THE LIFESTYLE ON THE MOVE

FASHIONLexusNX 300h

HTC ONE MINI 2Il bacio di stile

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Christmas Carnivals

RUIN PUBSWINE

Please note: this issue may only be used for presentational purposes.

All rights reserved Taxi Media Ltd, registered in Hungary

SELECTION: SCANDINÁV

WATCH-RESTOES

Majestic Sights

CLASH OF CLANS

84THE LIFESTYLE ON THE MOVE

FASHIONFASHIONLexusNX 300hNX 300h

HTC ONE MINI 2HTC ONE MINI 2Il bacio di stile

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

NEW YEAR’S EW YEAR’S EVE

Christmas Carnivals

RUIN PUBSWINE

SELECTION: SCANDINÁV

WATCH-RESTOESVAJK

SZENTE

Majestic SightsMajestic SightsMajestic

CLASH OF CLANS

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BRINGING SMILES TO FACES: THAT IS MY DUTY

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TAXIMAGAZIN

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TAXI - The Lifestyle Magazin

Welcome!With a diverse assortment of lifestyle coverage ranging from news about current entertainment to interviews with intriguing personalities to articles about cutting-edge automobiles, Taxi Magazine provides up-to-date information for you to peruse while travelling about the historic capital of Great Britain. Inside this December issue we showcase numerous holiday-season celebrations– including myriad Christmas festivities and New Year’s Eve parties– along withthree of London’s most iconic royal palaces, all welcoming the public with exhibitions and events. What’s more, our travel section highlights Hungary’s capital of Budapest (considered as the hippest city on the Continent) while our fashion pages present stylish wintertime attire and great gift ideas. With so many interesting articles to read, feel free to take this copy of Taxi Magazine after reaching your destination – it is our holiday present for you!

Please note: this issue may only be used for presentational purposes.

All rights reserved Taxi Media Ltd, Hungary

4 SELECTION: SCANDINAVIAN8 CHRISTMAS CARNIVALS14 SZENTE VAJK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW20 PECSENYE LACI BEFORE THE BASILICA 26 WINE 28 DÉRYNÉ32 BUDAPEST: BRIDGING PAST AND FUTURE 38 NEW–VAVE RUIN PUBS 46 MARSHALL – MUSIC SOMELIER

50 GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER52 SPARKLING NEW YEAR’S54 THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL 56 CASUAL ELEGANCE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON 60 HOME, COLOURFUL HOME62 “WOODEN” DREAMS64 CLASH OF CLANS68 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 74 LEXUS NX300h

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BRIDGING PAST AND FUTURE TRAVEL: BUDAPEST

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The Buzz

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CHRISTMAS CARNIVALSLondon is famed for its charming Christmas fairs that pop up citywide during the most wonderful time of the year, from quaint customary markets to cutting-edge design bazaars. Here are three celebrations that are full-blown en-tertainment extravaganzas, with carnival rides, ice-skating rinks, live performers, and much more – check out www.visitlondon.com for full details and other holiday happenings.

A CUT ABOVEModern choreography meets cinematic enchantment in Matthew Bourne’s magical dance production of “Edward Scissorshands!”, based on the classic Tim Burton movie and featuring the music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies. This month, the Sadler’s Wells Theatre hosts the first ma-jor revival of this critically acclaimed show that premiered in London in 2005 before touring Asia, the USA, Australia, and Europe. The revitalized version of this touchingly witty love story is performed without dialogue, but accompanied by live performances of the New Adventures Orchestra. Dec. 2-Jan. 11. www.sadlerswells.com

HOME SWEET HOME PORTOn December 10th of 1954, the legendary Cutty Sark sailing ship completed her final voyage into a permanent berth in Greenwich, where seafaring enthusiasts now travel from around the world to step aboard this vessel of living mar-itime history. Now welcoming everyone as a majestically preserved nautical museum, this last-surviving 19th-centu-ry clipper ship – the fastest and greatest of her tea-shipping fleet – celebrates 60 years of inspiring future sailors at this delightful dock with a special tea party on December 10th at 2pm, where locals will share memories of the Cutty Sark arriving here six decades ago. Throughout the rest of this month, many other family-friendly programs are offered along with intriguing exhibitions. www.rmg.co.uk

WINTER WONDERLAND AT HYDE PARKWith big-top shows, roller coasters, funhouses, and a sprawling Christmas market, this playground for all ages is a favourite festival among London locals. Through Jan. 4

WINTERVILLE AT VICTORIA PARK This new Christmas event welcomes families with an ice rink, kids’ games, and a Ferris wheel, while an indoor roller disco moves to the beats of East End DJs. Dec. 2-31

SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S WINTER FESTIVALHuge white rabbits illuminate this 21-acre riverside scene of spirited merriment, featuring a Christmas-tree maze, singing choirs, and shows for all ages. Through Jan. 11

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The Buzz

PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEARLondon’s best-known Peruvian native – Paddington, the cherished marmalade-loving travelling bear – is now expe-riencing a global comeback as the star of his newly released feature film, with author Michael Bond’s beloved creation brought to life by Harry Potter producer David Heyman. Here in Paddington’s adopted home city, the polite-but-trouble-prone ursine explorer is celebrated with The Pad-dington Trail, featuring 50 appealing Paddington statues appearing across London near museums, parks, shops, and landmarks. Diverse artists, designers, and celebrities creat-ed each sculpture, with the trail leading fans to the humble bear’s favourite places of Britain’s capital. Through Dec. 30 www.visitlondon.com/paddington

WHAT A BLASTWhen the chimes of Big Ben resonate with the first seconds of 2015 as the Thames shimmers amid brilliant multihued blasts, cheering viewers can gaze at the entire spectacle from the riverside with excellent skyward views at the city’s official New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular, pre-sented by the Mayor of London. This year is the first time that spectators must purchase tickets to access the prime viewing areas, but event organisers assert that this ensures a safer and more pleasant environment for this celebration that draws some 500,000 people each year. Along with the incredible pyrotechnics booming overhead, the crowd will be awestruck as the London Eye lights up with entranc-ing colours, and a rousing musical score accompanies the dazzling visuals before everyone is heartily encouraged to join a grand-scale sing-along of “Auld Lang Syne”. After the heady initial moments of the brand-new year subside, a live DJ set continues on into the long night of partying ahead. Dec. 31 www.london.gov.uk

CONTEXTUAL TEXTILETate Modern’s mammoth Turbine Hall hosts some of the planet’s most impressive works of contemporary art, and currently this cavernous space houses the most gargantu-an sculpture ever made by acclaimed American artist Rich-ard Tuttle. Suspended from the ceiling many meters above its viewers, I Don’t Know . The Weave of Textile Language combines vast swathes of varied fabrics created with both manmade and natural fibres, dangling and casting shadows in unexpected waves of saturated colour. This free display remains on view through April 6th, and is organised in as-sociation with a major exhibit at the Whitechapel Gallery to highlight assorted works spanning Tuttle’s five-decade career. www.tate.org.uk

HALLELUJAH HARMONYA pair of diversely uplifting renditions of Handel’s Messiah will fill the Royal Festival Hall with the soaring vocal power of this composition celebrating the true spirit of Christmas. First the Southbank Centre’s Orchestra of the Age of En-lightenment performs the stirring oratorio under the baton of conductor Robert Howarth on December 9th at 7pm, fol-lowed by the eagerly anticipated concert of Handel’s choral masterpiece with the Mozart Festival Orchestra – dressed in authentic 18th-century period costume, amid a stage lit only by candles – on December 13th at 7:30pm. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

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SWEET DREAMSAlthough no special occasion is necessary to indulge in the myriad delights derived from the exotic cacao bean, the holiday season certainly provides plentiful opportunities for chocoholics to binge blissfully – and The Chocolate Festival of London takes this delightful obsession to another level. Whether giddy guests choose to follow the “Hot Choco-late Trail”, or discover artisanal candy bars at the chocolate market, or join a truffle-making workshop, or learn about the healthy benefits of eating chocolate, or even receive a cosmetic treatment made with luxurious cocoa butter, this tasteful gathering at the Business Design Centre offers countless tempting options for satisfying that wonderful craving. Dec. 12-14 www.festivalchocolate.co.uk

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEMelding spellbinding animation of sometimes-disturbing visuals with spirited live performances, this month’s pre-miere of Golem promises to be one of London’s most talk-ed-about shows this season. Staged by the innovative 1927 troupe (creators of the smash hit The Animals and Chil-dren Took to the Streets, called “gloriously subversive” by The Guardian), the Young Vic theatre hosts this intriguing avant-garde performance exploring what happens when humans and machines become inextricably intertwined. The show creates simply astounding effects through use of clever projections that interact with expressive ac-tors, as entrancing music scores the entire production. Dec. 9-Jan. 17 www.youngvic.org

The Buzz

CLASS RINKGlide through the crisp air amid one of London’s most breathtaking wintertime atmospheres, enhanced with sophisticated after-hours attractions. The annual Skate at Somerset House celebrations are centred by what is widely considered as London’s most beautiful ice rink, sited in the middle of the historic building’s neoclassical courtyard, while the adjacent Fortnum’s Lodge and Skate Lounge offer cocktails and tasty treats. The rink is open during the day, but after dark this becomes a locale of frosty nightlife fun during Club Nights, and through De-cember 23rd guests enjoy Christmas cheer with tradition-al Yuletide morsels and late-night shopping on Glad Tid-ings Tuesdays. www.somersethouse.org.uk

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Alessi watch – £ 120 – Aron Design Store

Prince shaving foam 225 g £ 12 – Lush

12 glass balls – £ 11 – Butlers

Candle – £ 1 – Butlers

BLACK AND WHITE: THE TWO EXTREMES ON THE COLOUR SCALE. COMBINED, THEY ARE COMPLETENESS ITSELF. GIFTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SPIRIT OF CLEAN DESIGN AND PERFECT BEAUTY.

