Catherine Balston

Travel and restaurants

Second acts: Four beautifully restored hotels breathing fresh air into storied buildings

Bringing new life to a rundown building can boost a community, as well as those running the hotel. Here’s our pick of historical structures that have been cannily restored.

Society

Carnival is serious business as Brazilian cities battle to be the biggest and the best

Brazil’s biggest party is just days away. Right now, revellers across the country are stocking up on glitter, body paint and fishnet tights. They’re putting the final touches on new costumes or shaking out…

Culture

Why the Academy Awards should get rid of its foreign-language category 

Film’s gilded night is drawing ever closer and today The Academy will shortlist the titles up for winning an Oscar come March. Brazilians, who have already been in party mode celebrating the double Golden…

Design

São Paulo, South America’s rising design capital

A new pool of young talent is lifting the city’s creative ambitions. We speak to a few creatives leading the way.