Monocle Weekend
Edition: Saturday

Arranging for an event called “Moving Beyond Cars” to take place during one of the world’s biggest trade fairs for the automotive industry could be seen as something of a provocation. And yet that is exactly what those behind the Paris Motor Show – which opens its doors to the public at the city’s Expo conference centre today – have done. On Wednesday 5 October the annual show (which alternates between the French capital and Frankfurt) will host its inaugural Mondial Innovation Forum, bringing together 300 international manufacturers, investors and start-up founders in the mobility sector. The one-day forum will hear speeches by key entrepreneurial figures in the industry such as Gregor Gimmy, founder of the BMW Start-up Garage, and co-founder and COO of BlaBlaCar Nicolas Brusson. So if you fancy a break from checking out the cars, come and hear what the future will look like without them.

Tonight the lights will not go out in Toronto as 90 art installations keep residents out from dusk until dawn for the annual Nuit Blanche. The 11th edition of the all-night contemporary-art extravaganza takes place all across the city and features works by both Canadian and global talent. Homegrown music videographer Director X has installed an immersive installation of the sun outside city hall in Nathan Philips Square; the evocative sculpture replicates the sun’s entire lifecycle (and is meant to invite viewers to contemplate mortality). An equally out-of-this-world experience can be sought at the Gladstone Hotel, which is hosting a night out based on the Netflix drama Stranger Things. Not only is Nuit Blanche a great way to see a different side of Toronto, the festivities are an economic boon too. Since its inception in 2006, the affair has raked in more than CA$268m (€182m) in financial benefits.

Six years ago the 187-year-old Champagne house Bollinger discovered a hidden room stocked with 600 vintage cuveés. Sotheby’s in New York is now preparing to auction off a collection of these rare finds dating from the early 19th century to 1939. The auction, scheduled for next month, will see the first US release of the Bollinger vintages, with a special 102-year-old bottle tagged as the highlight of the spectacle. While conventional wisdom dictates that young champagne is better, over the past 10 years wine collectors have begun to believe that it in fact ages well. Seeing as the bottles were stored at the optimal climate in the company’s cellar for the past 90 years, close to half have been determined to be in good condition. It’s promising to be a prickling occasion.

Ever wondered about the future of the design industry and what the years ahead hold for architecture, product design and the graphic arts in post-Brexit Britain? Well, we’ve got a date for your calendars. Join us at Midori House in London’s Marylebone on 18 October for a live edition of Section D, Monocle 24’s weekly design show. Opinionated guests from the worlds of typography, graphic design, journalism and architecture join Section D host Josh Fehnert to reflect on their careers and London’s status as a design city and offer some resolution on that age-old question, what is good design? Guests include the celebrated (and outspoken) Erik Spiekermann and the V&A’s Johanna Agerman Ross, with more to be announced over the coming week. Head to monocle.com/events for tickets and information.

Are film-makers and audiences afraid of taking risks? We ask Elliot Grove, founder of the Raindance Film Festival. We also recall a US president who was never far from the nuclear codes and take a look at pre-fame James Dean. Plus: former TV talk-show host Sally Jessy Raphael tells us about the last time she spoke to Audrey Hepburn.

Hong Kong is more diverse than you’d imagine, with futuristic skyways connecting office towers and temples from which incense smoke trails towards the heavens. Our guide takes you on a journey from the best dining spots and side-street food stalls to rich retail experiences. Published by Gestalten, The Monocle Travel Guide to Hong Kong is available now at The Monocle Shop.