Perfume – £ 59 Dupont Braun Series 3 Hair Clipper

hajvágógép – 11.990 Ft Media Markt

Elysee ball pen £ 249 – Dupont

Hair conditioner £ 6,14 Tony&Guy

Asus ME70C tablet – £ 77,11 – Media Markt

Samsung NX3000 digital camera – £ 257 Media Markt

Octomore whisky – £ 154 – www.whiskynet.hu

Notebook – £ 2 – Ikea

GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER

1. China candlestick – £ 10– Butlers2. Photo frame – £ 2 –Ikea3. Crystal necklace – £ 120 – Swarovski4. Christmas tree decorations, 8 pieces – £ 3 – Ikea5. Pendrive – £ 18 – Aron Design Store6. Block candle – £ 5 – H&M7. Lagerfeld cigarette lighter – £ 120 – Dupont8. Shea butter face cream 50 ml – £ 10 – L’Occitane9. Christmas tree decorations, 8 pieces – £ 3 – Ikea10. SisleYouth face cream 40 ml – £ 120 – Marionnaud11. Glass ball decoration – £ 3 – Butlers12. Business card holder – £ 30 – Aron Design Store13. Wooden mannequin forartists – £ 8 – Ikea14. Marionnaud Swiss Apple Formula eye contour cream 15 ml – £ 17 – Marionnaud15. Braun Face facial epilator and cleansing brush £ 70 – Media Markt16. So White bath bombs – £ 4 – Lush17. Notebook – £ 1 – Ikea

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ANYTHING THAT GLITTERS, TWINKLES, SHIMMERS OR SHINES IS WELCOME ON THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR. SO HOW ABOUT WEARING A SEQUIN TOP AND JEWELLERY TO

1. Crystal eardrops – £ 220 – Swarovski2. Necklace – £ 25 – Mango3. Sequin top – £ 28 – Mango4. Treated jeans – £ 110 – Pepe Jeans5. Sequin dress – £ 29 – F&F6. Crystal-studded bracelet – £ 170 – Swarovski7. Rhinestone ankle boots – EUR 256 – Just Cavalli / Designer Outlet Parndorf8. Dress with sewn on pearls – £ 300 – Guess9. Andy Warhol sequin bag – £ 80– Pepe Jeans10. Gemstone ring – £ 70 – Coccinelle11. Clutch – £ 170 – Guess12. Mirror earrings – £ 10 – H&M13. Knitted cap – £ 6 – Tezenis14. Stiletto heels – £ 240 – Marc Cain15. Gemstone silver earrings – £ 240 – Esprit / Marlox16. Shimmer dress – EUR 39 – Guess / Designer Outlet Parndorf17. Sequin skirt – £ 30 – Mango18. Crystal-studded iPhone case – £ 80 – Swarovski19. Crystal-studded handbag – £ 310 – Swarovski20. Shimmer clutch – EUR 117 EUR – Pollini / Designer Outlet Parndorf21. Gemstone collar –£ 65 – Marc Cain22. Sequin T-shirt – £ 80 – Pepe Jeans

SPARKLING NEW YEAR’S 1

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FOR MEN, FEELING COMFORTABLE IS EVERYTHING AND HINGES ON HAVING A FASHIONABLESHIRT, A DESIGNER WATCH, THE RIGHT TIE OR A QUALITY BAR OF SOAP.

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL

Leather belt – £ 24 – ZaraLeather watch – £ 90 – Skagen / Aron Design StoreRuler and calculator –£ 15 – Lexon / Aron Design StoreTie – £ 60 – BOSS / Van GraafSoap – www.scottishfinesoaps.comWooden nail brush – £ 5 – The Body ShopLeather iPad mini case – £ 30 – Judit Ducsai / Aron Design StoreBallantine’s Whisky 0,7 l – £ 6 – www.ital–haz.huShave brush – £ 5 – The Body ShopVintage field glasses – £ 20 – Antik BazárLeather shoes – £ 250 – BOSS / Van GraafWallet – £ 6 – ZaraDeck of playing cards – £ 3 – Antik BazárVintage ball pen – £ 10 – Antik BazárLeather phone case – £ 12 – Judit Ducsai/ Aron Design StoreVintage razor blades – £ 5 – Antik BazárVintage metal razor – £ 4 – Antik BazárHemp hand protector – £ 10 – The Body ShopShirt – £ 35 – JOOP! / Van Graaf

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MEN DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO WEAR AT CHRISTMAS EITHER. SOME MEN FEEL COMFORTABLE WEARING SOMETHING CASUAL, WHILE OTHERS OPT FOR A MORE DASHING LOOK. SOME FEEL OK WEARING NORWEGIAN STYLE KNITWEAR, WHILE OTHERS PREFER TO PUT ON A BOW-TIE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.

1. Flannel shirt – £ 21 – Pull&Bear2. Bow tie – £ 7– Pull&Bear3. Leather watch – EUR 179 – JOOP! / Marlox4. Tie – £ 12 – McEarl / VAN GRAAF5. Knee socks – £ 6/pair – Calzedonia6. Linen trousers – £ 35 – Mango7. Pullover with a Norwegian knitting pattern – £ 18 – H&M8. Suede shoes – £ 100 – Massimo Dutti9. Woven bow tie – £ 12 – Zara10. Leather boots – £ 150 –Vagabond11. Shirt – £ 10 – H&M12. Scarf – £ 8 – H&M13. Spectacle frames – Ray Ban / Optic World14. Woven tie – £ 20 – Zara15. Velvet jacket – £ 80 – Nils Sundström / VAN GRAAF16. Pyjamas – £ 25 – Mango

CASUAL ELEGANCE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

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1. Perfume with floral and citrus fragrance EDP 75 ml – £ 40 – Arlesienne / L’Occitane2. Black rose anti-ageing oil – £ 150 – Sisley / Marionnaud3. Eye shadow powder – £ 4 – Nudes Eye Shadow / H&M4. Tinted eye contour cream – £ 12 – All In One InstaBlur Eye / The Body Shop5. Mascara brush – £ 10 – Masterpiece Transform / Max Factor6. Powder foundation – £ 40 – Artistry Exact Fit / Amway7. Lipstick – £ 20 – MAC8. Vanilla body butter – £ 2,5 – Body Butter / H&M9. Cream foundation – £ 10 – Skin Luminizer / Max Factor10. Serum with thermal water content – £ 40 – Soothing SOS Serum / Sothys

WE HAVE COLLECTED THIS AUTUMN’S NOVELTIES IN THE WORLD OF COSMETICS: GORGEOUS SERUMS, WONDERFUL MASCARAS AND BRAND NEW FRAGRANCES.

BEAUTY RELOADED

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THE COLD DAYS ARE HERE, SO IT’S NICE TO HAVE SOME COLOURFUL OBJECTS SURROUNDING YOU. BRIGHT COLOURS MAKE ROOMS CHEERFUL AND LIFT YOUR SPIRIT

1. Wooden wine rack – £ 11 – IKEA2. Armchair – £ 190 – Butlers3. Wooden bar stool – www.ncnordiccare.se4. Duii reading lamp – GBP366 – www.madeindesign.co.uk5. Glass jug – £ 3 – F&F6. Ceiling pendant chandelier lighting – £ 150 – Butlers7. Velvet pillow – £ 10 – H&M8. Bookshelf – £ 21 – IKEA9. Kitchen Aid food processor – £ 780 – www.kitchenaidbolt.hu10. Vegetal designer plastic chair – £ 300 – Aron Design Store11. Wooden cake holder – £ 20 – BeCake/www.becake.hu

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IT’S GREAT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NATURE INSIDE THE HOME AS WELL. NEARLY ANYTHING CAN BE MADE FROM WOOD, ASIT’S NATURAL, AGES WELL, AND IS NEVER BORING. SO CAN YOU RESIST A WOODEN WATCH, VASE OR DESIGNER CANDLESTICK FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON?

“WOODEN” DREAMS

1. Menorah for Hanukkah 21 from teakwood – EUR 880 – EightDaysDesign / Aron Design Store2. Wooden watch from maple tree – £ 65 – WeWood3. Extendable table – £ 220 – IKEA4. Tray with removable boxes –£ 19– Butlers5. Kalon tree stump – USD85 – www.fawnandforest.com6. Comback rocking chair – £ 450– Patricia Urquiola / Aron Design Store7. ComBuddha revolving chair – USD799 – www.highfashionhome.com8. Console table – £ 160 – Butlers9. Decoration vase, bamboo – £ 20 – IKEA10. Sixtematic chest of drawers – EUR 3,360 – Sixay

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KARLSTADSofa bed with storageWhen it’s cold outside, it’s best to curl up with a good book.The Karlstad sofa is perfect for snuggling.(Ikea)

Price: £519.99

HELLY HANSENGaribaldi bootsmade of waterproof leatherNo weather is too cold for awinter hike, as long as you have a good pair of Helly Hansen boots.

Price: £115.99

SNOWBLADE SLEDGE HAMAXGive the kids a great time during the Winter break!With a Snowblade sledge they can slidearound the world.

Price: £51.99

UPPTÄCKACarry-on bag with wheelsIf you have the time and money, take a trip toSanta’s home inFinland!Make sure to packa lot of warmclothes in yourcarry-on bag!(IKEA)

Price: £56.99

ELITESaunaYou can conjure up a little Finland in yourhome by buying anElite sauna.

Price: £739.99

KORVATUNTURIThe home of Joulupukki, or Santa ClausIn Finland – beyond the polar circle – livesJoulupukki, or Santa Claus. He lives onthe top of the mountain, but for us he’ll come down so that we can meet him.

