Category: LONDON

2 things to see in Covent Garden this Christmas

Updated: 16/11/2022

Christmas is on and so are the lights. Where’s best to see them? Covent Garden in London, of course. Don’t miss the Biscuiteers Installation. Weighing in at 10kg and spanning over 4ft wide, the intricate creation has been decorated entirely by hand and took the British baking masterminds over 100 hours to construct and ice. Providing the ultimate festive picture moment in Covent Garden’s Market Building, passers by also have the chance to purchase bespoke tins filled with 10 designs of Covent Garden hand-iced biscuits and build-your-own gingerbread houses. Tiffany ice-skating rink. The brand just sold for $16.2 billion, so you know they can afford something nice. Tiffany & Co. will unveil a one-of-a-kind scented interactive winter wonderland experience, filled with sparkling snow, a festive ice-skating rink and fragrance pop-up shop, amid the backdrop of iconic Tiffany Blue boxes. Bringing the magic of the season to life, the enchanting Tiffany & Co. winter wonderland will be located in the East Piazza from 28th November to 26th December. Centered around the joy of gifting, the installation features multi-sensory experiences, including experiencing Tiffany & Co.’s Signature Eau de Parfum as it is diffused into the air during key intervals each day, along with glistening snow falling from the sky and magically dissolving as it touches the ground.

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Christmas day London, Christmas ice skating London, Covent Garden Christmas, London Christmas, What to see London Christmas, Where to ice skate London

Watch the X Factor’s best productions in London for free

by James Banham

Updated: 25/11/2019

Boxpark in London’s Wembley is about to come alive with The X Factor’s celebrity special event taking over the space on 30 November. Thanks to Just Eat, the food delivery folks, the ultimate X Factor viewing experience will be narrowcast on a 16-foot screen while familiar X Factor faces will take part in a Q&A session and stun guests with an exclusive live performance. Not to mention karaoke for the singers, meet-n-greets with the stars for the selfie-takers and all the food for the foodies, courtesy of vendors like Mama Jacq’s and Koolcha who both appeared at Just Eat’s flagship summer event, Food Fest. Sign up to head along at Eventbrite.

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Watch X Factor London, X Factor, X Factor London, X Factor Wembley

Wines from Spain: What you need to be drinking in 2020

by THE F

Posted: 11/11/2019

The Wines From Spain Awards is part of the larger Eat Spain Drink Spain roadshow which showcases the best of Spanish food and wine. The campaign aims to bring together the diverse and exciting wine and authentic food to allow food and wine livers alike to explore the opportunities that Spain offers. In it’s seventh year, The Wines From Spain Awards, showcase a fascinating selection of the top 100 Spanish wines, chosen from over 400 entries. This year, the line up expressed a large range of diversity and a high quality of wine being produced in Spain. Spain continues to offer some of the best wine in terms of value, with wines on display ranging from £7.99 to £50. When speaking to Director Fernando Munoz at the London Wine Tasting which was held at Mimo London, he focused his tasting this year on the more unknown regions and grape varieties. “I was very pleased with some of them: for whites and rosé, nº 10, 13, 18 and 42, were all excellent. As for reds, I quite liked nº 46, 50 and 55.” “We had a group of 11 judges, who in July chose 100 winners which are showcased here today, and out of the 100 winners we also select 13 Champion wines for each category.” Said Fernando. In the White Wine Category; Pansa Blanca 2018, Raventos de Alella was awarded the Best Discovery; Raimat El Niu de la Cigonya 2018, Raventos Codorniu was awarded Best White Over £10; Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2018, Bodegas El Grifo,… Read More

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Best wines guide, How to choose Spanish wines, Spanish wine guide, wine guide, Wines from Spain

German Gymnasium London: The bar’s doing autumn cocktails a la Game of Thrones

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Look, we all felt the full force of the ending of Game of Thrones. We all wanted Cersei to be brutally murdered. We all wanted Jamie to be a bit more vindicated. We all wanted to get the real story about Bran, the Night King and the whole whack story. But for everything the show let us down on, German Gymnasium right next door to Kings Cross Station in London, is building us back up with – in cocktail form. For autumn in the UK, the bar is introducing four new cocktails to its menu: Stark’s Old Fashioned, a smooth and classic drink with Woodford Reserve, Mozart chocolate and chocolate bitters. Winter Is Coming, made with Woodford Reserve Rye, cherry brandy and vermouth, served in a stunning goblet emblazoned with the dire wolf. A Dance with Dragons – Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons’ fiery refreshment made with Jack Daniels, beer, ginger beer and elderflower; and lastly. A Song of Ice and Fire, a fruity and velvety concoction created for Queen Cersei Lannister, made with Jack Daniels Rye and served in the Queen’s golden goblet. Ans the drinks aren’t all, the venue is renowned for its fairly epic installations in the middle of the thoroughfare inside, and for this round, they’ve put a beautiful autumnal tree inspired by the Heart Tree in Game of Thrones, with matching weirwood trees upstairs in The Meister Bar and throughout the restaurant. So though the story may be gone and told, it’s definitely not forgotten. These exclusive cocktails are available… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Game of Thrones cocktails, German Gymnasium, German Gymnasium London, London cocktail bars

