Racing Residences

Silverstone, with David Coulthard involved, opens its 184-room Escapade Hotel in time for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, 5-7 July. Book now for track-side views so close you can breathe the action. Or buy one of 60 Silverstone residences. Generally, owners and hotel guests can race the track: Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren.

Blue Vision 

Blue’s in for frocks, or at least that’s the 2024 message from Dolce & Gabbana. It’s not any old blue but International Klein Blue (IKB), patented by artist Yves Klein in the 1960s. Colour-blind actor Eddie Redmayne, interestingly, can distinguish IKB. In 2003, up at Cambridge, he wrote his History of Art thesis on Klein. And passed.

Flamboyant Feasts

Perfect pizzas, pasta and more at Dubai’s Piatti by the beach, sandwiched betwixt azure ocean and pale-flamingo Raffles The Palm Dubai. Sharing plates from flamboyant chef Mauro Di Leo as decreed by Batuhan Piatti, part of Flavio Brittore’s Billionaire Life group. Sharing selfies with A-listers, lunch and extra-long evenings.

Eltons Auction

Elton John loves buying – and selling. The next auction of his bits and pieces starts at Christie's London on 21st February. The 900 lots range from a 2017 Banksy painting, estimated at $1.5 million, to a pair of sunglasses. Prescription. It's a minute's walk to The Stafford for an after-bid cocktail in The American Bar (the one with a ceiling of cut-off neckties).

Sands to Opera Plans

Saudi strives for symphonies and more. Fifteen miles from Riyadh, Diriyah, one of KSA’s money-no-object Vision 2030 projects, will have an opera house. It’s being designed by the Norwegian Snøhetta team, with full attention to local Najdi, Bedouin architectural heritage. Diriyah’s to-come Armani Hotel is also in Najdi style.