Editor’s letter
Big birthdays have a way of sneaking up on you; and that’s certainly the case at Monocle where the journey from new kid on the media block to seasoned brand has flown by. Here we are with the 150th issue of the magazine, much of it aptly dedicated to humour.The Opener
Cats on leads, presidents without planes and Lou Bega performing for the forces. Plus: Jimmy O Yang on Hollywood and stand-up.Off the cuff
Since the late 1950s, a comedy club has been spreading the gospel of making things up as you go along. Here’s a lesson in taking risks.Talking funny
The Greek stand-up and actress on ‘doing the accent’, audience empathy and the illness that forced her to tell jokes sitting down.Hack attackers
For the writers and cartoonists of Italy’s satirical monthly newspaper ‘Il Vernacoliere’, no target is off-limits, whether it’s a prominent cleric or self-aggrandising politician. We meet the team behind the gags.
English in Danish
Monocle’s Copenhagen correspondent Michael Booth on why Danes are importing – and distorting – English.Affairs
Updates on international issues, Mr Bean and the futility of sportswashing.Business
We examine developments in the realms of electric aircraft, pyjama-suit hybrids and more.Comment
Want to live long and prosper? We visit the nation’s top city for longevity.Culture
The people who keep art moving around the world and a new pan-European magazine.Urbanism
Bold and effective developments in architecture and train events ahead.
Before the shooting stars
As Russian troops gather on its eastern border, war dominates the conversation in Ukraine. In its bustling capital, Kyiv, a novelist and reservist explores the uncertainty and escapism of a life lived in suspense.Positive influence
Prime minister Sanna Marin explains how Finland is setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.Should Emmanuel Macron stay or go?
When the French president was elected in 2017, his landslide victory seemed to signal a transformative moment for a nation divided and unsure of its footing on the global stage. As he seeks re-election, our panel discusses whether he has earned the right to serve again.Under the umbrella
As cultural industries faltered in a time of pandemic, two entrepreneurs identified an opportunity. With their new holding company, Cultureworks, they plan to offer a new global platform for creativity – and reshape the sector for the better.Greater expectations
It might be Ljubljana’s little sister but the evolving Slovenian city of Maribor is drawing entrepreneurs and expats with big ambitions.Beyond a joke
At a time when it isn’t always easy to see the funny side, comedians from Denmark to Dubai are providing a vital service by keeping us smiling – while making the powerful nervous. We hail these satirists, cartoonists and comics, and find out what makes different nations guffaw.Heard the one about...?
In the age of media training and social-media outrage, humour has seemingly taken a back seat. But are people in positions of power and prestige really as po-faced as we expect them to be in public? We think not. And to prove it, we asked a host of them, from ambassadors to virology specialists, to tickle our funny bones with the most hilarious joke they could muster. Prepare for the punchline.Sight and sound
From an artist’s interrogation of identity to an auteur’s latest work of high melodrama, we survey forthcoming cultural highlights.Funny business
Graphic designers are known for being bold but where is their wit? We meet some comic types.Area of expertise
Built to an inspired modernist plan, the riverside bairro of Restelo is an exemplar of suburban architecture.Simple pleasures
Innovative design needn’t be complex. Here we round up seven smart items that deliver easy solutions.Performance bonus
The sportswear market is a crowded field so finding clothes that offer something new is no walk in the park. Meet three brands that are bona fide game-changers.Weave just begun
One company’s experimental approach has wool manufacturers and brands spinning new yarns.Fresh start
Redefine your look as the new year begins. Subtle shades, clean lines and a functional aesthetic will add a spring to your step.
Wheel-good factor
We refuel at a Parisian petrol station with great food, coffee and curiosities aplenty.Small wonder
Distilling the charms of the traditional Japanese ryokan and elevating the experience with bespoke design were the goals of the hotelier behind The Shinmonzen.Out of the past
Creativity in the Spanish capital has always thrived where history collides with a playful, forward-facing attitude. Rosewood Hotel & Resorts’ latest European outpost, Rosewood Villa Magna, reinvents a palace of old wealth as an inviting space for the city.Creative thinking
Ace Hotel has long offered culturally minded travellers an unfussy yet sensitively styled experience – few other chains so effectively capture the character of their locations. Now a new outpost in Brooklyn promises to immerse you in New York’s creative hotspot.Overnight successes
Whether you’re longing to reacquaint yourself with the Paris skyline, catch the Northern Lights in a small Swedish city or sample wine on a Portuguese island, where you stay matters. Here are three boltholes that are destinations in themselves.Up to the plate
A new homeware shop, Lost and Found, offers the chance to get to know Nikko, a heritage bone-china porcelain brand, and to discover a discerning edit of elevated essentials.Orders of merit
From a buzzy Berlin food hall to a Japanese lunch legend’s fresh start, we round up the pick of the new culinary openings, flavoured with a lip-smacking recipe for crispy chicken.Civic pride
The seat of power defines how a city is run but the buildings can also project an idea of place. We highlight some of the best, from Aarhus to Mumbai.Upper hand
Fancy something handsome to see you through the cold snap? If so, Alberto Squillace is a handy contact. He owns Omega, a glove-maker in Naples that follows a centuries-old tradition of manufacturing. Inside his workshop in the Sanità area are craftspeople undertaking the 25 steps to create leather gloves lined with wool or cashmere. Hands up who’s interested?
Monocle’s 150th issue features a special report on humour: what makes people laugh around the world, can politicians be funny and why do people keep telling jokes that could land them in jail? We feature a report from the ground in a changing Ukraine, put some fresh activewear through its paces and learn the value of a tongue-in-cheek attitude to advertising. Plus: where to eat, stay and explore this month.