London Cocktail Week’s done – but The Sun Tavern is always worth a visit

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

London Cocktail Week takes over the city every year in October, turning it on for the most beloved bars around the city. It’s a slurry, hazy blur of cocktails and spirits, but for those whose persistence for flashy beverages knows no end, it’s the week of the year. And The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green took it upon itself this year to get amongst it, and you know what? No one was mad. It’s a quaint little corner spot, that for the week, was whipping out £6 cocktails to thirsty locals and visitors, concocted by the minds of one bartender ‘Ross’. They in fact partnered with cocktail bar, Discount Suit Company for their London Cocktail Week House Party series that ran 6-13 October: a series of unmissable bar collaborations with globally renowned and celebrated bars spanning form LA to Barcelona, including World’s 50 Best, Limantour. Couple it with a steady flow of pizzas from Yard Sale and it made for a quality night. Sure, it’s done for 2019, but dropping by for a visit and tipple, just ‘cos you can is always a solid idea. See more at the Sun Tavern website.

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Best bars London, Cocktail bars London, London bars guide, London Cocktail Week, London cocktails, Sun Tavern bar London

Buying art is possible – London’s Affordable Art Fair is in town

Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London , UK 06 Mar 2019.

by James Banham

Posted: 15/10/2019

Walking around some of London’s most renowned galleries like the National Gallery, V&A or Somerset House, it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll never own anything nice for your own walls. Until, you stumble across quaint little (read: massive) art fairs like the Affordable Art Fair, that travels around the UK, and your thinking’s shifted. The Affordable Art Fair has revolutionised and democratised the art market with its fun and accessible approach, bringing art under £6,000 to its three UK locations: Battersea Park, Hampstead Heath, and Bristol, as well as an online shop. In fact, it was the Fair’s 20th birthday in early August 2019 and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down. Every fair offers something different, with a diverse range of local, national and international galleries showcasing art in an array of styles. Pieces by household names sit alongside the latest emerging talent. The concept has become a global phenomenon with 14 fairs in 11 cities across several continents. There’s a Fair on in Battersea from 17-20 October.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Affordable Art, Affordable Art Fair, Art Fair London, London arts

How to do Thanksgiving in London

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

London isn’t America, but that doesn’t mean we can’t adopt some of their customs, right? Especially when they involve eating. Thanksgiving is the US tradition of giving thanks for what you’ve got and a retrospective look on the year that was before the onslaught of Christmas, so, doing the same in London can only be a good thing. To get into the spirit of the beloved American tradition, popular London restaurants Riding House Café (Fitzrovia) and Rail House Café (Victoria), welcome their Thanksgiving feast on Thursday 28th November. They’ll be hosting banquets, complete with seasonal cocktails called The Ginger Pilgrim made from bourbon, honey, lemon and ginger. This’ll partner with a slow roasted Norfolk bronze turkey cooked in herb butter, ideal for sharing. Pair it all with cornbread and sausage stuffing; maple-buttered sweet potatoes; mac and cheese; and creamed corn casserole, vegetables like traditional glazed sprouts with smoky bacon; and green beans with praline. Calvados gravy and cranberry and confit orange relish will also be served alongside this inviting feast. All for only £40 per person for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28 November 2019, the question is why not?

