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What are the chances that your outdoor picnic will be flooded by rain this year? In the case of planning our How to organize it: summer specialGale force winds, hail storms and drizzle were near-constant threats. Planned and filmed during one of the wettest springs on record, our outdoor moments invariably required temporary tarps, shelters and, in one case, an outdoor heater.
Were they the ones who came off the worst? I’d say the thrill of spontaneity added to the charm. When a summer barbecue at Rita’s was marred by a deluge, the resulting indoor gathering was arguably all the more delightful for its unpredictability and joy.
That’s the fun of summer festivities: you need a bombproof contingency plan. Even those planning picnics in more conducive climates can be thwarted by sudden outbreaks, whether in Tuscany or Mumbai. With that in mind, though, I want to send a huge thank you to everyone involved – Amber Guinness, Fiona Golfar, Skye Gyngell, Rose Chalalai Singh, Samyukta Nair, Aditi Dugar, Missy Malik-Flynn and Gabriel Pryce – for hosting us this time.
Hydra has always been synonymous with a certain kind of bohemian chic. The Greek island captivated Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell and Leonard Cohen, and has further cemented its artistic credentials with a number of initiatives in recent years. Like others seduced by its folklore, Josh Hickey moved there several years ago with plans to grow the island’s literary scene. His Hydra Book Club, on the top floor of the Hydra Historical Archives Museum, has become a home for locals and book-seeking visitors from near and far. For this issue Has developed a guide For those looking for more than just blue sea and sunshine: a list of exhibitions, residencies, events and individuals that make “the rock” so culturally rich.
Regular readers of HTSI You don’t need an introduction to Nick Foulkes. This watch, jewellery, cigar and fashion expert is one of our most prolific contributors and a man who embodies the essence of an aesthete. His passion for Marbella knows no bounds. He first visited in the 1990s and, as he writes, “I haven’t stopped going back since – it cast a spell on me. It has magic and, like the best magic, I have no idea how it’s done.”
Nick has attempted to understand his long spell in a new book, Marbella Sunpublished this month. That’s why we thought it was only fair to ask him to write about his beloved Spanish sanctuary in our How to spend it on… slot this weekNeedless to say, his must-see list includes antique treasures, tobacco shops and the workshop that looks after his decrepit Mini Moke every year. It’s a delightfully eccentric, and typically Nick, itinerary.
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