light supper. 

For tickets, contact Fiona in Chateauneuf on fjhmacleod@gmail.com or Mandy in Cannes  by calling 04 93 43 74 09. 

The world famous Monte Carlo Rally is taking place later this month. The official start is scheduled for Thursday January 24th in Gap. The conclusion of the rally is on Sunday January 27th. More information about the route and how to see the rally can be found on the Automobile Club de Monaco’s website www.acm.mc

There’s a special British Invasion Comedy Night at Ma Nolan’s in Cannes on Friday the 25th of January, with a top class line-up of European Comedians. Tickets are €10 in advance / €12 at the door. You can order your ticket by sending an e-mail to mademoisellecomedy@gmail.com and you can get full details of the line-up on the Facebook page The British Invasion Comedy Club.

The British Association of Monaco are holding a Burns Night Supper at the Salon Bellevue at the Café de Paris on Saturday the 26th of January. A three course dinner with wines – not forgetting the Haggis! – to be followed by dancing and general merriment.  More details at the website www.bam-monaco.org

The Luxury Lifestyle Gala Dinner has just launched for the fifth year running, and this time round they are raising funds for the Chances for Children Foundation and TAF, the Animal Fund. The night will include premiere champagne, premium wines, plus sublime four course meal and entertainment, all in the salubrious surroundings of the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco. Click here for full information and tickets,