Latest news with #Chapel
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Death Valley: does it deserve a welcome in the hillsides?
** I can imagine the pitch meeting only too well. 'So, what do you have for us?' 'A murder mystery.' 'Sounds quirky. Always risky, quirky, when dealing with death. Unless it's Only Murders in the Building, that's genius. Is it like Only Murders in the Building?' 'Well, the central character is a retired actor who used to play a detective on TV, and he solves cases with a kooky young woman Detective Sergeant, so it is a bit like Only Murders.' 'Kooky. That's as bad as quirky. Where's it set?' 'Vale of Glamorgan, hence Death Valley. Plenty of local actors involved, including Steffan Rhodri, aka Dave Coaches from Gavin and Stacey, and Gwen from Gavin and Stacey plays the mum of the young woman DS.' 'Gavin and Stacey, eh? That's more promising, but I still think it would be more at home in a sleepy afternoon slot rather than Sunday evening. So sorry, it's a no.' 'Did I mention we've got Timothy Spall, bona fide national treasure, lined up to play the retired telly detective?' 'Talk about burying the lead, mate! We'll have six episodes and don't stint on the scenery.' Given the series' reliance on Spall, the first episode takes too long to introduce his character. Police have been called to the home of a property developer who appears to have shot himself. As forensics officers gather evidence, there's a telly on in the background showing old re-runs of Caesar, starring John Chapel (Spall) as the crime-cracking supremo with a literary bent. Turns out Chapel lives in the village, and the officer in charge of the shooting investigation, DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), is his number one fan. But Chapel is a recluse and doesn't want to help. Then he does want to help, but now Mallowan has cooled on the idea of having a civilian involved. In short, a monumental amount of faffing goes on before we can get down to business, by which time the Janie character has become seriously annoying. It is a pity because under other circumstances, Kirstie Allsopp-lookalike Keyworth would be a likeable sort. And perhaps the gentle humour would land better. Are jokes about star signs still a thing? Spall is incapable of a duff performance, and his delightfully hammy Chapel/Caesar is reason enough to keep watching. But national treasure or not, the national patience has its limits. With the full series on iPlayer now, the better news for writer Paul Doolan is that Death Valley settles down and starts to grow on you, and a couple of starry guest appearances liven things up no end. This, however, was a patchy start. One of the highlights of the weekend (apart from the Bob Servant night on BBC4 on Saturday), was the documentary Liza: a Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story. The 101-minute film lived up to its title, with the standout turn Mia Farrow passing judgment on all who had crossed Minnelli's path, for good and ill. A portrait of Farrow next, please.
Metro
02-05-2025
- Metro
The 'Rome of Portugal' is a lesser-visited gem that's 20°C in May
With tens of millions of tourists flocking to its ancient streets every year, Rome can feel suffocating. In the summer it becomes so flooded with people it can be difficult to enjoy – not to mention the sweltering heat. And this year is set to attract more crowds than ever: the Italian capital is celebrating its Jubilee Year 2025, and the death of Pope Francis has already brought droves of pilgrims to the Vatican. But there are ways to enjoy a Roman holiday without stepping foot in the Eternal City. One of them is across the continent in Portugal, where the country's third city has been dubbed the 'Portuguese Rome.' Braga, a small city in the far north of Portugal, is the less touristy sister of Lisbon and Porto. In 2024, it was named Europe's next emerging destination in the prestigious World Travel Awards. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. A mainstay of the Roman empire, Braga has had much significance in Portugal's history. From ornate architecture to ancient buildings and a thriving culinary scene, the city has everything that Rome does, without the crowds. Often referred to as the heartland of Portugal, Braga is a historic city steeped in religious heritage. That can only mean it's home to a swathe of elaborate churches. Portugal's most photographed church, Bom Jesus do Monte, is located in Tenoes, just outside the city, with a Baroque stairway leading up a hilltop. Towering 116 metres high, the church captures a sweeping panorama of the surrounding region. Braga Cathedral is even older, built between 1070 and 1093 on the ruins of a Roman temple. Incorporating Gothic, Baroque, Manueline and Renaissance styles, the church has a museum filled with local relics. Elsewhere, the Chapel of São Frutuoso was constructed in the sixth century AD, making it one of the oldest buildings in the entirety of Portugal. According to tradition, it was built to replace an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Asclepius, AKA, the god of medicine and good health. There's also the Santa Barbara Garden, which is attached to the 14th century Archbishop's Palace, one of the city's most important historic structures. But enough about churches. Braga also has a charming city centre with tree-lined streets, fashion boutiques and beautiful gardens. It's cute but compact, definitely doable in one weekend. The city has a thriving food scene, and many regional delicacies to try. A good starting point is bacalhau (salted cod) and caldo verde (soup with potatoes, kale and chorizo), followed by bife à Bragança (a traditional steak dish) andpastel de nata (the famous custard tarts). The city is home to nine Michelin restaurants and myriad trendy bars. TripAdvisor reviewers recommend checking out the Sardinha Biba nightclub if you fancy a dance. The easiest way to get to Braga from the UK is to fly to nearby Porto. In May, one-way fares start from as little as £28 if you fly from London Stansted, or £58 flying from Manchester. From Porto, it's less than a 40-minute drive. Taxis typically cost around £50. For accommodation, the average cost of a hotel room in Braga during the summer season is between £75 and £90. The best time to visit Braga is undoubtedly the summer. More Trending In May, temperatures reach highs of 20°C, perfect walking weather. In July and August, the mercury can reach 25°C. If sun isn't your thing, temperatures for the rest of the year don't typically dip much below 10°C. In January and February, expect highs of 14°C, while in November it remains a pleasant 17°C. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Missed out on Glastonbury tickets? Here's 5 'hidden gem' festivals you've probably never heard of MORE: Woman dragged off Ryanair flight after 'on-board fight' diverts it to Italy MORE: Spanish 'mini Maldives' gets brand new TUI flight from UK airport
San Francisco Chronicle
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Eighties indie rockers to host mini S.F. residency
Yo La Tengo is a true rock 'n' roll love story. The New Jersey indie rock band was formed in 1984 by vocalist/guitarist Ira Kaplan and vocalist/percussionist Georgia Hubley, who linked up after spotting each other out and about at record shops and concerts. They got married three years after starting the band and have been together ever since. While the band has seen a few members come and go over the years, Kaplan and Hubley have been staples since the beginning. The group released its first LP, 'Ride the Tiger,' in 1986, and began to establish more of a following with its third release, 'President Yo La Tengo' (1989). It has been widely celebrated for its experimental incorporation of shoegaze, R&B and country sounds in its rock music foundation ever since. For decades, Yo La Tengo has been steadily rolling out albums, and now the group is set to take on a mini residency at the Chapel in San Francisco from Friday-Saturday, May 9-10, and Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13, giving Bay Area fans four days to catch them live. Yo La Tengo: 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 9-10; 8:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, May 12-13. Tickets start at $170. The Chapel, 777 Valencia St., S.F. 415-551-5157.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Celebrated Bay Area songwriter Chuck Prophet plays Valentine's show at the Chapel
Beloved SF raconteur and guitarist Chuck Prophet plays a special Valentine's set of songs backed by a string quartet at the Chapel Friday night. Born in the Southern California town of Whittier and raised the Bay Area suburbs, Prophet first came to fame in the mid-1980s after joining the country-influenced neo-psychedelic band Green On Red when the group relocated to Los Angeles from Tuscon, Arizona. The band would record it's landmark Enigma Records effort Gas Food Lodging, earning the group accolades in the U.S. and Europe and a major label deal with Mercury. While the band continued to receive critical acclaim for the vivid character studies and rootsy country psychedelia heard on 1987's The Killer Inside Me and Stones-flavored Here Come the Snakes two years