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Life with the Top Down (#222)

Travel: Life with the top down - Here in northern Europe, despite our reputation for rainy weather, the market in open top cars is booming. At the first sign of clear skies fans of the convertible dust down their prized possession and take to the open roads. And this year there are more new soft top models being brought onto the market than ever before. We met up - on a sunny day - with some soft top enthusiasts.

Lifestyle: under one roof - We live in a fast moving age and there never seems to be any time to spare. So the idea of combining two shops in one so you can buy your groceries and and perhaps have your shoes repaired at the same time appeals to the consumer. Convenience is the name of the game. It all started in London and now it's spread here to Berlin.

Music: Cellist Jan Vogler - The German cellist Jan Vogler has become one of the most celebrated soloists of his generation. He also loves to perform chamber music especially with his violinist wife Myra Wang, although their busy schedules makes this a rare treat. Like many international stars he has homes on both sides of the Atlantic. One in New York and the other here in Germany out in the countryside near Dresden which is where we paid him a visit. Art: Open Air Sculptures - Three years ago a Swiss doctor and his wife organised an open air exhibition of sculptures in their home town of Ragatz. It's since become an annual event and has overflowed into the town of Vaduz in neighbouring Liechtenstein. Now renowned sculptors are queueing up to exhibit their works in this beautiful alpine setting.

Fashion: Noir - The Danish label "Noir" is fashion with a conscience. Launched just over a year ago it has managed to show that haute couture and fair trade ideals can exist together. It's the first label to import its cotton directly from a mill in Uganda. The owner Peter Inversen has proved it's possible in the fashion industry to be both stylish and eco-friendly.

Architecture: Turning Torso - Last year we reported on the opening of the Turning Torso, an extraordinary skyscraper in the Swedish city of Malmo that looks as though it's been twisted in the wind. Well despite initial criticism from the media it's proved to be very popular locally and has now received a prize in an International skyscraper competition. So architecturally it's got the thumbs up but what do the residents think about living inside this unique edifice. [26 minutes]

This episode has not aired in the past few months on Iowa Public Television.