The Monaco Grand Prix gets underway this weekend in Monte Carlo with its heady combination of glamor and adrenaline, not only for the tens of thousands who descend on the pristine principality, but for the millions watching across the world.
Even those who are typically indifferent to motorsports can find themselves enraptured, or at least intrigued, by the sheer spectacle of Formula One cars hurtling along the country鈥檚 winding streets.
It is also where you will find celebrities happily jostling their way through the crowds and cameras. 鈥淚t is unlike anything I have ever been to, it is electric,鈥 exclaimed Spider-Man actor Tom Holland while walking last year鈥檚 grid.
And of course, there is plenty of wealth on display.
Monaco is nicknamed 鈥渢he billionaires鈥 playground鈥 for good reason. Here, designer stores, supercars, multi-million-dollar yachts and astronomically priced restaurants are 鈥榣a norme鈥, but during the three-day Grand Prix, the eye-watering ostentation increases three-fold.
When demand is high and options are limited, it is all to play for among the world鈥檚 wealthiest who are keen to revel in the race鈥檚 iconic location and party 鈥榯il dawn.
If they are not using their own superyacht as a base, they might book into a private villa on the Côte d鈥橝zur or check-in to Fairmont Hotel, Hôtel Hermitage or Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo itself.
A pioneer of Grand Prix party culture
Of course, it is not only about finding the finest suites to rest your head, but the premium spots for dining and clubbing, whether it is the top table at Cipriani, Sass Café or Café de Paris or the best booth at exclusive night spots such as Jimmy鈥檢 or Amber Lounge.
The latter has the distinction of being the go-to destination for the F1 fraternity, including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, while previous guests have included Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue and Prince Albert of Monaco.
Established in 2003 by former racing driver Eddie Irvine鈥檚 sister Sonia as a 鈥減ost-race destination鈥 for drivers and VIP guests, Amber Lounge is regarded a pioneer of the Grand Prix party culture.
Notably, it will be marking its 20-year milestone (there was a year off during Covid) as 鈥渢he most exclusive party in the world鈥 with panache over the Monaco weekend with three nights of events costing just over 鈧1.5m (US$1.6m) to produce.
There will be after parties at an Amber Lounge beach club on the terrace of Le Meridien Beach Plaza (the only hotel in Monte Carlo with its own private beach), as well as VIP viewing of the race from aboard a 108ft superyacht moored just feet from the circuit鈥檚 famous Tabac corner.
鈥淭he size of the yacht also means we are as close to the action as you can get, unlike the larger yachts that are pulled back (from the coast). It also feels more intimate and exclusive on board. We have a lot of repeat clients (typically from the US, UK and Middle East) who want to network and build relationships,鈥 said Lauren Green, Managing Director of Amber Lounge who oversees logistics of the three-day pop-up event in Monaco, as well as other F1 locations including Singapore, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.
Unsurprisingly, a ticket to one of the most coveted trackside spots does not come cheap.
A one-day VIP viewing package for the race itself on Sunday costs 鈧3,500 ($3,800) per person 鈥 and the 65 available tickets sold out within two weeks of going on sale in May 2023.
While the dress code is 鈥楻iviera chic,鈥 shoes, however expensive, must be discarded on embarking so as not to ruin the yacht鈥檚 teak decking. Tickets include free-flowing beverages, including champagne, wine and signature cocktails, as well as food, a DJ and dancers before tenders return to shore at 6.30pm.
鈥楾he center of the universe for a weekend鈥
At the club鈥檚 after parties held over the race weekend, a small army of waiting staff serve ever-flowing drinks for a 1000 strong crowd on Saturday and Sunday nights. On arrival, guests ring a bell and a gloved hand appears through a flower wall proffering a glass of champagne. Attendees have paid anything from 鈧600 (US$650) for entry to the afterparty on Saturday (the F1 qualifying day) to 鈧800 (US$870) on the Sunday (race day) in the hope they can party alongside drivers, celebrities and guests of high net worth, away from the public gaze.
For 鈧40,000 (US$43,400), partygoers can book what鈥檚 known as a 鈥渄iamond table package鈥 for 10 people 鈥 a prime table with unobstructed views of the stage and DJ booth (Fatman Scoop and Jax Jones are the acts for 2024), as well as cirqus-themed performances, and Methuselahs of champagne (6-liters) and premium vodka. Add an extra 鈧10,000 (US$10,800) on for a Salmanazar 鈥 a nine-liter bottle of champagne that requires a team of four to carry it to the table, or 鈧20,000 ($21,600) for a 12-liter Balthazar-sized bottle.