COTTON CLUBReindeer cushionThis reindeer-and-snowflake cushion by ButlersInstantly creates a Christmassy atmosphere in your home!(Butlers)

Price: £15.99

GLÖGG RÖDVINMulled red wineWithout mulled wine, Scandi-navian people would surely have become extinct by now. A good glögg warms yourhands, stomach and soul all at the same time.(IKEA)

LORDStag napkin ringThere’s a place for a stag even on the dinner table; at least in the form of a napkin ring. (Butlers)

Price: £2.99

(Ikea)

Price: £519.99Carry-on bag with wheelsSCANDINAVIAN

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Food & Drink

FLAVOUR AND ART APPRECIATION BEFORE THE BASILICA Tradition and individuality: these two words describe a restaurant that takes guests from the past almost into the future

If table-laying can become a fine art, then this is what has been realised in a restaurant on Szent István Square, before the Basilica. In the kitchen, using a sense of colour fit for an

artist, the master and his disciples collate fla-vours, as given the very nature of ingredients and spices, every flavour has a colour that can be enhanced, weakened or turned into pastels by mixing ingredients. If one studies great works of art, then one will eventually realise that every detail is important and carries meaning, and they form a unified creation together, in relation to, affecting and intensifying one another (which in our case also holds for flavours). Artistically minded guests can partake in the same experi-ence when the meal is placed in front of them: even the shape of the dish becomes part of the overall impression.

However, there is almost no time for art criticism, as time keeps running by ruthlessly, while the food is cooling down rapidly. We are thus forced to make mincemeat out of the art of colours and shapes. Not literally, of course, but for the sake of our enjoyment.It is a lovely thing that the place is called Laci Pecsenye, before the Basilica, in one of the most touristy areas of Budapest, at the feet of elegant old buildings, as this name rather recalls the booths of old suburban markets, guests of which were rarely members of the intelligentsia.The menu helps us to grasp the connection: while perusing it, one can find almost every meal that was on offer at old “lacikonyhas”, only everything is prepared a little differently, in a healthier way and with more diverse flavourings. Among the secrets behind this is the grilling furnace, made

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Életmód

by a certain Josper, of which there are no more than five or six in the country (indeed, many chefs come here from other restaurants to learn). This grilling furnace is from the Basque Country and is the most prestigious in the world: the coal is imported from Argentina, as this allegedly makes the meat even more delicious. After shrinking, it retains all its nutritional value but the flavours of a real “lacikonyha” still make their presence felt.Naturally, you don’t have to choose from meals only known from “lacikonyhas”. When reading the following (abridged) list of items from the rich menu, try to imagine colours and flavours together with the ingredients: Leavened French Bean Soup with Pike-Perch Fillet; Roast Chicken with Leavened Celery Dip and Gnocchi; Cod in Crab Dip with Dill; Lamb with Polenta and To-matoes. Or a selection of desserts: Cheese Cake with Figs; Avocado in Chocolate Flaky Pastry; Rózsavölgyi Chocolate Lava (made of 72, 75 and

90% chocolate). Yet on the menu, one can also find the classic Sunday lunch (Breaded Chicken Fillets, Potatoes and Pickles), Pink Duck Legs, Lamb Ribs, Beef Goulash or Stuffed Chicken. However, instead of a comprehensive listing of the extensive menu, it is easier for reader, upon reading these lines in a taxi, to turn to the driv-er and say, “Excuse me, I got the address wrong. Take me to the Basilica instead, please.” And this can be done anytime, as Laci Pecsenye is open every day of the week. On summer evenings, however, advance table reservation is advisable as tourists fill the 200-seat terrace to capacity.Once there was no need for real chefs in “lacikony-has”. Later on, the chef’s name was displayed as “head cook” on the menus of restaurants offering domestic meals. These days, in better restau-rants, they are called ‘chéfs’ as in French. Howev-er, we can only call Lajos Takács, who indulges us in such flavours and art, an ‘artist’.

“OUR GRILLING FURNACE IS FROM THE BASQUE COUNTRY AND IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ONE IN THE WORLD: THE COAL IS IMPORTED FROM ARGENTINA, WHICH ALLEGEDLY MAKES MEAT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS.”

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The 2011 wine of Janosh von Beöthy (János Beöthy) was made from grapes

harvested on the volcanic soil of Csobánc Hill. The family’s coat of arms found on the bottle signifies a centuries-old tradition. There’s only a screw cap to be removed—not a reason to worry, this type of seal is totally natural nowadays—and a wine with medium alcohol content flows into our glass. Besides the mineral features characteristic of this region there is only a very slight hint of the “petrol” character of the Rhine Riesling.

If you’ve ever had something beautiful to drink, it imprints itself into your

brain cells and remains there for good. To me, the Tokaj Nobilis Birtokbor, let to run its way by the Tokaj oenologist Sarolta Bárdos, is just this kind. Mostly Furmint, with a shade of Hárslevelű; a mix of barrel and container. Pear, peach and honey in its fragrance, with just a very slight vanilla nose from the barrel. She matched the juices of the grapes of Barakonyi Field and Csirke Vineyard. Easy and understandable yet also a very complex wine. It has a long finish in the mouth, where all the features of rhyolite-rich soil can be tasted. A good gift from women to women but also to men.

On the Balaton Uplands, we visited Misi Liszkay. He greeted us, as usual,

while playing the piano in his estate on the border of Monoszló, which could surely compete with agro-tourism destinations in Tuscany. Our glasses were filled with a Cabernet Franc christened Giulia. The basic ingredient of this 2012 wine was grown in the Káli Basin, which has a Mediterranean microclimate. Not a full-bodied wine, more of an elegant red, which appeals to me greatly. It has flavours of cherry and red berries, with only a very slight taste of the barrel. It is delicious on its own, without food, but is best when paired

with game meals..

Bence Laposa and his sister Zsófi Laposa master a blend of

modern winemaking and the traditions of the countryside. The Kéknyelű in our glasses is an ancient Hungarian grape variety, grown exclusively in a small part of the Badacsony region that holds immense potential. The packaging is very trendy: it feels good to grab the bottle, with a discreet text on its neck that reads Laposa Borbirtok. The Hungarian tradition ment-ioned earlier was dressed in a really elegant label. The Kéknyelű grape has female flowers, so its fertilisation is uncertain: external pollination is taken care of by the wind. From this point on, all this resembles having some playful sex in the vineyard. The wine is of pale lemon colour, while its odours evoke white-flesh fruits, hard shells, citrus and green herbs.

IF YOU’VE EVER HAD SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO DRINK…I can’t deny that I am a Balaton addict. The small villages, the towns, the people and of course the great wines around the lake always impress me in any season. This is why we climbed on top of the Csobánc to taste János Beöthy’s Rhine Riesling. And, as we were there, we popped in at Misi Liszkay’s in Monoszló. As usual, Misi played the piano for us while we were having some Cabernet Franc poured into our glasses. Badacsony is a must-visit. We tasted a Hungarian curiosity at Bence Laposa’s: a Kéknyelű, which is made only from grapes grown in this area. And, among so many wines from around Lake Balaton, a Tokaj wine was also found: the Birtokbor of Sarolta Bárdos, which in the Tokaj wine region is certainly based on Furmint.

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Have lunch in an elegant Bistro in between Pest and Buda! The Western slope of the Buda Castle and the surrounding area boasts an ever-growing number of restaurants: the stately Déryné Bistro, for example, not only provides marvellous evenings of live-music entertainment in an exclusive restaurant and wine bar, but on weekdays it also welcomes people that work nearby with a delicious two-course set menu for only 1,390 HUF. The warmer the weather, the more enjoyable it is to have lunch at Déryné: you’ll be greeted by a sunlit terrace that opens onto a calm pedestrian street. The terrace is furnished with benches, stylish outdoor furniture and plants, and is located in Krisztinaváros, which was so adored by Dezső Kosztolányi and Sándor Márai, just a leap away from the city centre.

DÉRYNÉ

BUDAPEST: BRIDGING PAST AND FUTURE

From the sweeping vantage point atop Gellért Hill – always the most prominent natural landmark towering over Budapest’s cityscape – dramatic differences between the two sides of Hungary’s capital are spectacularly apparent: the steeply rolling hills of forested Buda cascade into the winding Danube, and just meters away on the other riverbank the terrain transforms into the flat expanse of urban excite-ment buzzing throughout Pest. Joining the two disparate communities are several bridges, each bearing a unique-ly memorable style and continually flowing with life in both directions, and

this ongoing movement keeps weaving across Budapest throughout centuries past and the present second. Signs of distant history are intermin-gled with avant-garde life everywhere in Budapest. Stroll downhill from Gellért Hill’s peak to Buda’s Danube bank, and your eye may be caught by steam escaping from the domed ceiling above Rudas Baths – a stone-walled thermal spa originally built in the 16th century by the occupying Ottomans. Inside, bathers can still soak in the original pool fit for a pasha, but after a recent refurbishment inside and out, a newly opened rooftop hot tub offers

By Nick Robertson

The vivid spirit of Hungary’s capital continually moves, capturing the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Budapest’s most enchanting qualities can only be discovered by meandering amid the city’s monumental locales and hidden courtyards, following the footsteps of historical figures while meeting the trailblazers of tomorrow.

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HUNGARY’S CAPITAL ARE SPECTACULARLYAPPARENT: THE STEEPLY ROLLING HILLS OF FORESTED BUDA CASCADE INTO THE WINDING DANUBE, AND JUST METERS AWAY ON THE OTHER RIVERBANK THE TERRAIN TRANSFORMS INTO THE FLAT EXPANSE OF URBAN EXCITEMENT BUZZING THROUGHOUT PEST.

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a serene spot for soothing tranquility amid Pest’s skyline panorama.Cross nearby Erzsébet Bridge (a gleam-ing-white modern suspension span, offering great views over the majestic Chain Bridge just upriver) to recently restored March 15th Square. Here a complex of ancient Roman ruins are visible through a glass display shedding light onto the archaeological marvels below the plaza, while above lies the sprawling terrace of a freshly restored riverfront palace; this is the home of Kiosk and Babel, two of Budapest’s

leading restaurants for modern Hun-garian cuisine.March 15th Square earned its name in honor of the date in 1848 when revered Magyar poet Sándor Pető-fi launched a revolution against Habsburg oppression by reciting his “National Song” on the steps of Hun-gary’s National Museum. This proud institution lies a short stroll away in downtown Pest, as do several clas-sic coffeehouses where many great Hungarian writers and artists gathered for generations, like the Centrál or the

New York Café. Today’s visionaries still gather in such central-Pest hangouts, but more often they’re found in the clandestine courtyards of modern “ruin pubs” that originated here in the early 21st century and are now emulated in cities across Europe (see page 38 to learn about some of Budapest’s new-wave ruin pubs).Intermingled amidst downtown Pest’s grand buildings, all types of marketplaces and shops bustle with enterprise, as was always the trend in this metropolis built on riverboat

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commerce. Fresh paprika, sausage, and other regional delicacies are still perused by pensioners each morning at the red-brick Central Market Hall, but today such timeless bazaars are found nearby chic boutiques of independent Magyar designers making cool haute couture – the contemporary showrooms of Nanushka and Mono Fashion welcome the public with thrilling threads.As evening falls over Budapest and neon lights illuminate the city’s cob-blestoned streets, diverse entertain-ment shines here every night – vener-able venues like the Opera House and Liszt Academy still present world-class musical extravaganzas, but now they are enhanced by contemporary shows at modern theaters like Trafó – housed in a former power-plant transformer – or the colossal new Palace of Arts, with a lightshow illuminating its facade overlooking the Danube after dark.Budapest’s riverscape always shimmers with enduring allure, and anyone who discovers this dual me-tropolis will be electrified by the city’s neverending energy.