later, by 1992 the group had called it quits. That freed Prophet up to pursue his solo songwriting career that he started with his first recording Brother Aldo in 1990. Mixing modern lo-fi sensibilities with his storytelling songs and swampy roots influences, Prophet released a string of celebrated albums during the 1990s including the semi-autobiographical Homemade Blood and the clanking, Tom Waits-tinged The Hurting Business. The songwriter's contemporaries took notice of his skills as a tunesmith, with the likes of Texas punk-roots singer Alejandro Escovedo, rock band Heart and blues great Solomon Burke covering his songs. Early in the 2000s, Prophet convened the first line-up of his backing band the Mission Express, a crew that drew on some of the finest players in the city. The songwriter continued his solid hitting streak, releasing more critically lauded albums such as the eclectic Soap and Water in 2007 and his more recent triumphs like the historical San Francisco travelogue Temple Beautiful in 2012 and the character-driven Night Surfer two years later. The gifted guitarist released his acclaimed effort Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins on Yep Roc Records in 2017, earning another round of ecstatic reviews. Self-described by Prophet as "California noir," the songs on the collection ruminate on mortality whether lamenting SFPD officer-involved shooting victim "Alex Nieto" or paying respects to David Bowie and other passed legends on "Bad Year For Rock And Roll." While his most recent recording for Yep Rock -- entitled The Land That Time Forgot -- came out in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Prophet has maintained a steady pace of activity with online and in-person concerts showcasing the evocative new tunes including the wistful lament "High As Johnny Thunders" and the pointed salvo directed at former President Trump, "Get Off the Stage." Prophet has also been performing as part of the Casual Coalition, a collective of Bay Area all-stars including members of Mother Hips, Phil Lesh & Friends and Stu Allen and the Mars Hotel playing music from Bob Dylan's landmark late '60s recordings with the Band that eventually saw partial release in 1975 as The Basement Tapes. The ensemble appeared at the Huichica Music Festival in 2019 and has reconvened for a number of local performances since. Prophet made a sobering announcement last year when he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was undergoing treatment. While the diagnosis forced the singer to cancel a number of shows, he returned to the live stage this past summer, delivering the kind of performances that have made him a Northern California institution. Late last year, Prophet and the Mission Express also released their first proper live document, a fiery 2LP recording of a concert in Paris showcasing the songwriter's later work that was originally only available as a CD sold on tour in Europe. This past October, the songwriter released a new album for Yep Rock that stands as a major stylistic departure: a collaboration with cumbia group ¿Qiensave? entitled Wake the Dead. Formed from jam sessions with the group in their hometown of Salinas during his lymphoma recovery, the songs heard on Wake the Dead run the gamut from sharp social commentary ("In the Shadows (For Elon)" and "Sally Was a Cop") to Prophet's trademark vivid, character-driven tales of loss and redemption ("Sugar into Water" and "First Came the Thunder"), closing with the heartfelt celebrations of survival "It's a Good Day to Be Alive." Recorded live with ¿Qiensave? and augmented by members of the Mission Express the album has earned the songwriter some of the best reviews of his illustrious career. The songwriter showcased the tunes with his new ensemble the Cumbia Shoes for a sold-out show at the Chapel late last year. For this special Valentine's Day show, Prophet and a stripped-down trio featuring his wife and longtime bandmate Stephanie Finch (vocals/keyboards) and drummer Vincente Rodriguez reprise their live collaboration with the Make Out Quartet for the second year in a row. Prophet revisited songs from The Land That Time Forgot in 2021, featuring the same string section on a live EP that was recorded and filmed at SF Mission District bar the Make Out Room. The Friday show at the Chapel with Prophet performing a career spanning set with the same trio plus strings format, putting a cinematic twist on some of his greatest hits before he and his band head across the Atlantic for a UK tour. The group will also be playing a seated sold-out show on Saturday night at the HopMonk Tavern in Novato.