The top-tier tables also have their own 鈥渉osts,鈥 who act as a concierge; liaising with VIPs鈥 assistants or drivers to ensure guests can be greeted and escorted along the black carpet without having to queue.
Amber Lounge might be one of the most exclusive and expensive events taking place during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, but Monte Carlo itself is a veritable party hub. It鈥檚 common for champagne glasses and bottles to be cleared from the track from the previous night鈥檚 revelry ahead of that day鈥檚 qualifying or race sessions.
鈥淭he Côte d鈥橝zur is one of the truly exceptional global destinations, and Monaco is at the heart of it. The scenery, the sophistication, and the opulence are unmatched,鈥 said Bruce Bundrant, Senior Vice President of Business Development for rEvolution, a global sports marketing agency who lived in Monaco for three years as Commercial Director for AS Monaco FC.
鈥淎s a former resident, I can tell you there are two sides to the F1 Grand Prix arriving in Monaco. On one side, your town is now the center of the universe for a weekend where the top 1% of the 1% from all over the world arrive and engage in outrageous parties and events on yachts, at luxury hotels suites, and in hilltop mansions,鈥 Bundrant explained.
鈥淥n the other, it鈥檚 the hybrid of the arrival of a hurricane and New Year鈥檚 Eve. A week out from the race, grocery store shelves are emptied as locals know it鈥檚 impossible to move around the principality when the F1 circus is in town. During the Grand Prix, your quiet, regular neighborhood bar has a line around the corner, charges a $100 cover charge, and a drink that typically costs $20 will be $50. But it鈥檚 a truly unforgettable weekend, with an unreplicable buzz and energy. Sure, it鈥檚 expensive, but come the Monday, things are back to normal.鈥
As normal as it can ever be in a place as excessive as Monaco. As the jet set move onto their next port of call, and the racetrack is dismantled, so too is the Amber Lounge club as preparations continue for their next F1 event, which will be Singapore in September.
鈥淭here is no rest at Amber Lounge,鈥 Green quipped. 鈥淛ust a lot of adrenaline. And a lot of coffee.鈥
Paul McCartney roasts Bruce Springsteen at London awards ceremony
Originally Published: 24 MAY 24 06:43 ET
By Rosa Rahimi, CNN
London (CNN) 鈥 Bruce Springsteen became the first international songwriter to be awarded a fellowship of the Ivors Academy in its 80-year history 鈥 but he had to put up with some ribbing from one of his most famous peers first.
At the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London Thursday night, Springsteen was inducted into the fellowship by Paul McCartney, who was the academy鈥檚 first-ever fellow.
The ceremony wasn鈥檛 broadcast, but the BBC reported the former Beatle as telling the audience he 鈥渃ouldn鈥檛 think of a more fitting鈥 recipient of the fellowship 鈥 鈥渆xcept maybe Bob Dylan 鈥 Or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift.鈥
鈥淲hen it comes to talent, he鈥檇 definitely be in the top five,鈥 he added, imagining how Springsteen would have fit into the Beatles.
鈥淗e鈥檚 known as the American working man, you know?鈥 a clip of the ceremony posted to social media showed McCartney saying. 鈥淏ut he admits he鈥檚 never worked a day in his life.鈥
鈥淗e鈥檚 a lovely, lovely boy,鈥 he also said of the American musician.
The fellowship is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, which is the United Kingdom鈥檚 professional association for songwriters and composers.
鈥淭here is no one more fitting than Bruce Springsteen to be the first international songwriter inducted into our Fellowship,鈥 Tom Gray, chair of the academy, said in a press release.
鈥淪ongwriters are powerful storytellers, who capture our lives, loves and hardships. Bruce has always told the greatest stories.鈥
Springsteen was met with a standing ovation, social media video of the ceremony showed, and he accepted the honor in a hoarse voice, which he attributed to an evening spent singing in the quintessentially British rain.
鈥淚鈥檓 gonna sound really weird up here because I sang in the rain, all night last night,鈥 he said in a speech.
He thanked his British fans and audiences, as well as musicians and artists in the UK for giving him inspiration.
鈥淭heir depth of knowledge of my work and their dedication constantly keeps me invested here, keeps me coming back to these shores,鈥 said Springsteen of his fans. 鈥淪o that I can dig deeper, and so that I can deal more faithfully with my audience鈥檚 joys and concerns.鈥
Springsteen rounded off his speech with a performance of his 1975 hit 鈥淭hunder Road鈥 鈥 considered by Rolling Stone to be one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Other honorees at this year鈥檚 Ivors included Lana Del Rey, Skepta, KT Tunstall and Raye.