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Chaotically colorful and packed with mis-matched furniture, the first “ruin pubs” of Budapest originated out of inner-city serendipity. The core of Hungary’s capi-tal features many abandoned buildings and a vibrant nightlife scene, so just over a decade ago, when some young en-trepreneurs minimally renovated a few crumbling palaces to welcome the public with cheap drinks and funky art, the result redefined Europe’s 21st-century after-hours action. Ruin pubs invigorat-ed modern Budapest society by provid-ing perfect places for creative friends to congregate amid bohemian settings for artistic interaction and cosmopolitan conversations, and now the next genera-tion of these diverse hotspots takes this progressive partying even further – read on to learn about some of the city’s most innovative ruin pubs.

BUDA-PEST’S NEW-WAVE RUIN PUBS

By Nick Robertson

ANKER’TSurrounded by exposed brick-work and glassless windows, the central courtyard of this ultra-hip ruin pub is always crowded with chic carousers, but it’s more than a relaxedly upscale local. Since opening in 2012, Anker’t (locat-ed just a few steps away from Budapest’s Opera House) serves as an avant-garde exposition site for fashion shows and contem-porary aesthetics, including an intriguing exhibition during this autumn’s Budapest Design Week. Anker’t also stages frequent slam-poetry events and hosts foreigner-friendly International Meeting Point parties. Pest VI, Paulay Ede u. 33. www.ankert.hu

BRODY STUDIOSTechnically, this Budapest haven for English-language events is more a private club than a ruin pub, but with fre-quent gatherings that welcome anyone for modest entry fees, Brody Studios is absolutely worth checking out if you get the chance. Up until recently the building was a disin-tegrating eyesore considerably enhanced by its graffiti, but an extensive refurbishment turned this into a classy-yet-comfy eatery and event space that hosts book launches, artistic presentations, comedy nights, and parties starring cutting-edge DJs from across Europe. Pest VI, Vörösmarty u. 38. www.brodyhouse.com

DOBOZAs one of Budapest’s first ruin pubs designed to meet posh nightclub standards, Doboz opened its doors in 2011 with a scarlet-hued atmosphere that strikes a brilliant balance between laid-back lounge and pumping party zone. Artistic flourishes give Doboz creative distinction – particularly the oversized fantastical creatures skilfully crafted out of scrap wood and perched high overhead – but it’s the pair of dance floors where this nightspot earns its reputation as a reliable destination for pleasant mixing and mingling amid unpredictably intriguing tunes. Pest VII, Klauzál u. 10. www.doboz.pm

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HELLO BABYEvery Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, a long line of well-dressed go-getters forms before a slowly decay-ing building on Budapest’s grandest boulevard, usually stretching back to the Oktogon intersection – these are all prospective guests of Hello Baby. Inside, shimmering disco lights illuminate the chipped walls while gyrating crowds cluster in the courtyard beneath a retractable roof, allowing fresh air to cool the hot scene. In the VIP section, visitors enjoy table service offering bottles of fine whiskey and champagne. Bohemian, it ain’t. Pest VI, Andrássy út 52. www.hellobabybar.hu

MAZEL TOVThis brightly lit ruin pub is Budapest’s most popular nightlife newcomer of 2014, presenting a spirited destination for grooving music, delicious food, and a convivial atmosphere. Actively aiming to serve as a community center for the sur-rounding Jewish Quarter while welcoming everyone from near and far to enjoy relaxed revelry, Mazel Tov cooks up a complete selection of inexpensive Middle Eastern cuisine (including several vegan options) brought to your table during evening hours, while frequent jazz concerts provide good vibes into the night. Pest VII, Akácfa u. 47. www.facebook.com/mazeltovbp

HÔTEL NOMURIAn avant-garde locale of Budapest’s design and hospital-ity lies just around the corner from St. Stephen’s Basilica. After a lengthy period of thorough renovation to a long-ne-glected urban palace, HÔTEL NOMURI is a one-stop shop for assorted services of world-class calibre: CAFE NOMURI brews exquisite cups of gourmet coffee for enjoyment alongside cheesecake, croissants, and great sandwiches on fresh-baked bread; appealingly comfortable offices and studios are available for rent here; and the minimalistic URIMURI dance club thumps with modern disco melodies. Pest V, Sas u. 15. www.nomuri.co/en

GOZSDU UDVARIt was a bold experiment of urban gentrification – in the heart of downtown Pest, could a massive run-down complex of interconnected buildings and courtyards be brought back to life? The answer is a resounding yes, as Gozsdu Udvar is now one of the most thriving destinations of Hungary’s capital, housing numerous eateries and party places: Kolor has great food upstairs and a groovy base-ment club; GMK hosts some of the city’s best live gigs; and Spíler gastropub became so popular that its Asian-themed sister hotspot, Spíler Shanghai, is now open nearby. Pest VI, Király u. 13. www.gozsduudvar.hu

Places

Places

NIGHT OF THE DUTCHMANWhen I was going to interview one of the most significant characters of Budapest nightlife, I wouldn’t have guessed that I was going to meet a remarkably tall, cheerful Dutchman. Hans has moved to Budapest 25 years ago. He has witnessed the political system’s shift and the development of Budapest nightlife, where he has become a key personality by opening 8 pubs in a row until today. Now he owns and runs the Jedermann Café at the end of Ráday street close to Bakáts tér, according his own taste.

Hans van Vliet: the flying Dutchman in Budapest

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Életmód

How and why did you come to Budapest?With my best friend we arrived here in 1989, for the first time. Our original destination was Moscow, but it turned out to be far too expensive and complicated to get there for a curious traveller. We finally ended up, in a by-then-unknown city for us: Budapest, where we straight fell in love with.

How did you become part of the nightlife here?I’ve worked in Holland before in restaurants, pubs. First as a dishwasher, later behind the counter at the pub of my sister’s friend, “The Key”, after which I’ve baptized my second pub “Pótkulcs” (Spare key).

Since then You have already opened 8 pubs.Yes, first I started to work in the Kis Pilseni Pub, later I worked for 4 years in a bar called Tóth Kocsma, where I’ve learned to speak Hungarian. I met 2 Irish pals there and with one of them, we started the “Sixteenth Chapel Pub”, where we could follow our own taste. After that I have opened really my first bar, which I have mentioned earlier, “The Pótkulcs Pub”. This was said to be the very first ‘ruin pub’, though it was meant to be only a friendly busy meeting place. I have learned a lot there about the bar business. Next was the Castro Bistro at the Ráday street, which was a very successful place in the following 5 years. Later I opened the V.Bejáró (Fifth Entrance) next to the “Vásárcsarnok”

(Marketplace). I was in love with this place. It was a wonderful time, which was followed by 3 successful, but less joyful experiences: „Ellátó”, „Jelen”, „Most” („Provider”, „Present”, „Now”) Pubs, where quantity was more important than quality, in the eyes of the owners. At last I have founded and started „Jedermann Café, the first one that I own, this hasn’t been, as with the others, such a success right from the start , it took more time to establish and to set it up properly, but now I’m completely satisfied. Because we have so many frequenters here, and that’s one of the reasons that I feel so good here.

What’s the target audience?Well, „Jedermann”! It means anyone. Anyone, who likes jazz music and a unique, friendly atmosphere,

we have a first-rate cook, who attracts lots of guests to have their breakfast (open every day from 8am) , lunch, or dinner at our tables. Kids, families musicians, pensioners, students, business people, artists, clerks: there are all kinds of people visiting this pub. Music is just a choice and it doesn’t select specific people, we neither do. There are many frequenters, lots of them I know personally, but foreigners come often too, and as far as I can see, they feel fine.

What is your opinion about Budapest nightlife after so many years?Just like on many other territories, nightlife has changed a lot since the end of the communist era. Luckily it has changed in a good direction. The centre of nightlife is formed around the Kazinczy street (VII.district) throughout the past years, now one can walk around for hours and still find a good bar or pub to visit. What I really pity is the sequential closing of little shops. There are more and more empty small stores around town.

What else do you miss?Proper bike roads for sure! A growing number of people are cycling and it’s becoming more and more difficult to bike here. I am lucky to live close to my workplace, but I would be happy to wheel around. The other thing are some attributes of this nation, which I fell in love with: friendliness, openness, cheerfulness. Now these have lost popularity in the past years. People don’t greet each other anymore within their own houses, kindness is getting old-fashioned.

What keeps you here?Well, nightlife of course. It’s not so easy to find another city with such a vivid nightlife. On the other hand, however it may sound as a claptrap, I truly fell in love with this city at first sight. As far as we got off the train at the Déli Pályaudvar, crossed the Tunnel under the Castle and then the Chain Bridge: I knew I was going to stay here. It’s beauty hasn’t fainted. I still love living here.

HANS VAN VLIET

Hans has moved to Budapest 25 years ago.

BaM: My friends thought i was crazy. “You are doing so well! Why leave now?” Well, everyone in la talks about buying that villa in the south of France once they retire. i wasn’t about to wait. Once here, i did shop around television programme ideas for a while but soon realised that the tv business worked very similarly to what i got away from in the states. luckily, a friend of mine who ran several bars in the city proposed i should DJ for him. he really liked the sort of music i put on when i had friends over. so that’s how it all started.

