December/January / Global
At the front
Our Opener offers an inside view of the world of Monocle. Come on in...
HOW WE LIVE: ON THE ROAD
Perpetual motion
So much to do, so little time – which is why Tyler Brûlé has resurrected an old tradition: the round-the-world tour.
The last quarter of 2024 has been marked by the return of a dependable but slightly forgotten old habit: the round-the-world tour. Ten years ago I realised that it was more efficient to stay on the road for long stretches than to dash back to base all the time to check on the “kids” (my colleagues) and water the plants. For a variety of reasons, I fell out of the habit but, since October, rtw tours have been back in the diary and today I’m filing from the Park Hyatt Sydney, with the opera house in the background and more than 200 monocle subscribers about to join us for our first party on the continent in almost a decade.
My current tour started in Zürich and has included stops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Melbourne. From Sydney, I’ll be moving on to North America, with sojourns in Dallas, Des Moines and Toronto, before pivoting to the Middle East for appointments in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. All in all, it’ll be three weeks, with one carry-on and an array of story ideas for the issues ahead (and as many opportunities to match). For 2025, the agenda is just as packed. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the end of January, when we’ll be throwing open the doors of our new premises in Paris – and maybe, just maybe, a little outpost back Sydney way. Cheers to a happy and prosperous 2025. —
Out in the world
Over the past month, the monocle team has been busy convening with readers and thought leaders. Here are some of the highlights.
The Monocle Shop at the Landmark
Hong Kong
We bolstered our Hong Kong presence this autumn with a month-long pop-up within the iconic Landmark retail space. Our appearance in Central happened while our beloved Wan Chai shop closed for some timely refurbishments. Both the Wan Chai outpost and The Monocle Café on London’s Chiltern Street are set to reopen in December.
Monocle at Selectshop Frame
Dubai, UAE
The monocle shop was in Dubai in November for a pop-up at Selectshop Frame, coinciding with the launch of The Monocle 100: Dubai handbook.
Monocle Patrons at Maçakizi
Bodrum, Turkey
A sunny group of our most dedicated readers joined monocle’s editors at the Maçakizi resort for faultless service and the best swimming set-up this side of the Pacific. Patrons are a select group who are invited to private events and sent every print product we make. To join the programme, email Holly Anderson at (han@monocle.com). It would be great to have you on board.
The Monocle Quality of Life Conference
Istanbul, Turkey
More than 100 delegates attended monocle’s annual Quality of Life Conference in Turkey’s biggest city. The speaker line-up included architect Richard England, mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and submarine officer Taylor Sheppard. There were also plenty of party moments at The Peninsula on the Bosphorus. Look out for all forthcoming events at monocle.com/events
Bucherer
New York, USA
In partnership with Swiss watchmaker Bucherer, monocle’s sister publication Konfekt brought together leading creatives for dinner, drinks and a conversation on craft and luxury.
Coffee at Midori House
London, UK
During our Chiltern Street café renovation, the monocle coffee (and bun) hit came from our truck parked outside Midori House. Beep beep!
GLOBAL
New-year wishes
From the editors: five things we’d like to see more of to round out 2024 and ring in 2025.
1.
Off-season travel
monocle was in Mykonos in November. The weather was stunning, there were few people and hotel prices were low. And you could go further afield too: it’s off-season in the northern hemishpere but hotting up down south.
2.
More indie print
Singapore is leading the way, with online politics and culture publication Jom launching a first print issue, food magazine Slow Press branching into events, and arts zine Now & Again releasing a new issue after two years.
3.
Visionary tech
Comédie Française has introduced for-hire eyeglasses that add individualised subtitles to the viewer’s field of vision. A winning idea both for hearing-impaired Parisians and foreign theatre visitors.
4.
Feast on frites
Next time you’re in Paris, tuck in to steak frites at Nonos. Chef Paul Peret’s 1950s-inspired grill at the Hotel de Crillon offers a tender take.
5.
Cultural education
The Blue Chair Film Festival in Laos (December) and the Jaipur Literature Festival in India (January) present a host of emerging Asian creatives.
OBSERVATION
Real horsepower
The Amish are an elusive bunch (writes Christopher Lord). It took months to convince the community to talk to us for a design story that finally landed in this issue. As some of the best carpenters in the US, their woodworking and workshops fuel a huge demand. But there is still a “buggy rush hour” in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, when the Amish take to their traditional horse-and-carts en masse. Photographer Andrew Moore and I were in hot pursuit, hoping to find out where they were all going, but this cool cat in his shades left us in the dust. —
ON THE ROAD
Holding Court
Monocle Radio dropped anchor in Sydney in November for a live edition of ‘The Globalist’. Organised with the programme’s partner, UBS, the special-edition show was broadcast from a berth outside the Museum of Sydney during the bank’s Australasia Conference 2024. We also hosted a catch-up with some of our Antipodean subscribers.
GLOBAL
Up next
Feeling festive? Why not join monocle for seasonal parties and pop-ups to round out the year.
The Monocle Shop, St Moritz, Switzerland
If you want an early dose of Christmas cheer, make your way to the Alps, where The Monocle Shop is set up as an outpost at Hotel Steffani.
5 December 2024 to 31 March 2025
Christmas Market, Zürich, Switzerland
Kick off the season with our annual Christmas market at our HQ at Dufourstrasse 90. Gifts and Glühwein are on offer.
7-8 December 2024
Christmas Market, London, UK
For some last-minute Christmas shopping and a visit from Santa, all the way from polar Finland, join us in London. Plus: live Monocle Radio broadcasts.
14-15 December 2024
