Current reads

by Simran Kaur takes the essence of her Girls that Invest podcast and puts it in easily accessible language. Frustrated with the gatekeeping around finance, investments and money--the sector jargon is made of a dizzying number of acronyms for instance--Kaur set out on a journey to explain the essential principles of financial markets to an audience not well-represented in the sector: women and people of colour. TH

Digital highlights

We were gifted the for kids recently, which included some films with Luxembourgish and English options. The set came with films like Ari Folman’s Wou ass d’Anne Frank (Where is Anne Frank), with animation by Doghouse and co-produced by Jani Thiltges - Samsa. It also included some sweet popcorn for snacking. Great for youngsters, especially on long road trips. NG

Essential viewing

My husband recently got a Netflix gift card, so we’ve been taking advantage of what the streaming service has to offer these past few weeks. A recommendation from my sister was the Korean drama Vincenzo, which tells the story of a Korean-born lawyer who grew up in Italy and ended up as a consigliere, or mafia lawyer. He returns to Korea, where a twisting tale of corruption, justice, revenge and redemption unfolds as he attempts to recover a fortune in gold, take down an unscrupulous corporation vigilante-style, and protect his family--all while impeccably dressed. Amazing character development--the side characters are incredibly engaging, and aren’t just there for comic relief. It could be that I’m just exceptionally emotional--my husband didn’t shed a single tear while I wept through a few episodes--but there are also many touching moments. The soundtrack, which features opera as well as more modern tunes, is fantastic as well. LL

Not sure how I went so long without seeing Derry Girls, but Lisa McGee’s three-part series is absolute genius. The show follows five teens growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1990s and draws from McGee’s own experiences, with plenty of historical references and recreations. I loved everything about this series--from the snarky humour and unique friendships, to Siobhán McSweeney’s hilarious role as Sister Michael, the nostalgia-inducing soundtrack. It had me laughing out loud right from the start. NG

Killer Sally is a Netflix documentary on 90s bodybuilder couple Sally and Ray McNeil, and the events that led Sally to murder her husband. While true crime is not usually my cup of tea, I thought the short show--there are three one-hour episodes--was an interesting exercise in understanding how a director could structure a show and interviews to  influence the opinion of the audience in one or the other direction from one episode to the next. TH

Conceptwise, transposing The Full-Time Wife Escapist (TV series on Netflix) directly into a Western context might be catastrophic, given that it’s built on a critique of Japan-specific gender roles and sexuality. The premise: a woman and a man (who aren’t a couple) have found it mutually beneficial to enter into a common-law marriage in which he formally employs her to do the housework. The meta-dialogue pertains to norms that fall on adjacent-to-familiar points of feminism as we talk about it in Europe or the US, but don’t let that put you off: the show’s humour comes through healthily, its characters are dynamic and likeable, and the cultural gap is far more interesting than confusing. Watching the show makes me feel good. JP

(Addendum: since writing the above blurb, I have actually finished the series, and can report that the cultural gap narrows into nearly a nothingness as the episodes progress.)

We are about half-way through watching on. is one of the world’s most wanted criminal masterminds, who secretly informs for the FBI. It’s much better than I thought it would be. Yes, it is partly a formulaic cop show, but the ongoing plots and character development are engaging. Spader is captivating as the cryptic evil genius. Good supporting cast. AG

For foodies

French gluten-free bakery and pastry shop Chambelland has made its way to Luxembourg City. Conveniently situated close to the Place de Metz station and just off the Avenue de la Liberté, the bakery is perfect for having a tea and cake outside thanks to its sunny terrace. Though the pastries are pricey (gluten-free remains somewhat of a luxury), they are a lovely treat to grab, especially for those who struggle with a gluten intolerance. TH

Address: 2, rue de la Grève, L- 1643 Luxembourg City 

Exhibitions

There is always something touching about seeing items that some people might have gathered or cherished centuries ago on display. Though it has been around for a long time, I somehow had never been to the Coins and Medals exhibition at the Musée national d’histoire et d’art. The exhibition follows the evolution of money in Luxembourg from ancient times to the euro, displaying the country’s complex and interesting history. For all the money that is lying around, the exhibition is free, so worth spending an hour or so, even for those who might hesitate. TH

I visited the Luxembourgish Aviation Museum at Mondorf-les-Bains a few weekends ago, which was a pleasant surprise discovery. There are model planes, lots of photographs, and plenty of anecdotes about the history of aviation in the grand duchy (you can also read about the connection that Mondorf has with the Nuremberg Trials--Hermann Göring and other senior Nazis were held prisoner here). The museum, which is next to the Mondorf spa complex, is fairly small, but worth a visit. It’s located in a beautiful park that’s lovely to stroll through, and there’s a nice cafe nearby as well--the pear and apple crumble with ice cream was excellent. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 14:00-18:00. LL