Out there January 2004

AMERICAN ART IN EDINBURGH
Cindy Sherman has been famous since the 1970s for her portraits, which explore the idea of female identity. In her work she adopts various disguises (through use of wigs, makeup, costumes and her own innate ability to transform) to explore and to parody the endless female stereotypes in TV and cinema. Her exhibition of 50 photographs runs till 7 March 2004. National Galleries of Scotland, Belford Road, Edinburgh. Tel. +44 (0) 131 624 6200.

CREAM SELECTOR
Liverpool’s newest bar, babycream, has created a fantastic new innovation – creamselector. They are booths in which you can compile your own CDs from over 2000 titles. Each track is individually priced (around £2) and you can even choose your own sleeve design. The bar has a capacity of 500 and several unique design features including the Virtual Bar and the Girl’s Powder Room, which comes complete with a black padded satin ceiling and perspex chairs. More babycreams are planned in Leeds, Manchester and Swansea. Located at Atlantic Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3. Tel. +44 (0)151 707 1004 www.babycream.co.uk

FRENCH SPEED CONTROL
One of the pleasures of driving on French motorways is that should you exceed the generous speed limit (130 km/hr) the chance of being caught by the police is slim. Until last month, that is, when the first fixed speed cameras were installed across France. The radars automatiques caught 40,000 speeding motorists in their first three weeks. The new French cameras (which cost ¤80K each) take digital pictures which are automatically transmitted to the police. Unlike British speed cameras these ones can never run out of film –ifyou are flashed, you’re caught. Whether the authorities are able or willing to send out fines to foreigners remains to be seen, but if you are hiring a car in France this winter, be warned.

THE BIG CHEESE REVOLT
Raclette, the melted cheese loved by the Swiss as their national dish, is at the centre of a dispute after most of the cheese- makers were told to find a new name for the smelly dish. A new government ruling states that only 900 or so cheese-makers in the Valais region of the alps can call their cheese raclette. It is said that the raclette recipe was invented in Valais in 1574 by Alpine shepherds. A Swiss Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson said: “Raclette can only be Swiss and not French”. But the French have pointed out that the word raclette comes from the French word racler (to scrape) and does not refer to the geographical origin of the cheese. The debate is set to continue!

DRALION
Cirque Du Soleil, arguably the world’s most spectacular theatrical phenomenon, comes to London this month for its eighth successive year. The new show, Dralion, features 55 artists from ten countries, including a troupe of 37 Chinese acrobats. Playing at the sensational Albert Hall between 8 January-1 February. Tickets cost £15-£52.50. Tel. +44 (0) 20 7838 3122. www.cirquedusoleil.com

WHAT
WORD OF MOUTH News, gossip and trends from our European correspondents.	HALF-YEAR PLANNER The best events to travel to over the next six months.
BOOK AHEAD The Berlin International Film Festival lights up the city’s screens.	NEW YEAR NEW YOU Shape up after the Christmas over-indulgence!
CALENDAR Nemo on ice, Tina Turner,architecture and jazz are among the events to mark in your diary.	TASTEBUDS Valencian black rice should be on every diner’s culinary wish-list.
CINEMA SCENE Get into the fighting spirit as resistance and revolution dominate January’s film releases.	FASHION Cosy knits and chic ski-wear to ward off the winter chill.
RELATIVE VALUES Been partying too hard? Try these weird and wonderful hangover cures.
WHO
PROFILE Samuel L Jackson waxes lyrical about his latest bad guy role in the cult flick The Spirit, why Snakes on a Plane still makes him chuckle and that cheeseburger.	THE BIG DEBATE Should we ban European advertising stereotypes?
SOUNDBITES Our columnist’s sauna shocker, and the new star of the Czech racing scene prepares for the season to enter first gear.	WARP RECORDS The driving force behind one of the world’s most avantgarde record labels.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL As an iconic troupe of circus performers rolls into town, discover how it’s a balancing act for one of its stars.	CHALET DREAMS Escaping to the snow slopes this month could inspire you to make it a permanent change of scene.
WHERE
BOOK AHEAD Travel to Milan for a room with one hell of a view.	SPANISH SHEPHERDS Leave the city behind as you discover that four legs are definitely good for one of Europe’s most unusual days out.
TOP THREE The best indulgent vices to see in the new year, from chocolate to gambling to whisky tasting.	SNOWBOARDING Let boarding superstar Dan Wakeham fi ll you in on the best resort hang-outs and how to pull off the moves that matter.
WEEKENDER Take a trip round the Spanish coastal city of Gijón.	BANDE DESSINÉES Meet the creative stars behind this burgeoning artform as they gather in France to celebrate the graphic novel craze that is sweeping the country.
AVALANCHE SCHOOL If you’re heading off-piste this month, this could be the best lesson you’ll ever have.	MBA SPECIAL The students are nearing the end of their courses, so what does European industry hold for these bright business brains?