What sort of music do you play?BaM: Depends on the location. i will of course play different music when i DJ at innio wine bar in Október 6. utca or at Brody studios in vörösmarty utca in the sixth district. But i always try to stay away from anything that’s in the tOP10 at the moment. there are plenty of DJs that play that stuff.

A self-proclaimed music sommelier, Bruce Anthony Marshall is on a not-so-secret mission to give people the soundtrack for the perfect night out in Budapest. We met at The Living Room inside Hotel Kempinski, just one of the trendy places that feature Bruce’s music selection for entertainment. I wanted to know how a successful costume designer from the United States found a new career in music in Budapest.

a sOMMeLier wHO’s gOt nOtHing tO dO witH wine

A NEW CAREER IN MUSIC IN BUDAPEST

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Staying away from the latest tracks is just the tip of it though. Bruce goes into amazing detail when he’s entertaining. He even has a “rain set” so that he can make his guests feel cosy should it start to pour down outside.BAM: I always try to make an evening something special, so just like a sommelier does with wine, I tailor the music to the guests’ taste. I pay attention to who comes in, what age and nationality they are and adjust my set accordingly. I always pick those little gems from different time periods that you don’t expect. Favourites at the moment are The Lonely Hours by Sarah Vaughan and Por Favor by Doris Day but I also like to play Hungarian artists like Soma Mamagésa. Lot of people don’t even realise it’s her! And of course it’s always someone’s birthday and they come and ask for a song so I say OK, I’m gonna play a song for you but it’s not gonna be the one you think. Then I play the Birthday song by the Carbonfools. Even when I’m working abroad I like to mix in a little Hungarian music.

Hungary really has won you over, hasn’t it? But why Budapest in the first place?BAM: No matter what city I live in, my goal is to always be in the centre. Once I made up my mind about leaving the States and was fortunate enough to have the resources, I looked at the map to find the one location in the heart of Europe. And geographically speaking you are smack dab in the middle. And I don’t care what anyone says about Eastern Europe etc. This is the centre of Europe. In an hour and a half I can be pretty much anywhere else in Europe to do my work, so this is my perfect home base. Hungarians often ask “But why here?” like it’s the worst place in the world. But then, in the second sentence they will tell you how Hungarians have invented everything from the ballpoint pen to the Rubik’s cube and basically started Hollywood, and then go on about how gorgeous the girls are and how tasty the food is etc. I find that interesting. (laughs)

It might be a bit strange especially once someone learns how many places you’ve actually lived in.BAM: Coming from a city like New York and all of the cities I lived and worked in like London, Bangkok, Miami, Los Angeles, there are just so many people around. So to be living in a city of 2 million people to me feels like the best idea of village I can imagine. It’s great to go out in the city really early when no one is out. Even on the weekends you can almost rollerblade down the middle of Andrássy út. But it’s still the capital city, so it feels really great!

Sounds very cosy. What are the secret places you like to visit?BAM: (laughs) I have so many! I love Balettcipő (Ballet shoe) in Ó utca. It’s been one of my hearths for as long as I’ve lived here, which has been 8 years now, and it’s always consistently good. Just to simply clear my head there, maybe do some work or chill out. I spend a lot of time in The Living Room here just because it’s a nice meeting point. And also the café inside Alexandra bookshop on Andrássy is great to meet someone for a cake. Oh and I do my weekly ritual at Rudas bath. What a saving grace that is especially in the wintertime! To just go there and chill and get the weekend party out of you. You got hot water coming from the ground! You can’t beat that! It’s really-really good.

Sounds like you’re staying here for good. So what’s next for you?BAM: The next step will be to eventually have a restaurant of my own. Here? I’m pretty sure. My home base will definitely be here. Budapest is my home in Europe.

How about that villa in the south of France?BAM: Oh, I already got that.

I FIND BUDAPEST INTERESTING

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TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE:

It’s hard being an off-road vehicle these days. So many automakers are advertising their cars that are built a little higher, wider and longer than your average urban vehicle as “off-road vehicles”, that manufacturers of cars with classic off-road capabil-ities hardly know where to look. On the one hand, they keep trying to meet design expectations; on the other hand, they don’t want to compromise the ability of their vehicles to actually climb hills or descend valleys. The Toyota Land Cruiser 150 holds its ground. Literally.

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The first time I ever sat in a Land Cruiser was in 1996 in Tunisia. We were checking out sce-nic roads in the Atlas Mountains, followed by a tour in the desert. The latter ended with

spending an hour digging the car out from the sand, since after 500 metres in the desert we sank. It was no fault of the car either: the driver forgot to switch on the differential lock. It is also possible that he didn’t actually forget at all; he might have done it to give the tourists a bit of adventure, from which they could then luckily escape. Even back then, I suspect-

ed that it might only have been part of a Candid Camera episode, and now I am completely positive because I’ve driven a Land Cruiser and it won’t sink by itself, that’s for sure.The Toyota Land Cruiser is not for showing off in the streets: it is not a typical ‘braggadocio’ kind of vehi-cle. It follows the tradition that has made it the ruler of all terrains since 1951. He who chooses this car does not want to look a man: he is a man. There’s no need to prove it, not even in difficult terrains. This is what the KDSS System is for, which optimally

Lifestyle

A Toyota Land Cruiser nem utcai villantásra való.

Az ülések variálhatók.

Ideális például vadászoknak.

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EN

adjusts front and rear stabilisers: for example, when going uphill, it releases the brakes just two seconds after you lift your feet from the pedal, thus prevent-ing the car from rolling back. With no Tunisian desert around us, we tested it on Hármashatár Hill, and it proved indeed that it was born to climb, performing reliably in mud as well for better and for worse. The electronic systems simply didn’t allow us to make er-rors, and they also correct the driver’s blunders.Besides these amenities, the exterior design is also worth noting: as compared to that of its predeces-sor it has been renewed, yet the basic features of the car’s exterior still reflect a massive, robust and really off-road Cruiser. It sports 10-spoke 20” alloy rims and a black or seashell-coloured cover on the inside. The length of the car is close to 5 metres, and it is 197 centimetres wide. It suggests that although the terrain outside may be rough, the driver and the passengers can feel completely safe and comforta-ble. It is a 7-seater, which makes it a real family car, yet at the same time it is also perfect for having fun with friends in the mountains. The seats are varia-ble, which is ideal for hunters: there’s room enough for a wild boar or a deer with its antlers. The Toyota Land Cruiser may also come in handy if you want to add one more horsepower, that is, if you want to tow your favourite saddler with it.Talking of horsepower, our D-4D has 190 hp. To be honest, this much is needed, for the task is not a small one. Okay, we know it, it is no economy cham-pion, and a hybrid Prius obviously consumes less; but it also must be taken into consideration that the Cruiser weighs 2.5 tonnes and is designed to be able to endure and bear everything. It is made of materi-als that can bide any pothole, and to which mountain roads, slopes and valleys pose no challenge.The new Land Cruiser is ‘carefully’ new. The passen-ger cabin is of course filled with IT conveniences, dis-plays and multimedia, which manufacturers always provide nowadays; they have to include them, and that’s that. However, Land Cruiser owners obvious-ly don’t choose it because it quickly syncs mobile phones and sports a JBL sound system. This car re-mains what it is expected to be: a hard off-roader, with a comfortable passenger cabin, of course, but without compromise.While drivers of other cars are terrified by the thought of leaving the safe asphalt road, a Land Cruiser driver can hardly wait to leave it.

WHILE DRIVERS OF OTHER CARS ARE TERRIFIED BY THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING THE SAFE ASPHALT ROAD, A LAND CRUISER DRIVER CAN HARDLY WAIT TO LEAVE IT.

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Lifestyle

LEXUS NX300h unfit for stealth

Fuel consumption of 5.1 litres per 100 km: refuelling is believing.

The Lexus NX300h was made to stand out from the grey city traffic,

and to provide a flexibly adjustable interior and exceptional comfort

for five passengers, according to the manufacturer’s description.

This clearly shows that this car is not meant for staying undetec-

ted; it was not designed for stealth. Lexus models are no champions

of modesty or austerity, yet they do not flaunt it either. Lexus has

somehow managed to escape prejudices generally associated with

prestige cars. “The exquisite beauty of motion”; obviously, this phra-

se is also from the press materials, but it is not so much of an overs-

tatement. The NX300h arrived in dealerships in September.

LEXUS MODELS ARE NO CHAMPIONS OF MODESTY OR AUSTERITY

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Even at first sight, there’s a front with very strong features. Firm, rigorous even, like a chemistry teacher asking about your homework. The na-rrow-cut headlights leave no room for doubt: a real shark is roaming the roads. It’s not intended to intimidate, but its lines demand authority. This is just the plain 300h, but there is a sporty version as well, where sport seats covered in perforated leather, an F SPORT steering wheel, Adaptive Va-riable Suspension and 18” alloy rims enhance the driving experience, making it even more dynamic. The engineers must have really liked this new Le-xus, because they’ve really outdone themselves.This is true not only of the exterior design but of the performance as well. The operational modes range from Eco to even sportier than sporty. And after sadly watching scooters whizzing past in traffic, the driver can turn on the electrical drive

(EV) and creep on from A to B with the uplifting thought that at least they are driving with zero emissions. If the roads become slippery, 4WD can be turned on instantly.When parking, the Panoramic View Monitor and the Rear Cross Traffic Alert system come in really handy. These systems help make parking the car in short and narrow places very easy, which is a useful feature, given the car’s length of 4.63 and width of 1.87 metres (with the wing mirrors tucked in). Driving and navigation assistance systems are abundant, as is standard in vehicles in this categ-ory. The Pre-Collision System is also in operation here, but I’d prefer to call it a collision prevention system, it sounds more comforting this way. The sensor tightens the seatbelts even; indeed, in this case the car does what a mother would do with her children, should the kids forget themselves.