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: food blog, London food blog, London food writer, Thanksgiving London

Raphael is coming to the National Gallery London

by James Banham

Posted: 07/10/2019

From 3 October 2020 to 24 January 2021, the National Gallery London will host the work of Raphael. He was a painter, draughtsman, architect, archaeologist, and poet who captured in his art the human and the divine, love, friendship, learning, and power, who gave us quintessential images of community and civilisation: Raphael’s life was short, his work prolific, and his legacy immortal. In the year that marks the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death, the National Gallery will present one of the first-ever exhibitions to explore the complete career of this giant of the Italian Renaissance. In his brief career, spanning just two decades, Raffaello Santi (1483–1520) shaped the course of Western culture like few artists before or since. This exhibition will examine not just his celebrated paintings and drawings – but also his not so widely known work in architecture, archaeology, poetry, and design for sculpture, tapestry, prints, and the applied arts. The aim is to do something no previous Raphael exhibition has ever done – explore every aspect of his multimedia activity and in 2020, the Gallery will do just that. Find out more at the National Gallery’s website.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: National Gallery London, National Gallery Rafael, Rafael

Bottomless bloody Mary brunch in London at Aster

by James Banham

Posted: 06/10/2019

Because ‘Sunday’ is another word for ‘hangover’ and nothing fixes them quite like the kick of a bloody Mary, Aster is doing something new. Their Sunday Feast is taking over the whole place on Sundays, complete with a bottomless bloody Mary bar and Lillet spritzes, while the rest of it is extravagant, to say the least. The spread includes unlimited starters, arranged across the bar, that includes a range of crunchy jumbo prawns; vibrant tabbouleh chicken salad; matjes herring; fresh Colchester Rock oysters; and an epic selection of charcuterie. Meanwhile the mains on offer come right from the kitchen and cover the whole gamut of ocean to paddock, cooked to order and presented with a spread of the traditional Sunday roast-like sides that will have you eating for what feels like hours. Think tender roast leg of salt marsh lamb with rosemary and garlic; butterflied sea bass; grass-fed sirloin from native breed beef cattle; and a Moroccan vegetable pastilla with wild mushrooms and flaky pastry. And let’s not forget the dessert bar – the first thing that greets you when you walk into the space – complete with apple strudels, fruity cheesecake and tarts to decadent chocolate mousse, Eton mess and lighter options such as cake pops. The Aster Feast will be available from 15 September and every following Sunday from 12-4pm. £35 per person Unlimited starters and desserts Bottomless Bloody Marys for an additional £15 Every Sunday from 12-4pm From 15th September onwards Aster | 150 Victoria Street | London SW1E 5LB

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Aster, Aster Bloody Mary, Aster Sunday feast, Bottomless Bloody Mary, bottomless brunch, Sunday hangover

V&A Museum London: Guo Pei presents first runway show in the UK

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

First things first: Who’s Guo Pei? Remember the yellow gown that Rhianna wore on the red carpet of the Met Gala in 2015? She made that. And many other haute couture pieces as part of her work as China’s largest named couturier in the 21st century. She’s a big deal. And now, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is hosting a landmark presentation by her, showcasing looks from her AW 2019/20 Alternate Universe Couture collection inside the museum’s iconic Raphael Gallery on Friday 1 November 2019. It’s all part of Fashion in Motion: V&A’s key fashion event enabling anyone to take a seat on the front row. It provides a platform for both established and up-and-coming designers, and presents – as part of its regular series – free-to-attend runway shows for the public. Its previously featured Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Yohji Yamamoto and other large names. “I am very pleased to be the featured designer of V&A’s Fashion in Motion 20th anniversary show. This will also be my first-ever show in the United Kingdom. The V&A is an historic platform, preserving and celebrating art and design in many forms, from many cultures and very often spanning many centuries. I feel fortunate to be included onto V&A’s platform and very much looking forward to the collaboration,” said Guo. Guo Pei has established herself as one of the most inventive designers working today. Showcasing the finest of traditional Chinese craftsmanship while incorporating contemporary innovation, her designs take inspiration from myths, legends, religious, architecture, and her… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Guo Pei, Guo Pei London, V&A Museum, Victoria Albert Museum

ARTS & CULTURE

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Experience break dancing like never before this MAy

24/04/2024

By James Banham

Get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of hip hop culture, innovation, and artistry at Breakin’ Convention 2024. An international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, it’ll be taking over Sadler’s Wells in Islington this coming May Bank Holiday. Enthusiastically helmed by the visionary UK hip hop maker and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, this festival has become a beacon for fans and creators of hip hop from around the globe. The excitement is palpable as we gear up for two days packed with jaw-dropping performances, interactive workshops, and live music that promise to electrify the Sadler’s Wells venues on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. With an extraordinary lineup featuring international sensations like Femme Fatale (USA), Sons of Wind (France), and Jinjo crew (South Korea), alongside groundbreaking UK acts such as TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, and When Time Was New, this festival is set to showcase the dynamic and diverse world of hip hop dance theatre. Attendees of all ages can look forward to a vast array of activities including spectacular dance performances, bespoke graffiti workshops, freestyle sessions, and even live DJs sessions that guarantee to keep the energy high and the spirit of hip hop alive throughout the entire building. Not to mention, the festival coincides with the historic moment of breaking becoming an official Olympic sport at the Paris Olympics, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the festivities. Beyond the performances, Breakin’ Convention 2024 invites audiences to engage directly with the hip hop community through unique events such as the Tiny… Read More

