GstaadLife

by Taki Theodoracopulos

Gstaad. When I spoke with the mayor of Gstaad, as well as some other local stalwarts, they all assured me that they are ready for any invasion by the Libyans...

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Taki Theodoracopulos, better known as Taki, is a journalist and writer, living in Gstaad, London, and New York. His column ‘High Life’ has appeared in The Spectator for the past 25 years, and he has also written for National Review, the London Sunday Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, the New York Press, and Quest Magazine, among others. In 2002 Taki founded The American Conservative magazine with Pat Buchanan and Scott McConnell, and he is also publisher of the British magazine Right Now! Taki has been writing for GstaadLife since its first season in 2003/4. More of his musings can be found here. 

Following the commitment of current world number 10, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, Russia's Mikhail Youzhny (ATP 13)  has announced his participation in the Allianz Suisse Open in Gstaad. The tournament takes place this year from July 24 to August 1.

The GstaadFilm Festival is taking place for the 4th time in Gstaad. Who is in it? Who is it for? What stars are coming? Well, on their webpage they say: 'There are said to be people who can live without art. Who do not miss it when they lack it. Who see it as a waste of time, and as a waste of money anyway. To those people, GSTAADFILM has nothing to offer. GSTAADFILM does not wish to convince anybody of the necessity of art, but provides arts for those who are already convinced... The competition for The Golden Cow of Gstaad addresses itself to artists who are mainly engaged in the fine arts and produce short films as a sideline.' So if you count yourself and amongst those who do not have to be convinced of the necessity of art then you should definitely see this. You can check out our favorite clip here.

Note to the police: no lifetime achievement awards are being purveyed...

Rumours had it that the wood burnt in the Fernwärme heating station came from afar. But it doesn't, at least according to lumberjack Daniel Bütschi, who has stepped forth to repudiate these rumours and stress that 90% of the wood actually comes from our region. Just as long as the streets don't have to be dug up again this summer.

Last Saturday February 20 saw star chef Edgard Bovier signeing his new book "Edgard Palace" at Pernet Comestibles in Gstaad. And it is there where you can also get his Mediterranean product line. Even the book cover is mouth-watering, and if you are in Lausanne you should definitely pay M Bovier a visit at the Lausanne Palace.

New director, new ways - the Grand Hotel Bellevue will now also be a seasonal hotel. In hindsight it's a fairly obvious step, but after 7 years of year-round service the time has come (for economic reasons) to close the hotel from April 11 to June 25. Let's add this to the list of disappearing things which made the hotel "special": Massimo's bar, the first director, the second director, and now a solid 5-star experience in the depth of the off-season. Well, the only one who might still recognize you is David, the piano player at the bar, and he is still very much worth a visit. Request anything James Bond...

The picture above shows the poles behind the Sporthotel Rütti - which soon will be no more. So if you still want to enjoy a good pizza for a reasonable prize you make your moves, because the hotel and restaurant will close on March 15. Apparently a new hotel is planned with 30 beds, restaurant, wellness, apartments, and an underground parking lot. Behind everything is the Chesery AG Gstaad but Mario Moratti was not quite ready to discuss the details when interviewed by our sister publication the Anzeiger von Saanen.