Speaking of safety, the Lane Keeping Assist, which prevents the car from skidding off the road, is also worth mentioning. The car projects key driving data on a heads-up display, so there’s no need to take your eyes off the road even for a moment. Should there still be trouble, there are eight air-bags to cushion the blow.To highlight one of many comfort functions: the car is teeming with sensors. Interior overhead lights sense the proximity of your hand reaching for them, so you don’t have to scratch around in the dark, while the boot remembers the height to which it is usually opened.The position of the front leather seats can be po-wer-adjusted in eight directions, and folding the rear ones down creates enough storage space for skis or a surfboard.The overall power of the engine is 197 HP, as a combination of a 155 HP internal combustion en-

gine and two electromotors; 143 HP at the front and 68 HP at the back. The top speed is 180 km per hour, which is quite notable for a ride of this size. It goes from 0 to 100 in 9.2 seconds. What re-ally made my jaw drop though wasn’t this but the official fuel-consumption rate. Just 5.1 litres per 100 km. Just chew on that a little; it’s pretty hard to believe, even when you know that it’s a hybrid, with the electric motor giving it a helping hand.The new Lexus is available in dealerships from September. Prices for the 2WD version start at around HUF 10.95 million, which is of course a ge-neric price and may be different depending on the trim options. The base price for the 4WD version is HUF 11.35 million.Once again, I am quoting a line from the official press release by the designers: “Because we won’t rest until we create perfection.” Rest assured: you’re on the right track!

A csomagtérajtó emlékszik, milyen magasra szokták nyitni.

A legfontosabb közlekedési adatokat a szélvédőre vetíti az autó.

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Lifestyles

ESPRIT RUGGED BLACK MEN’S WRISTWATCHAn especially masculine model. The four rivets on the band and the highly visible red second hand provide a serious and massive look. It has a quartz mechanism, date, day and 24-hour time displays, a steel casing and a leather band that becomes wider under the face. A really shapely piece.

CK DISTRICT MEN’S WRISTWATCHThe Calvin Klein District is unconventionally asymmetric and angled, yet still elegant. On the minimalist dial, hours are marked only by tiny grooves, while days are shown in num-bers in a small frame. It perfectly sets off a modern business suit. Great design is its main virtue.

LONGINESCOLUMN-WHEEL MEN’S WRISTWATCHThe LonginesColumn-Wheel evokes Granddad’s pocket watch: its antique shape, the dial adorned with Roman numerals, its classic hands and the band’s metal clasps could have been made in the last century. However, this is not the case on the inside. Behind the dial the best automatic movement can be found. Once you put it on, it will never stop.

TISSOT PR100 MEN’S WRISTWATCHThe Tissot PR100 is a rather sporty one. The rubber band some-what resembles a car tyre; maybe its designers drew inspiration from Formula 1, and its design definitely goes well with motor racing. Its robust steel casing is water resistant to 100 metres.

DOROCHRONIts antique-looking dial, teeming with Roman numerals, has a modern casing, and the tiny bolts on both the casing and the silicone band undoubtedly provide the watch with an exciting look. The timepiece is far from being overcomplicat-ed: it has three hands and nothing else.

JACQUES LEMANS MADRIDThe Jacques Lemans Madrid is remarkably elegant and perfectly well-balanced: Its steel-coloured displays on a dark dial, its quartz mechanism, its date, day and 24-hour time displays, and its steel casing and leather band make it a perfect match for an elegant suit.

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EXTERIOR

At first sight there is no obvious difference between One Mini 2 and HTC’s flagship device, but a closer look reveals that besides its smaller size, a few minor modifications have also been included. Its Corning Gorilla Glass 3.0-protected display is 4.5” diagonally, making it comfortable to hold the phone in one hand. It also benefits from dual front speakers, which make the One Mini 2 sound perfect. The first notable differences are to be found on the back: instead of the dual camera, photos can be taken using a single 13 MP lens. Apart from these small details the design has remained practically the same, so once again you’ll have a stylish HTC in your hands.

UNDER THE HOOD

Naturally, due to its reasonable specs, the operating performance of One Mini 2 also leaves no room for disappointment. Its 1 GB RAM is served by a quad-core, 1.2 GHz processor, which can handle more or less anything you can throw at it. It reacts immediately to everything and during our test session it showed no signs of slowing down. Storage space is also abundant, with 16 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 128 GB with a microSD card. Its 2100 mAh battery provides reasonable battery life: under average usage conditions, you can get two days out of it, and thanks to HTC’s new energy-saving function, which turns off all redundant processes, you can also extend it by a few more hours..

MULTIMEDIA

If there is one area in which HTC excels year after year, it is sound, which is perfect even without headphones. This is achieved through the BoomSound™ system, developed by HTC. In contrast with its competitors, the speakers of One Mini 2 are front facing, directly below and above the display (just like on the One M8). This means that the sound is directed towards the user instead of dispersing. Built-in sensors detect ambient temperature and external noises, and adjust the volume accordingly in order to deliver a perfect listening experience.

HTC SENSE™ AND BLINKFEED™

Customisability is also an important priority of the Taiwanese firm, and with this in mind they have developed an interface called Sense, which makes their phones unique indeed. You can set themes for the phone and the fonts to be used, with the latter being available for online download as well. Another original solution is the BlinkFeed app, which displays collated and personalised posts from Facebook and Twitter, as well as business, sport or other news, all clearly displayed on a single interface, allowing you to stay up to date on everything.

THE ENGINEERS AT HTC SEEM TO HAVE ERASED THE WORD ‘PLASTIC’ FROM THEIR DICTIONARIES AND HAVE MADE IT THEIR MAIN AIM TO PRODUCE PHONES WITH FULL ALUMINIUM HOUSINGS. THE ONE MINI 2 – THE COMPACT VERSION OF ONE M8 THAT WAS REVIEWED IN OUR PREVIOUS ISSUE – IS A DEAD RINGER FOR ITS BIG BROTHER AND MAINTAINS THE USUAL QUALITY STANDARDS OF THE TAIWANESE FIRM.

HTC ONE MINI 2

SUMMARY

The One Mini 2 is a perfect choice for those looking for an easy-to-use, fast and elegant phone but without a huge display. This compact device from HTC is a solution without compromise that comes pocket-sized.

Lifestyles

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Interview

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BRINGING SMILES TO FACES: THAT IS MY DUTY. Written by Szilléry Éva

Photographs by Levente Kádár

TM In the autumn, the fourth season of the show ‘Ma-gyarország, szeretlek!’ premiered. What do you think is the secret behind its success? I don’t want to say that the success of ‘Magyarország, szeretlek!’ is because of Gabriella Jakupcsek, Jenő Csiszár and me. The concept is about not settling for less than people of value, of whom we can be proud, such as Ko-ssuth Prize laureates, Olympic champions and well-re-garded performers. Our editors also contribute a lot to the show’s success week after week by coming up with questions that are not obvious, but that do not make the guests feel uncomfortable if they get one wrong.

“‘MAGYARORSZÁG, SZERETLEK!’ IS CURRENTLY IN ITS FOURTH SEASON AND I FIND THAT PEOPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT FIELDS OF INTEREST HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY,” SAYS VAJK SZENTE, THE SHOW’S HOST. AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE DISCUSSED THE MISSION OF MUSICAL THEATRE AND A COMPLEX THEATRICAL PERSPECTIVE WITH THE VERSATILE ACTOR AND DIRECTOR.

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Interview

TM One cannot fail but to notice that you are capable of hosting a show from beginning to end while laughing the whole time. Is that in your nature?Yes, I am like that in my everyday life. If I can contribute even a little bit to the image of the country, then it is my duty to try and make people smile. We have a lot to be proud of and this is one of the things this show is about.The co-operation of Gabriella Jakupcsek and Jenő Csiszár is nothing new, yet this relationship seems to be stimulating the show even more.Their relationship is very professional and they work very well together. I think I managed to find my place in their well-accustomed duo during the first year.

TM The show’s mission is to make our national treasures widely known. Do we have a lot of catching up to do in this regard?In March, when I was producing Red Bull Pilvaker - A szavak forradalma in the Erkel Theatre on occasion of the anniversa-ry of the Revolution of 1848-49, where the artists were rap-ping about revolution-related topics, I was asked this question many times, and it was always the main claim how little we know and keep our traditions. However, I see it differently. I think that we Hungarians do respect our past, and we handle it well. My experiences with the show confirm this as well: peo-ple with very different interests have an equally wide perspec-tive about our country.

TM Have you always worked in musical theatre?Not at all; I have been playing in Debrecen for four years, and during these years I have appeared in maybe just one musi-cal play, while all the others were dramas and often very se-rious plays. One can draw a lot of experience from a staging of Mother Courage where the first break takes place at 9:15 pm, and barely anyone from the audience returns for Act Two. If one wants to say something through theatre, then one must strive to make it heard by as many people as possible. This of course is not equal to lowering standards in terms of con-tent. My plays, such as Csoportterápia or Poligamy deal with serious issues under the surface but with a lot of humour, of course. Csoportterápia is actually about six tragic destinies; another thing is that the audience laughs at the lapses of the characters, because in reality, life is extremely funny.

TM You have graduated to directing quite rapidly: why would an actor want to direct?If one develops a complex theatrical perspective, then one does not ponder whether to write, to direct or to act; if one has something to say, one finds the most appropriate fo-rum for delivering it to the audience. For me it was writing at first, since my first play, Csontterápia, deputed in the Madách Theatre in 2011, and a year later I was offered a chance to direct. Besides all these, I still take great delight

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“THE MUSICAL THEATRE IS DRAMATIC AND CHEERFUL AT THE SAME TIME”

in my stage roles; for example, I love Mary Poppins where, playing Bert, I am tap dancing at a seven-metre height on the ceiling, upside down. However, I have recently found that I can best transmit my worldview via writing and di-recting.