Opera Australia orchestrates a new era with Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster

24/04/2024

By James Banham

In a move that marks a significant milestone in its illustrious history, Opera Australia has announced the appointment of the renowned French violinist Matthieu Arama as the new Concertmaster of the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO). This announcement follows an exhaustive global search, culminating in Mr. Arama’s selection, a testament to his extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. Set to join the OAO in August of this year, Arama brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Concertmaster of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, coupled with an impressive track record of performances with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by matthieu arama (@matthieu_arama) Arama’s role will be pivotal in steering the OAO towards achieving artistic brilliance across its broad annual repertoire, which spans over 250 opera, ballet, musical theatre, and concert performances for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. His recent engagements as Guest Concertmaster for Opera Australia on iconic productions such as La Traviata and Swan Lake, alongside The Australian Ballet, and a solo recital featuring opera and ballet excerpts, underscore his extraordinary versatility and musicianship. The enthusiasm within the OAO is palpable, with Acting Concertmaster Huy-Nguen Bui expressing excitement over welcoming Arama to the helm. “The OAO is excited to welcome an exceptional violinist and musician as our new Concertmaster. We look forward to reaching the highest levels of music-making through Mr. Arama’s artistic leadership,” said Bui. This sentiment is echoed by Opera Australia’s CEO Fiona Allan, Artistic Director Jo Davies, The Australian Ballet’s… Read More

Lauren Brincat When Do I Breathe 2024. Performer Jasmin Lancaster. Photographer Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist

Public performance in Randwick Sydney by artist Lauren Brincat

22/04/2024

By James Banham

This week, the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct will experience an exceptional infusion of art and community spirit through a public performance by the celebrated multidisciplinary artist Lauren Brincat. Scheduled for one-night only, on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, Brincat’s performance marks the launch of the new Laneway Art Program. This initiative, commissioned by the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and supported by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities program, seeks to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people navigating the streets and laneways of the Precinct. Brincat, along with Rochelle Haley, another leading Australian artist, has been entrusted with the mission to improve night-time connectivity and comfort within the precinct through performance-based and site-specific artwork. Both artists have engaged directly with health workers in the area to shape their projects, aiming to make the public spaces more welcoming and to strengthen the sense of community, safety, and inclusiveness across the site. The artwork, titled When do I breathe?, is an ambitious collaboration with sound artist Evelyn Ida Morris, UNSW Choral Director Sonia Maddock, and choreographer Charmene Yap. It invites the public to actively participate in shaping new paths across the precinct, offering a unique experience that encompasses three activation sites within the UNSW Kensington and the hospital precinct. The performance, beginning at 5:00 pm on the UNSW Scientia Lawn, is a reflection on the interconnectedness of local communities, especially those separated by differing work shifts and daily rhythms. Aiming to reclaim public space through collective action, When do I breathe? presents an… Read More

Good news for National Gallery London: Eva Gonzalès piece acquired

22/04/2024

By James Banham

On the occasion of the artist’s 177th birthday on Friday 19th April, the National Gallery has acquired La Psyché (The Full-length Mirror), about 1869-70, by Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883) thanks to three generous legacy gifts from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey, Miss Gillian Cleaver, and Ms Sheila Mary Holmes, and the National Gallery Trust. This is the first acquisition by the Gallery of a work by Gonzalès and the second acquisition of its Bicentenary year. La Psyché has not been seen in public for over seventy years and joins only one other painting by her in a UK public collection, The Donkey Ride, about 1880?2, at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Gonzalès is the 20th female artist represented in the National Gallery Collection, marking a significant addition. The story of Gonzalès’s reputation, during and after her life, reflects some of the reasons why women artists are not well represented in the National Gallery. These include being offered fewer opportunities in life and the lack of interest shown, consciously or not, in works by women artists by collectors of the era and onwards, from whose acquisitions the National Gallery’s own collection was assembled. During her lifetime Gonzalès was an established artist who exhibited multiple times to acclaim at the official Paris Salon. She was the only official pupil of Edouard Manet (1832-83), with whom she studied from 1869. Gonzalès likely painted La Psyché around the same time that Manet was painting his portrait of her, Eva Gonzalès (1870). That work, in the Gallery collection, was the focal point of the recent exhibition, Discover Manet & Eva… Read More

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.