Issue 150
February 2022
At the front
Editor’s letter
Big birthdays have a way of sneaking up on you; and that’s certainly the case at Monocle where the journey from new kid on the media block to seasoned brand has flown by. Here we are with the 150th issue of the magazine, much of it aptly dedicated to humour.The Opener
Cats on leads, presidents without planes and Lou Bega performing for the forces. Plus: Jimmy O Yang on Hollywood and stand-up.Off the cuff
Since the late 1950s, a comedy club has been spreading the gospel of making things up as you go along. Here’s a lesson in taking risks.Talking funny
The Greek stand-up and actress on ‘doing the accent’, audience empathy and the illness that forced her to tell jokes sitting down.Hack attackers
For the writers and cartoonists of Italy’s satirical monthly newspaper ‘Il Vernacoliere’, no target is off-limits, whether it’s a prominent cleric or self-aggrandising politician. We meet the team behind the gags.
The Agenda: Global briefings
English in Danish
Monocle’s Copenhagen correspondent Michael Booth on why Danes are importing – and distorting – English.Affairs
Updates on international issues, Mr Bean and the futility of sportswashing.Business
We examine developments in the realms of electric aircraft, pyjama-suit hybrids and more.Comment
Want to live long and prosper? We visit the nation’s top city for longevity.Culture
The people who keep art moving around the world and a new pan-European magazine.Urbanism
Bold and effective developments in architecture and train events ahead.
Global views: Long reads
Before the shooting stars
As Russian troops gather on its eastern border, war dominates the conversation in Ukraine. In its bustling capital, Kyiv, a novelist and reservist explores the uncertainty and escapism of a life lived in suspense.Positive influence
Prime minister Sanna Marin explains how Finland is setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.Should Emmanuel Macron stay or go?
When the French president was elected in 2017, his landslide victory seemed to signal a transformative moment for a nation divided and unsure of its footing on the global stage. As he seeks re-election, our panel discusses whether he has earned the right to serve again.Under the umbrella
As cultural industries faltered in a time of pandemic, two entrepreneurs identified an opportunity. With their new holding company, Cultureworks, they plan to offer a new global platform for creativity – and reshape the sector for the better.Greater expectations
It might be Ljubljana’s little sister but the evolving Slovenian city of Maribor is drawing entrepreneurs and expats with big ambitions.Beyond a joke
At a time when it isn’t always easy to see the funny side, comedians from Denmark to Dubai are providing a vital service by keeping us smiling – while making the powerful nervous. We hail these satirists, cartoonists and comics, and find out what makes different nations guffaw.Heard the one about...?
In the age of media training and social-media outrage, humour has seemingly taken a back seat. But are people in positions of power and prestige really as po-faced as we expect them to be in public? We think not. And to prove it, we asked a host of them, from ambassadors to virology specialists, to tickle our funny bones with the most hilarious joke they could muster. Prepare for the punchline.Sight and sound
From an artist’s interrogation of identity to an auteur’s latest work of high melodrama, we survey forthcoming cultural highlights.Funny business
Graphic designers are known for being bold but where is their wit? We meet some comic types.Area of expertise
Built to an inspired modernist plan, the riverside bairro of Restelo is an exemplar of suburban architecture.Simple pleasures
Innovative design needn’t be complex. Here we round up seven smart items that deliver easy solutions.Performance bonus
The sportswear market is a crowded field so finding clothes that offer something new is no walk in the park. Meet three brands that are bona fide game-changers.Weave just begun
One company’s experimental approach has wool manufacturers and brands spinning new yarns.Fresh start
Redefine your look as the new year begins. Subtle shades, clean lines and a functional aesthetic will add a spring to your step.
Inventory and Expo: Where to go, buy and eat
Wheel-good factor
We refuel at a Parisian petrol station with great food, coffee and curiosities aplenty.Small wonder
Distilling the charms of the traditional Japanese ryokan and elevating the experience with bespoke design were the goals of the hotelier behind The Shinmonzen.Out of the past
Creativity in the Spanish capital has always thrived where history collides with a playful, forward-facing attitude. Rosewood Hotel & Resorts’ latest European outpost, Rosewood Villa Magna, reinvents a palace of old wealth as an inviting space for the city.Creative thinking
Ace Hotel has long offered culturally minded travellers an unfussy yet sensitively styled experience – few other chains so effectively capture the character of their locations. Now a new outpost in Brooklyn promises to immerse you in New York’s creative hotspot.Overnight successes
Whether you’re longing to reacquaint yourself with the Paris skyline, catch the Northern Lights in a small Swedish city or sample wine on a Portuguese island, where you stay matters. Here are three boltholes that are destinations in themselves.Up to the plate
A new homeware shop, Lost and Found, offers the chance to get to know Nikko, a heritage bone-china porcelain brand, and to discover a discerning edit of elevated essentials.Orders of merit
From a buzzy Berlin food hall to a Japanese lunch legend’s fresh start, we round up the pick of the new culinary openings, flavoured with a lip-smacking recipe for crispy chicken.Civic pride
The seat of power defines how a city is run but the buildings can also project an idea of place. We highlight some of the best, from Aarhus to Mumbai.Upper hand
Fancy something handsome to see you through the cold snap? If so, Alberto Squillace is a handy contact. He owns Omega, a glove-maker in Naples that follows a centuries-old tradition of manufacturing. Inside his workshop in the Sanità area are craftspeople undertaking the 25 steps to create leather gloves lined with wool or cashmere. Hands up who’s interested?