TM How did you come to choose one of the most suc-cessful films of the ’60s, the play entitled Tanulmány a nőkről?The Professor (Tamás Szirtes [the ed.]) and I firmly believe that it is great to adapt films for the stage. Moreover, there is an unutilised area in regard of Hungarian films, that is, films that have been seen by millions of people yet have never been adapted for stage. At first we had a modern story in mind, so we wrote Poligamy; and our other idea became the enormously successful film from the ’60s, the comedy Tanulmány a nőkről. I adore the film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger by Woody Allen, which is about the ways we blow our lives. Tanulmány a nőkről also shows us how we bungle it; it also elaborates on love’s constant being on a razor blade. The story is about three women who are about to get di-vorced, but their husbands all fall in love with their solicitors. Their decision is understandable to a certain extent, and in each relationship it is justifiable why these men are seeking a way out from their marriages. This is a true and at the same time humorous play, with lots of great music.

TM Was the once-enormous success of the film a source of pressure for you?It is instead rather helpful, as we can safely assume that the reputation of the play has already been established.

TM To what extent did the story have to be updated?I wrote the script based on the screenplay, which became more modern this way as the ’60s are portrayed in a way I see them from 2014, having been born in the ’80s. It is there-fore more of a sign of these times: dressed as the ’60s, but from our present-day perspective.

TM Does musical theatre still serve the needs of a narrow layer of society, or is the number of people attending such plays growing?Musical theatre has long attracted more than just a narrow layer: nowadays the musical is definitely the most popular theatrical genre, in spite of its still ambivalent reception. The success of The Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot or Mamma Mia is indisputable, but the Madách Theatre is also produc-ing new Hungarian musicals every year. Csoportterápia, with only six actors, is approaching its one hundredth per-formance; moreover, it is also on in three theatres outside Budapest, with the next premiere to be held in Kecskemét in January. I think its success owes to the fact that we never settle for less than the best. Poligamy was in production

for 18 months, and it became an extremely elaborate play about the topic of commitment; whether a man is capable to stay with a woman for good or not. And, in accordance with the laws of musicals, we try to lie that the answer is yes…It is also worth mentioning that this genre keeps actors fit… I have already grown up in this, with running, sport and the ability not to pant at the end of a song. And there is also the incredible vanity of looking good in the cat costume in Cats. Yet I think that spectators admire beautiful people. It does not necessarily mean being slim and fit, but it also does matter.

TM What are your plans for the spring?In April we are opening P.G. Wodehouse’s work Jeeves and Wooster. It will be an exciting task, as besides being the director of the play, I was also given the opportunity to prepare the translation of the work. Bertie Wooster, a young scoundrel, gets into ever-bigger trouble and he is about to be forced to get married; luckily for him, he has a wonderful manservant, Jeeves, who has a solution up his sleeve even for the most critical situations. This is a mul-ti-character story played by altogether three actors, so it is a great opportunity for both director and actor. Until then, however, I have big challenges to face: by mid-December, I have to learn to walk in high-heels. The premiere of the comedy entitled Primadonnák is to take place then in the Játékszín, directed by Professor Szirtes. This will be my first New Year’s Eve in ladies’ clothes…

DECEMBER CONCERTBefore launching toward Africa and South America on his “Moon Landing 2014 World Tour”, James Blunt plays one more show in his native Britain at Eventim Apollo beginning at 7pm. www.eventimapollo.comFAIRThe new Winterville fair in Victoria Park opens on December 2 at 3pm and lasts through 2014. Enjoy the ice rink, roller disco, craft markets, and family-friendly activities. www.winterville.co.ukHOLIDAY CELEBRATION Watch the spirited lighting of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square , starting at 6pm with carols sung live. www.stmartin-in-the-fields.orgFASHIONYoung adults can learn about stylish history with the “Winter Mode: Then and Now” workshop beginning at Somerset House at 11am. www.somersethouse.org.ukCONCERTIranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and Israeli mandolin player Avi Avital unite within the Shakespeare’s Globe theatre at 2:30pm. www.shakespearesglobe.comMUSEUM EVENTMeet scientists working with endangered species during the Night Safari at the Natural History Museum at 7pm. www.nhm.ac.ukDININGJoin a mouthwatering journey into Victorian and Georgian foods, served with a festive mood at Dr Johnson’s House at 7pm. www.drjohnsonshouse.org

SCIENCEWatch a planetarium show and peek through an 18-tonne antique telescope during back-to-back events of “An Evening With the Stars” at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. www.rmg.co.uk

CONCERTHear big-time boogie-woogie when Mike Sanchez & His Band plays The 100 Club at 7:30pm. www.the100club.co.ukDININGBecome a connoisseur of Alsace-region wines and the best foods to pair them with during the 12:30pm “Lunch & Learn” session at Berry Bros. & Rudd. www.bbr.comMUSEUM EVENTVisit the cockpit of an Avro Vulcan delta-wing bomber during a special tour at the Royal Air Force Museum. www.rafmuseum.org.uk

CONCERT A lively trio plays Handel’s “Messiah” and sing-a-long hymns at St. George’s Hanover Square beginning at 6:30pm. www.handelhouse.org

DININGVisit the opening night of the “Real Food Christmas Market” set in the courtyard behind the Royal Festival Hall, serving sustainable specialties through December 21. www.southbankcentre.co.ukMUSEUM EVENTAn actor welcomes everyone aboard as Captain Woodget, the longest-serving master of the historic Cutty Sark ship, starting at 11am. www.rmg.co.ukCONCERTGet ready to feel rhythm when the Dust Me Down Blues Band takes the stage at The Blues Kitchen in Camden at 7pm. www.theblueskitchen.com

MUSEUM EVENTLet the spirit of Noel move you at the Dickens Museum –formerly the home of London’s legendary author – during “A Very Dickensian Christmas Eve” beginning at 10am. www.dickensmuseum.comHOLIDAY CELEBRATION Join Christmas Day religious observances at England’s most storied cathedral beginning at 8am at Westminster Abbey. www.westminster-abbey.orgSPORTEnjoy Boxing Day at the races when the William Hill Winter Festival kicks off at 10am at Kempton Park Racecourse www.kempton.thejockeyclub.co.ukCONCERTCzech music is in the spotlight when the Zemlinsky Quartet plays works by Janáček and Dvořák at Wigmore Hall starting at 7:30pm. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTYVisit the 28th floor of Millbank Tower to welcome 2015 at the London Sky Bar, with 360-degree views of London and the midnight fireworks, starting at 7pm. www.londonskybar.com

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CHRISTMAS MARKET

Visit the opening night of the “Real Food Christmas Market” set in the courtyard behind the Royal Festival Hall, serving sustainable specialties through December 21. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

DICKENS MUSEUM

Let the spirit of Noel move you at the Dickens Museum –for-merly the home of London’s legendary author – during “A Very Dickensian Christmas Eve” beginning at 10am. www.dickensmuseum.com

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BUCKINGHAM PALACEAs the official London residence of Britain’s top monarchs since 1837, this world-famous edifice is the United King-dom’s centrepiece – and here Queen Elizabeth II presents her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth from one of the sumptuous drawing rooms bedecked with a tastefully adorned tree. Graceful elegance always shines throughout the 775 rooms of this massive mansion, embel-lished with twinkling chandeliers, sweeping marble stair-cases, gilded ceilings, and paintings by Canaletto, Rubens, and Vermeer. During this holiday season, visitors enjoy the exceptional opportunity to view such lavish glory with a tour of the State Rooms led by an expert guide, offered on selected days from December 12 through February 1.Anyone can also admire the sophisticated beauty of Buck-ingham Palace’s interior ambience by visiting the Queen’s Gallery, formerly a private chapel for Queen Victoria that was later bombed during World War II and recently reno-vated as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

This stately viewing space hosts an ongoing rotation of ex-hibitions drawing from the Royal Collection – currently, a display of incredible gold artefacts dating back to Bronze Age bedazzles viewers, while “Cairo to Constantinople: Early Photographs of the Middle East” presents photos by British photographer Francis Bedford that chronicle the 1862 journey of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) through Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and beyond. Both exhibits are on view through February 22, but during Christmastime the gift shop also offers a limited series of precious mementos like tree decorations and marzipan treats.Even those who only pass by Buckingham Palace during December may still enjoy its festive atmosphere from afar – nowadays the building’s broad façade is em-blazoned with modern Christmas-themed lightshows to celebrate the season, and the iconic Changing the Guard ceremonies continue to happen throughout this month at 11:30am on odd-numbered dates. www.royalcol-lection.org.uk

Several of London’s monumental royal palaces welcome the public to admire astound-ing settings of British history and finery, along with exhibitions that showcase the nation’s greatest treasures. These living landmarks are especially magnificent amid the splendour of Christmastime, when special decorations and events dazzle visitors with extra charm – here are some of the city’s most regal attractions.

MAJESTIC SIGHTS

Culture

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KENSINGTON PALACESince its royal acquisition in 1689, this extraordinarily expanded Jacobean mansion was lavishly decorated by George I and became the birthplace of Queen Victoria, and still today it houses many offices and private apartments of modern-day royals – including William and Kate. This rich history is reflected in the splendid sophistication em-anating here outside and in, where a museum welcomes everyone to admire impressive pieces from the Royal Collection. Explore the State Apartments of the King and Queen, comprised of grand halls and chambers adorned with impressive tapestries, paintings, and sculpture, like the terracotta busts of George II and Queen Caroline. De-cember’s special exhibits include “Fashion Rules” – featur-ing eminently stylish dresses worn by Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Diana, Princess of Wales – along with the long-term “Victoria Revealed” display.

