Comedian Harmonists Festival

One of the favourite movies of former president Bill Clinton and film critic Roger Ebert will be screened during this music festival. 'The Harmonists' celebrates the music of the Comedian Harmonists, five male vocalists and a pianist who rose to international celebrity in 1920s Germany. The group's meteoric rise was followed by its precipitous demise as Hitler came to power and Jewish members of the group were banished. The festival also includes a two-part documentary film and the Hudson Shad sextet performing songs from the Harmonists' original repertoire.

Billy Budd

Britten's 'Billy Budd' returns to the Staatsoper with a new cast featuring celebrated Danish baritone Bo Skovhus in the title role which he first performed at the Houston Grand Opera in 1998. In his role début as Capitan Vere, American tenor Neil Schicoff will visit the Staatsoper for the first time since he famously refused to attend last year's Opera Ball in protest at the presence of the FPÖ in Austria's new government. The Phiharmonic will be conducted by Donald Runnicles, the Scottish-born music director of the San Francisco Opera, known for his interest in new music.

Condado Beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bond Street

6 Bond St between Broadway and Lafayette St (212-777-2500)


Subway: 6 to Bleecker St. Mon-Sat 6-11:30pm; Sun 6-10:30pm. Average main course: $20. AmEx, MC, V.





Perhaps the only thing more attractive than Bond Street's stylish staff is the space itself: three floors of Japanese-inspired design, complete with a candlelit basement-level lounge. In addition to a full bar and a wide array of sake, the cocktail den also offers sublime sushi. In the dining room, expect top-notch Nobu-esque Japanese cuisine.

Ai do Ladroni

Very centrally located just off the Campo San Bartolomeo at Rialto, Ai do Ladroni - translating literally 'at the home of the two thieves' - serves large and reasonably priced Venetian specialties such as pasta e fasioli (pasta and bean soup), sarde in saor (marinated sardines) and baccalà (dried salted cod). Vegetarians will find a few things to keep them happy and fish eaters, as with everywhere in the city, are in for a treat.

Saturdays at Villa Demidoff

If you can't think what to do with the kids on a Saturday, take them up to the beautiful extensive gardens at Villa Demidoff, about 12km north of Florence at Pratolino. The Medici villa is no longer standing, but the gardens are full of surprises including the colossal statue the 'Appenino'. During the summer, Saturdays are dedicated to children with theatre and puppet shows and games supervised by professionals. There's lots of space to let them loose in, so take a picnic and sit in the cool shade of one of the ancient trees in the park.

Hugo Boss Store

A big new Hugo Boss store has just opened on a prime site in the centre of Florence. The brightly-lit, minimalist interior staffed by super-sleek sales personnel is a welcome change from the rather fusty shoe store that it replaces. The men's clothing on display in the windows represents a foretaste of the spring and summer that we are all longing for with classic colours and designs being given a contemporary interpretation. Boss prices are not exaggeratedly high - a spring suit will cost from about £300.