This is also a resplendent spot for public holiday-season celebrations, including the “Christmas with the King” fam-ily workshop welcoming kids and parents alike to discover how the Georgians celebrated Noel through music, drama, storytelling, and taste testing, happening on December 6 at 10:30am. Later, join a merry chorus of carollers promenad-ing through the State Apartments while devouring mulled wine and mince pies – on this special occasion, a guide of-fers stories of life in the palace on Christmases past, be-fore leading the harmonious visitors to a finale of singing around a sparkling 30-foot-tall tree; the tuneful tour is held on December 8 and 15 beginning at 5:45pm. Also, museum guests can sip hot chocolate prepared with a Georgian-era recipe while food historian Marc Meltonville explains how this was a favourite beverage of Queen Caroline, a tasteful experience offered with the ordinary admission price on December 10, 11, 17, and 18. www.hrp.org.uk

KENSINGTON PALACE

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

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Életmód

TOWER OF LONDONHistory radiates from every stone of this venerable London palace – including the Crown Jewels, kept here since 1303. First built by William the Conqueror in 1078, this sprawling castle complex went on to serve as a fortress, royal resi-dence, and the notorious prison that held Thomas More, Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, and Elizabeth I. These days the Tower of London invites the public to view its historic attractions – including stained-glass windows, the Chapel Royal of St. Peter Ad Vincula, and the Bloody Tower where Tudor prisoners scrawled graffiti on the walls that can still be read today – while still housing some 150 people, mostly the “beefeaters” and their families. At the centre of it all we find the White Tower, the world’s most iconic structure of Norman architecture, with its imposing ramparts designed to strike awe and submission into foreign invaders and un-ruly Londoners alike. Along with touring all four floors of this consequential keep, visitors can discover the 500-year-old Royal Mint and see coins made onsite dating back to 1279, while the priceless treasures of the Crown Jewels – still in use by monarchs today – include the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross (topped by the gigantic 530.2-carat Great Star of Africa diamond) and the Imperial State Crown, worn by Queen Elizabeth II at each State Opening of Parliament.With the Tower Bridge standing proudly nearby this river-front castle, this city-centre landmark is a lively destination at Christmastime – in recent years an open-air ice rink has been situated in the Tower of London’s moat directly before the fortress battlements, with an illuminated tree complet-ing this awe-inspiring winter wonderland. www.hrp.org.uk

TOWER BRIDGE

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Életmód

MÜPA“Almost everything on every storey,” went the slogan of a department store in Budapest about forty years ago, at the dawn of the era of consumer society in Hungary. Nowadays, one of Europe’s most modern cultural institutions, the Palace of Arts, could have the same slogan. What does consumer society have to do with culture? Read on to find out. We talked to Csaba Káel, CEO

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TM Over a ten-year period The Palace of Arts (MÜPA) has grown into one of Europe’s most renowned cultural institutions. This also means that it is an organic part of international cultur-al life, which in turn entails ever more complex organisation. We would like to get a glimpse of this process.CSK: We develop a strategic plan, and we compile the programme and decide whom to invite and what kinds of productions to stage in accordance with this plan. We do not only host events: we also take our own productions to other countries, just as we invite performances from other places. For example, The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is our top partner: we almost regard them as our orchestra-in-residence. After London and Paris we were the next one to enter into a co-operation agreement with them. Moreover, we have more and more shows based on co-productions.

TM Nearly every branch of the arts has found its home in the building, which is almost globally unique.CSK: We provide a platform at least ten genres, including classical music, opera, jazz, world music, folk music, folk dance, and literature. The MÜPA Cinema fills the gap left by the late Egyetemi Film-klub (University Film Club). We also co-operate with the Ludwig Museum and we are home to the Hungarian National Ballet.

TM There is much talk about music and cultur-al tourism. Although the number of globally renowned bands and soloists that Hungarian audiences can see live has reached a European

level, people from abroad can listen to these artists in their own countries as well. What chance does Budapest stand, being so close to a city like Vienna, home of possibly the most in-tense musical life in the world?CSK: We make use of what is here, which is a basis we can build upon. We propose cultural packages for the tourism sector, which they turn into touristic packages. For example, people that come to Budapest in the autumn for a ruin pub tour can also find programmes from the Budapest Autumn Festival that are of interest to them. We can mention the cafés of Budapest, which have always provided venues for contemporary art: the Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival is characteristic of contemporary city life, and is thus alluring for foreigners as well. The Sziget Festival has been around for twenty years, and each year it attracts fifty thousand people. Multiply this with twenty: this means 1 million visitors. As the first generations are growing older, their tastes are changing, yet they have gotten used to coming to Budapest each year: they are slowly shifting to other domains of culture. By the way, we are approaching the number of cultural programmes offered by Vienna.

TM Speaking of the Sziget Festival, unlike many major concert halls in the world, the MÜPA also provides exposure to lighter genres as well. Are you targeting the youth this way?CSK: We do not strive to provide only events of high culture in MÜPA, as this would unjustifia-bly exclude a certain part of the audience. In the case of all genres, the emphasis is on quality.

Culture

“IN THE PAST TEN YEARS WE HAVE ACHIEVED AN IMPRESSIVE RANK AMONG EUROPEAN CITIES.”

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Culture

As in consumer society we are looking for quality and the same applies to culture. And someone seeking quality in cul-ture will seek the same in regard of accommodation and of other services as well. As for the youth, it is our aim not to appear as an inapproachable castle to them. In this regard we receive great help from the press and the media. It is impor-tant for art to be spread widely.

TM Many of the most well-known artists can be seen on stage at MÜPA. What is MÜPA’s worldwide reputation like?CSK: In the past ten years we have achieved an impressive rank among European cities. Nowadays the Palace of Arts is mentioned among the greatest ones; I might say, we made it to the “Champions’ League”. We became members of ECHO (European Concert Hall Organisation). This is the association of eighteen major concert halls, including the likes of the Musikverein in Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Barbican Centre in London or the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris among them. In connection with the Wag-ner Days, the New York Times wrote that if someone cannot make it to Bayreuth, then come to Budapest instead: it highly recommended the festival staged in the MÜPA.

If you are visiting Budapest, make sure to take a trip to the Palace of Arts!

CONQUEROR OF THE WORLD

CLASH OF CLANS

�e game started out two years ago and was speci�cally designed for touch-screen plat-forms instead of being transferred from PC or console, which is immediately noticeable when playing. Along with its relatable characters, this may be the main factor that places it above oth-er similar games in the rankings. Players can call on steampunk laser towers, stone golems and hammer-wielding troops riding pigs. �e world is constantly evolving in line with level progression: small agricultural towns grow into futuristic cities producing the mysterious Dark

Elixir. Building placement allows quasi-artistic freedom to players. Some prefer logical, easy-to-defend construction schemes, while others may build cute, teddy-bear-shaped fortresses.�e game is currently at the top of the Apple and Google charts in 122 countries, generating rev-enues of almost HUF 1 billion a day. �e global aspect is a main facet of the game’s appeal. De-feating someone with the help of friends from the other side of the world, or on the other hand receiving help from the other end of the world to defeat a friend, is quite a temptation.

According to the philosophy of Su-percell – a video-game development company based in Helsinki but regis-tered in the US and Korea – a glob-

al business need not be large. Supercell has less than 150 employees, yet two of its games are top sellers on both the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Its secret lies in giving a free hand to small groups of developers and the fact that it operates in a bureaucracy-free environment that is still �nancially transparent to employees. �is honest and liberal approach to business lead-ership is clearly working out well for the team, which employs a Hungarian tester as well. Tibor Tóth is tasked with detecting bugs that may oc-cur in games. He also tests the games to achieve a better gaming experience. �e company is cur-rently also working tirelessly on another project, Hay Day, which is also immensely successful.

In 2011, a handful of Finlanders saw an oppor-tunity in the then-sceptically received iPad. �ey felt that this new device had a great deal of po-tential for a new generation of video games. Su-percell’s success speaks for itself: the net worth of this tiny development �rm is now close to $3 billion, and their most successful game Clash of Clans – currently a top-seller in 122 countries – generates daily revenues of around $5 million.Clash of Clans mingles elements of Tower De-fence and RTS (Real-Time Strategy) games; that is, when attacking, players are actively engaged in �ghts, deploying and controlling their forces; however, when under attack, they can only trust their pre-built defence systems and cannons. �e aim of the game is to build a city and successfully defend it. As the name suggests, players organise themselves into clans and teams to win battles, to make assaults, and to exchange experiences.

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Business

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Business

�e department store il Bacio di Stile opened its doors more than a year ago on Andrássy Avenue in the heart of Budapest’s city centre. �e beautifully refurbished �ve-storey building, which is protected by World Heritage, has �oor space of 5,000 m2, with products from over 60 world-famous fashion brands and 30 beauty-care brands. �e department store represents unique value in more than one sense and is competitive on a global scale as well. Prior to the investment, many people warned the owner, György Gattyán, about the potential opposition such an enterprise could receive. However, the department store is not only still standing, but also contributes to making Budapest a better place, even according to its critics.

Il Bacio

Ido everything for a reason; it is worth it for something and not necessarily to inc-rease my bank balance. If an investment generates income, I’m happy, but my in-vestments primarily create value. I consi-der it valuable to refurbish a run-down

building on Andrássy Avenue, which is part of the World Heritage, and to make it available aga-in to the people of Budapest in all its monumen-tal splendour. �is is bene�cial for the district, for the city and for Hungary as well. We intended to create something enduring, ambitious and unique, for which there is demand, of course,” said György Gattyán recently. To the question of whether it would have been better to open a luxury store in Prague instead of Budapest, he replied that “In certain regards yes, but I’ve envi-sioned this store to my home country, Hungary. I opened this department store at home, because in this way I represent something. We have created a building that can serve as an example to everyo-ne who wants to refurbish anything on Andrássy Avenue in the future. We’ve also created somet-hing that is one-of-a-kind.”

“�e doors of the department store are open to everyone,” said one of the employees of the mar-keting department to Taxi Magazine. �ose with an interest in fashion and beauty can get a �rst-hand impression of products from the world’s most sought-after brands; fans of architecture can marvel at the unique interior design solu-tions employed, which build bridges between the values of the past and the technological solutions of the future; and culture and art enthusiasts have a chance to discover the awe-inspiring works of contemporary Hungarian and international ar-tists in the building, as the department store has its own art collection. One of the newest stores in the department store, the Pink Heat PopUp Store, is now welcoming customers with on-going sales and reductions in a youthful and trendy environ-ment, which shows a conscious attempt to appeal to a broader layer of society. Lovers of good food and drink can enjoy quality teas and co¦ees, soft drinks, as well as gourmet sandwiches, desserts and bakery goods in the store café. �e il Bacio di Stile is de�nitely worth visiting, as this department store is a beautiful modern gem in Budapest’s crown. �e

The department store has its own art collection

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THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZIN