What to do in London - The Cultural Exposé

As spring starts to emerge,  there’s now more of a reason to reconnect with mother nature and consider green living - so expect a little help from Spitalfields’ new Keen Green and Ethical Trade market.

Trading every Tuesday and Wednesday, the weekly market - which has been touring the country since 2007 and now makes its way to London - encourages practical energy and money-saving, offering eco-friendly inventions and initiatives to help you along to way. Fresh food and eco-fashion is also available (you could be rocking a recycled tyre on your arm!), while there’s homegrown arts, crafts & home furnishings and unique wares from Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, and South America. There’s also a chance to support Cambodian welfare projects with your purchase, so pop round the next time you’re in the city, as it’s a great opportunity to make a difference and maintain a greener peace of mind.

Here’s what you can expect from the market (as listed on the website):

• A commitment to sustainability within local communities
• Local and regional eco-friendly initiatives
• Healthy, informed eating through clearly traceable ingredients
• A buy local policy – we ask that our hot food stalls buy their ingredients locally
• Ethical trading policies both at home and abroad
• Focus on small business at home and among developing nations
• Eco-friendly practices
• Recycling
• Plastic bag free environment
• Product background information indicating value and validity
• Promotion of ‘traditional’ arts, crafts, clothing, jewellery, food and drink

For more info, visit www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk

Original Article

Although it was purely a coincidence that I arranged to have lunch at Yauatcha on the day when all of nearby Chinatown was celebrating Chinese New Year, it felt rather fitting that I should be eating there on a day when all thoughts were on new beginnings.

I’d been to Soho’s swankiest dim sum restaurant before, on a couple of occasions, but due to no fault of theirs always left with a sense of melancholy; I won’t labour the point but let’s just say unrequited romance was involved and I’d come to feel that Yauatcha and I were jinxed. This time I was with my purely-platonic pal Eliot, so there was no danger of me leaving with a heavy heart, and could appraise the experience rather less partially than on my previous visits.

Opened by uber-restaurateur Alan Yau - he of Wagamama and Busaba fame, as well as Hakkasan and Sake No Hana - in 2004, Yauatcha is a sleek, sprawling two-floor space designed by French king of cool Christian Liaigre. The ground floor tea room (although to call it such is rather like calling Harrods a corner shop) is a light, bright room done out in minimalist grey and black with accents of blue including the glass front wall; downstairs is a dark, sexy jewel-coloured dining room with acres of lacquer and a twinkling ceiling. We were seated in the former; the unsuitability of the low-slung seating for two chaps both 6’3” and over is all I can find to fault about the design…

…To read the rest, click here to visit Hugh Wright’s blog, Twelvepointfivepercent.com - London Restaurant Reviews Of Real Discretion. 

Follow Hugh on Twitter: @HRWright

Original Article

When it comes to Drake, critics like to focus on the 25-year-old Canadian’s excessive compulsion to over-sentimentalise his rapid flight to fame and the many women he’s slept with (plus the ones who got away), often disregarding that it takes a certain kind of man to present all that mushy stuff in the guise of hip-hop and get away with it.

Pulling in lady fans to score two UK gold and US platinum albums, that’s easy enough (he’s a looker) but the fact men adore the former child actor just as much, if not more, makes Drake the sort of clever conundrum that could remedy the many faux pas hip-hop has willingly entertained over the last 20 years. He’ll say himself that he’s more concerned with reckless good times, than thuggish bravado, welcoming tonight’s sold out crowd to “the greatest fucking club in the world, club paradise” - and for at least 90 minutes, he pulls off one heck of a party.

It’s not an easy job either, as he’s joined only by a six-piece band, a few visuals, and a humble light show (and not even an outfit change). However, he runs laps along the O2 stage as track after track from his latest album Take Care crash brilliantly around the arena, like  ‘Under Ground Kings’.   ”I bet we can make tonight the greatest story ever told, cause I’m down to spend whatever, lately I’ve been on a roll!” yells the rapper as the crowd effortlessly screams along.

Other big hitters like ‘Headlines’ and ‘Over’ - where urgent, grandiose beats meet his hooky, monotonous flow - also light up the proceedings, and even when he goes into R&B mode à la Craig David and delivers the emo-ballad ‘Marvin’s Room’, he’s still winning.  That is, until a knucklehead thuggishness makes an appearance by way of his excessive use of the N-word (“Tonight we’re gonna let it slide,” he smiles) and references to “bustin pussy” sound way too wrong to be consensual.

Perhaps his mentor Lil Wayne is to blame for gutter moments, coming off a bit try-hard for a guy named Aubrey who hails from the land of Celine Dion and takes every possible gap to gush about how much he loves his fans. But as far as hip-hop shows go, Drake does a good job in showing he’s earned the hype, and with a heartfelt approach to the genre that’s tougher than you’d imagine. (Words: Matilda Egere-Cooper) 

Original Article

Those up for adrenaline-tinged entertainment might want to visit this year’s CircusFest. Following success in 2007 and 2010, CircusFest 2012 may prove to be the most exciting of the trio as it aims to bring together global circus performers in a range of diverse acts, blending various forms of circus-related art in a five-week extravaganza.

Starting from March 28th, The Roundhouse will be featuring major premiering performances in their main space, and audiences can join the ranks as circus performances are brought to a whole new level. In Il Pixel Rosso: The Great Spavaldos, audience members (two at a time) are taken on a video-powered journey into a flying-trapeze double act’s hidden history. One can even learn trapeze skills from experts in the Roundhouse car park.

Professor Vanessa’s Wondershow is also opened for the first time at CircusFest: a green space turned into a vintage circus (dating back to the ‘30s and ‘50s) where one can marvel  at a number of awesome spectacles.  The professor is also the director of the Sheffield National Fairground Archive and the world’s leading expert on circus history, so you’re guaranteed to experience the golden age of the circus with original sideshows, aerial performances, contemporary cabaret, a promenade experience studded with headless women, an insect circus and Electra – the 27,000-volted woman.

Equally stimulating for the less sensational-inclined are film screenings, a photographic exhibition by Phil Fisk and talks with Vanessa Toulmin and John Paul Zaccarini, leading rope artist and circus director. (Words: Li Yin Soh) 

CircusFest 2012 is at the Roundhouse from 28th March to 29th April 2012. Click here for more information.

Original Article

In a nutshell… Once a dead-end place where you wouldn’t want to hang out at night, Finsbury Park has undergone a pleasant change in the last decade and as a result has become a rather nice place to be… if you know where to go. The transport hub on Seven Sisters Road may not be the most lighthearted of spots but get onto Stroud Green or Blackstock Road and there are some interesting things happening. The different cultures living in the area make for an excellent mix of smells, sounds and sights. Also home to the mighty Arsenal , Finsbury Park is good mix of proper North London and a bit of bohemia.

If you have a couple of hours… If the suns out, you can’t miss the 115 acres of park and maybe take a turn on the boating lake (rowing boats for hire in the summer months). Next the Stroud Green Road offers excellent refreshment opportunities and the variety on offer is for all tastes and pocket depths. The Korean Dotori and Season Kitchen and Dining room mark a slight upmarket turn for the area whilst long-term favourites such as Jai Krishna (the BEST vegetarian South Indian Restaurant in London- Bring Your Own Bottle) keep eating very affordable. On a back street you will find the unusual old world sports pub, The Faltering Fullback (don’t worry I’m never usually taken by the word ‘sport’ and ‘pub’ in the same sentence - but the decor is old school and interesting, check it out). If you have time, Rowans Tenpin Bowl will provide wholesome family fun or take a wonder down Blackstock Road (a Stoke Newington Church Street in the making perhaps?) in search of that first edition in a second-hand book shop or an original art deco table.

Don’t Even… Go there on a match day (unless you’re intending to go to the football that is). Streets are crowded, Tubes are sweaty and the pubs are heaving with red shirts. It’s no place for a hip and arty urban adventurer! (Words: Laura Thornley) 

Original Article

The director/brother combo of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have created a film I would describe as very… ‘French’. In this context, it means a film that is wonderfully dissimilar to the Hollywood approach to story-telling. It also means a film based in reality, which has been shot simply and beautifully.

This is the story of Cyril, a twelve-year-old boy abandoned by his father in an orphanage. On impulse Cyril asks Samantha, a woman who kindly restores his bike to him, if he can stay with her on the weekends and Samantha agrees. However, distraught by the rejection of his father,  Cyril turns from Samantha to those who are affectionate only as a means of manipulating him.  The frightening question of this film is whether Cyril will not only destroy Samantha’s love for him but himself.

The Dardenne brothers have an incredible skill for summarising a complex situation in a few seconds. A prime example of this is the opening scene where Cyril is on the telephone dialling and redialling his father’s now disconnected number. That kind of image plunges you right into the heart of the matter, however, much of the film is not as forthcoming. The motivations of Samantha and Cyril’s father are purposely subterranean leaving much open to your own interpretation and this is where the power of the film lies. It invites you to become involved and form your own understanding rather than telling you what to think.

A Kid With A Bike is a testament to those few and extraordinary people with an exceptional capacity for love and it’s difficult not to be moved by that. (Words: Beth Downey)

In cinemas

Original Article

Visit any circus worth its big tops and you’ll usually be wowed by the trapeze acts - the swinging stars who perform breath-taking acrobatic stunts mid-air (and from the looks of things, probably pay a steep premium on life insurance).  So when offered the chance to have a go by an organisation called Gorilla Circus,  I’d been assured repeatedly there was a net…  and despite my warnings of  having no flexibility, balance or coordination, the instructors  insisted they’d look after me;  I’m told their oldest flyer so far was 78 so I should really stop being a wimp!

GC  provides flying trapeze classes to the general public and you can sign up for just a taster lesson or even a full course if you really want to learn the basic moves and get the chance to progress further. The class begins on the ground where you can practice the simple trick on a low bar, before it’s time to climb the ladder and get ready to fly! As a total beginner I hoped my yoga practice would help me out but all thoughts go out of your head when you’re actually swinging through the air attached to a few ropes. Despite my  lack of ability (I blame my family - none of us are sporty) if you are able to grasp the basic moves you can move on to letting one of the instructors catch you, which the majority of my class were able to do.  It all provides for a great atmosphere to see people progress so quickly in a 2 hour class (maximum 10 people) and able to leave performing these fantastic stunts.

Despite my lack of skills, Gorilla Circus offers a great time, allowing you to try something most people have always wanted to try when they were first taken to the circus as a little kid and never thought they would get the chance to do. And to really get that ‘I’m a bird’ feeling, the circus operates outside in locations such as Regents Park but they use venues all over London such as Greenwich and Camden from  May until September. Prices are £22.50 for a taster and £24 for a 2 class.

Visit gorillacircus.com for more information and to book a class. (Words: Lucy Palmer, Extra editing: Matilda Egere-Cooper) 

Original Article

In a year that even Hollywood bowed before the exquisite artistry of French Cinema –with The Artist receiving five Oscars and legendary filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen delivering their own cinematic love letters to Paris -  the Rendez-vous with French Cinema should not be missed by any self-respecting film lover. From March 21st to 24th,   this charmingly titled fest will showcase eight eagerly awaited French films in four of the most loved film venues in London: Ciné Lumière, Curzon Soho, Curzon Mayfair and The Clapham Picture House.

Keeping in line with the currently popular theme of nostalgia, the opening film of the festival follows the romantic adventures of a mother and a daughter from Paris in the sixties to London’s modern days. Directed by Christophe Honoré with an all-star international cast that includes French idol Catherine Deneuve , Parks and Recreation alumni Paul Schneider and Czech director Milos Forman, Beloved sways through romance and drama with the characters intermittently bursting into songs.

Two other highlights of the festival also revolve around the idea of l’amour fou. Goodbye First Love, which has already been screened in some of the biggest film festivals in the world, tells a heartfelt tale of teenage love, while Delicacy is a romantic dramedy about a workaholic widow who is courted by a Swedish co-worker, starring the always lovable Audrey Tautou.

Moving away from romantic films, there is Olivier Marchal’s (creator of the hit TV cop drama Braquo) intense gangster film with the apt title A Gang Story. Finally, parents and children alike will definitely be enchanted by Tales of the Night, the latest film from celebrated French animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress).

Add to this eclectic mixture of films, some exciting Q&A sessions with A-list talents such as Deneuve and A Prophet’s wonderful star Tahar Rahim, as well as a number of intriguing after screening events like a Norman nautical party, and you have five genuinely “jours de fête” as our Gallic friends would say. (Words: Apostolos Kostoulas)

For more info about screenings, visit the links below: 

Institut Francais (March 21-23rd)

Curzon Soho and Mayfair (March 21-24th)

The Clapham Picture House (March 24th)

Original Article

A bit like the Royal Variety Show, but without your Royal Majesty  sitting in a crown and a gown, DONG is the night where comedians, dancers, DJs and hip-hop karaoke merge to create a delicious mash-up of all things fun and glorious. It only happens every two months and it doesn’t look like it’s one to be missed…

Rich Mix will be hosting the event featuring  comedian Fergus Craig, from the BBC sketch show Sorry, I’ve Got No Head and Rahzel-inspired Beardyman, a double UK Beatbox champion and vocalist extraordinaire who has previously collaborated with Foreign Beggars and Fatboy Slim.

The absence of the Queen at this show will be eased with Mr. B Gentleman Rhymer, a “chap-hop” rapper who waxes lyrical about cricket, banjo-playing, pipe-smoking and all things genteel, with a mission to introduce the Queen’s English into hip-hop. Whether he will accomplish his mission and impress the deep, dark depths of east London will be intriguing to see and hear.

Doc Brown will also be showcasing some of his down-to-Earth rap comedy, “I got a flash car… a Vauxhall Astra”. Videos found on YouTube of his acts show that his smooth delivery and surprising punch lines will almost guarantee some belly laughs and wry smiles. Who knew hip-hop could be so funny?

Elsewhere on the bill, comedian Cariad Lloyd, usually performing with her various alter egos, will be delivering a set and rap star wannabes will finish off the night in classic DONG style with a hip-hop karaoke session. Great night, guaranteed we thinks.  (Words: Lamiat Sabin) 

Original Article

Once Upon A Time In Anatolia, the latest film from Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and joint winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes last year, will be an exercise in patience for the average cinema-goer.  At 157 minutes long, ‘slow burner’ only partially conveys the way the film lingers in the moment - think Lost in Translation minus the action, and you’re halfway there - but this contemplative drama veers away from pretentious self-indulgence; stick with it, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded for your patience.

Mood most certainly takes supremacy over plot here. A killer captured by the police, is leading a search party of officials including the chief of police, prosecutor and the local doctor, through the bleak hills of Anatolia, looking for the place where the body is buried. Ostensibly it turns into a night-long goose chase, beset by false leads, a reluctant murderer and weary officials.

Athough it’s based on a true story, the plot almost feels secondary, because Once Upon a Time In Anatolia is as far away from murder mystery as CSI is from rom-com. Set at night, amongst the moody backdrop of the steppes, Ceylan’s film broods with tension, not from the recent murder but from the feeling that each man is keeping something back. Snippets of dialogue, seemingly banal small talk as we watch, unfurl into portents of underlying turmoil as the film progresses, ensuring that viewers are compelled to imbue these little moments with meaning. When the beautiful daughter of a village elder serves each man coffee after dinner, the reactions garnered appear to mirror those inner lives, from the prisoner who looks at her with amazement and gratitude, to the prosecutor, whose imploring look of recognition leaves the audience wondering. With no protagonist revealed until the final twenty minutes, this feeling, that everything and nothing is significant, is compounded further.

If this all sounds horribly worthy then relax; there are perfectly pitched, if rare, moments of humour. Ceylan is a deft hand, leavening even the most grim of scenes with humour that seems utterly believable - the prosecutor’s lackadaisical approach to procedure when the body is found, being one such scene. The excellent cinematography (the candle-lit dinner scenes are reminiscent of a Renaissance painting) makes this a beautiful film to watch too. This may not be one for popcorn hounds, but if you can handle the (slow) pace, you’re onto a gem. (Words: Jane Duru) 

Original Article

Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good full English fry-up on a Sunday but if you’re looking for something a bit different or unique, how does a soul food brunch with gospel singers inspiring you with a side of ribs sound?

At Altitude 360, a bar and restaurant with the best view of the London skyline, the London Community Gospel choir can be found performing every Sunday until December. Based on the 29^th floor of Millbank tower, the panoramic view takes in the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, the river Thames and more, giving diner’s undoubtedly one of the best views you’ll find in central London. Combined with the American style soul food, the whole atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve been transported to New York.

And the food is good, with classic soul food including cornbread and ribs alongside the American breakfast dishes of French toast and waffles best washed down with a bloody mary and a coffee. Leave some room for some desserts too (you know it’s what America does best) and with cheesecakes, brownies and ice cream sundaes, you’ll be grateful they encourage the use of doggy bags so you can take the generous portions home with you for later.

The gospel brunch takes place every Sunday between 11am and 3pm, to make a reservation call 020 7592 7618 or email reservations.team@altitudelondon.com £49 per person.

Original Article

Happy Birthday to The Bush Theatre! Established in 1972, The Bush doesn’t let a little thing like 40 years slow it down because, as we all know, there are benefits that come with age. When you get glammed up for a night out with this middled-aged wonder you don’t just get one experience -  oh no, you get three.

Number one is the theatre itself, an intimate space where the best new talent in playwriting is offered up for your enjoyment. And when I say the best, I mean it; the folks at The Bush are sent over 1000 scripts a year and read every one of them. With so many writers clamouring to be produced it is you, the audience, who ends up absolutely spoilt for choice.

Next we have the bar, which provides a relaxed scene where you can indulge in pre-drinks and post-show chat. The staff are friendly and well-versed in ‘what’s on’ at the theatre and - most importantly if you enjoy a night out on the cheap like me -  the drinks are reasonably priced and the snacks delicious.

Completing our hat-trick is the library; a big room just off the main entrance, crammed with mismatched tables and arm-chairs and bookshelf upon bookshelf of plays. There is everything to suit your tastes from well-known classics to modern niche scripts and as The Bush opens early and closes late you’re left plenty of time to grab a coffee, snuggle down into a chair and peruse at your leisure.

Tickets range from £10- £20 with discounts for nearly everyone including young, old and local. For more information and bookings go to: www.bushtheatre.co.uk (Words: Beth Downey) 

Original Article

Have you ever wished you were born in a different era? Are you anti social networking, but pro-smooth suits and snappy fedora hats? Do you attempt to play life out as a romantic vintage fantasy against the odds?

Then you’re probably the type of person for who The Black Cotton Club - a swinging night of hot jazz from the ‘20s to the ‘40s - was created. It’s strictly a dress-up-and-dance-night, so ensure to don your best vintage clobber before you boogie on down to rare swing and rhythm’n’blues music, played on original 78 records. And not only that: if you attend the next monthly night, you’ll also witness retro jive band Sugar Floor Stomp honking their horns and plucking their cellos to their seedy swing sounds until the early hours.

In the age of depersonalised superstar DJ clubs, places such as The Black Cotton Club are a genuine breath of fresh air. So get down to Volupté burlesque club on the 17^th to soak up the fun and sleazy prohibition era atmosphere. Flapper dresses at the ready! (Words: Aoife Moriarty)

For more information, go to the Lady Luck website: www.ladyluckclub.co.uk

Original Article

If you don’t already know about Wilton’s, then you’re in for a very lovely treat because there’s nothing like discovering the legendary Music Hall for the very first time, lurking at the end of a concrete alleyway, as you wind your way down the maze of East London’s unassuming back streets.

The music hall is the oldest in Europe and it shows: dilapidated charm is the name of the game here, with crumbling walls, faded grandeur and a sense of old world style, so the incongruous staging of a table tennis tournament in this hallowed hall has more than a touch of the surreal about it. But on March 31st, Wilton’s will once again (for the fifth time) play host to a Ping Pong tournament pitting London’s finest against one other, in the hopes of winning nothing but the fleeting adoration of a boisterous crowd. Those with their eyes on the prize need to get registered sharpish as sign up has opened and costs £5 - otherwise there’ll be a waiting list on the night in case of drop-outs. Those more suited to the role of baying spectator get free entry.

Wilton’s is in dire need of funds to keep it open, but the great thing about a night there is that you’ll have a good time AND feel like you’re a true patron of the arts, supporting a great London institution. (Words: Jane Duru)

For more info, visit http://www.wiltons.org.uk/listings/pingpong.html

Original Article

Phrases such as “Broken Britain” and “Euro crisis” have become familiar to us in the news in recent years, so Rich Mix is hosting “The Festival of Dangerous Ideas” to explore these concepts and more, promising a day of discussion, debate, dancing, film making and theatre. Topics debated will range from riots, poetry, art and politics to economics and history, while guests taking part include veteran activist Tony Benn (pictured), Guardian writer Owen Jones and lecturer and author Nina Power.

Just some of the things you can take part in during the day include:

• Guerilla Film Project – make your own film inspired by the topics of the day (shooting, editing and watching the finished product all take place on the one day so there will be no time for sitting in your director’s chair!)

•  Theatre of the Oppressed – Come and solve society’s problems in this interactive and innovative theatre workshop (or at least have fun trying to come up with a solution!).

•  Why Is It All Kicking off Everywhere? Come and hear BBC Newsnight’s Economics Editor talk about riots, rebellions, revolt and why the gap between those with money and those without is getting bigger.

•  Art Belongs on the Streets – Take part in a submersive art and poetry experience

•  The Writing on the Wall – Take a musical meander with folk singer Roy Bailey who takes inspiration from politics, socialism and more. DJs such as the Asian Dub Foundation will finish the night with hip hop, dub and electronica sets

The Festival of Dangerous Ideas takes place on Saturday 17^th March from 10am-1am at Rich Mix. More information can be found here: http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-festival-of-dangerous-ideas/ (Words: Clare Ebberson)

Original Article

Italy’s economy may be suffering at the moment, but it appears that its film industry is going for strength to strength. Now in its second year and under the new title ‘Cinema Made in Italy’, this Italian film festival in London showcases the latest Pasolini’s in the making. The festival is split into two sections, the first part (9-15 March) kicks off with the screening of 13 brand new films at Cine Lumiere, SW7. The screenings will include Q&A’s from directors and actors, which in the previous year included the likes of Toni and Peppe Servillo (of Gomorrah and Il Divo fame) and award winning director Stefano Incerti - and this year the festival promises an even more impressive guest line-up. The films being shown have been hand selected by no other than Paolo Mereghetti, head film honcho at Corriere della Sera (Italy’s top daily newspaper) and by Film London’s Chief Executive Adrian Wootton - which pretty much guarantees their quality. If you need more convincing though, many of the films have won awards across the festival circuit too.

Later in the month the festival takes on a sporting theme  screening new Italian films that take this angle, to help give food for thought to the coming Olympic summer in the capital. There will also be a commemorative section of the festival dedicated to the life and works of director and screenwriter Vittorio De Seta, widely considered one of Italy’s best and was sadly lost November last year. The festival wouldn’t be truly Italian if it didn’t include some foodie delights though and right on cue there will be gastronomic refreshments to sample alongside the screenings. Who could ask for more?  (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info visit www.institut-francais.org.uk/films/cinema-made-in-italy

Original Article

Now here’s a concept we like: pub cinema. Enjoying an alcoholic beverage on a comfy sofa whilst bathing in the lavish glow of HD projection and surround sound, with other people laughing, gasping and groaning in unison around you as they become progressively more tipsy. Can’t argue with it.

That’s what you’ll find at The Underground Picturehouse at Spitalfield’s The Water Poet during St Patrick’s week as they celebrate Irish film. The popular haunt is really getting into the swing of things with a double bill of nineties classic The Commitments and last year’s Killing Bono on Sunday the 11^th, as well as award winning Brendon Gleeson comedy The Guard on Tuesday the 13^th. Tickets are just £8 for the double bill on Sunday and £5 for Tuesday.

Watch out too for a young Andrea Corr of The Corrs fame with a small speaking part in The Commitments, the film that launched a whole generation of Irish actors and musicians and won a BAFTA for Best Film and Best Direction.

To be sure to be sure, top of the err, evening to you and all those other things that Irish people don’t actually say. Go grab yourself a Guinness and settle down for some quality Irish flicks at the end of the East end rainbow. (Words: Aoife Moriarty)

For more information, go to www.waterpoet.co.uk 

Original Article

Some Asian film industries rule their continent, like India, which produces over a 1,000 films a year – 200 more than Hollywood – but  film from countries such as Vietnam or Indonesia barely register on the cinematic map.

And whilst many mainstream Bollywood films make it to London multiplexes, films from creative film talents in other parts of Asia and the Middle East more often than not don’t ever make it to these shores.

That’s why the Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival – from March 9th - 18th – will be showcasing award-winning films from countries including Iran, Kazakhstan, Tibet, Taiwan and South Korea. The lively programme features a diverse range of genres, from drama and comedy to romance and adventure, and there will be a number of Q&A sessions with cast and crew to coincide with the screenings.

Highlights of the fest include Starry Starry Night from Hong Kong (which visually, takes inspiration from  Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night),  The Tibetan The Sun Beaten Path which follows a young man’s journey from Lhasa to his home in a remote part of the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau and 11th Flower - a heart-warming, semi-autobiographical story set in the latter days of the Cultural Revolution and wraps up the festivities on March 18th.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to gain unique access and insight into life across the diverse cultures and countries of the Asian continent. Not to mention witness some exciting new filmmaking talent. (Words: Aoife Moriarty) 

For more info visit: http://asiahouse.org/arts-and-culture/pan-asia-film-festival/2012-festival-programme

Original Article

March 8th sees The Book Club pay tribute to Mod culture, with a night of vintage tunes and a screening of Dean Chalkley’s The New Faces.

The late 1950s and early 60s Mod movement saw a wave of British youngsters embrace African-American soul and blues music, and styling themselves in sharp suits and angular shift dresses. But the subjects of photographer Chalkley’s short film are a gang of youthful 20-somethings who have bought Mod culture into the 21^st century with a studied authenticity and photogenic panache. Chalkley first noticed the groovy crew swinging away at his DJ night Shake!, and was intrigued by their dapper style and slick dance moves. United by their love of the music and style of Mod culture, the gang were first shot by Chalkley back in 2010 and became the focus of his photographic exhibition at The Book Club. Chalkley was unsure what to call the show but it was the Modfather himself Paul Weller, who suggested the name The New Faces.

Now Chalkley returns to TBC to screen a 20-minute film all about his favourite new Mods. The screening promises to be an “hypnotic visual experience”, as well as a cultural document of the enduring Mod movement. But the celebrations don’t end there, as Chalkley and members of the The New Faces collective will be around to spin a selection of rare soul, rhythm & blues, ska, Latin and boogaloo. And you can be sure to look forward to some nifty dance moves: “You should see them dance,” Chalkley has said of the modern day Mods, “they look good and they’ve got the moves!” No doubt then that The New Faces will have you boogie-ing on down till the early hours of the morning. (Words: Stephanie Soh) 

Entry: Free, 6pm-2am (7:30pm screening). Visit www.wearetbc.com for more info.

Original Article

We owe so much to our mothers. Without them, we wouldn’t have been woken up for school every morning, had a childhood birthday party or ever eaten greens. Of course, we also would not have actually been born, because let’s face it: we all arrived here by a much more painful method than a mere baby-wielding stork.

This year, Mother’s Day takes place on March 18th, a while it’s a somewhat cynical creation of card companies and florists, it’s also a chance to genuinely say ‘thank you’ to mummy dearest for all the long hours she’s put in turning us into the upstanding young characters we are today. Or if we’re not upstanding, for putting up with us just the same and making all those visits to the principal’s office and the jail cell. Thanks mumsies, we really do appreciate it.

If you’re feeling super organised this year, then you might like to attend Drink, Shop & Do’s Mother’s Day Card Making session on March 6th to make a fabulous shoddy handmade card for your own lovely mother ahead of schedule. A nice cocktail and a piece of yummy cake should help the creative juices flow. There’s no doubt she’ll love it - but just don’t blame us when she crowns you ‘the creative, thoughtful one’ and you become her new favourite. (Words: Aoife Moriarty)

For more information, go to Drink, Shop & Do’s website: www.drinkshopdo.com

Original Article

Are you tired of the same old generic ‘Hip-Hop’ events, where the crowd is filled with people who couldn’t tell the difference between Ice-T and Ice Cube? If you are, then Lyricist Lounge could be your salvation. The LL experience can be best described as a combination of 8 Mile meets Gladiator, with its in-your-face rap battles akin to combat. The monthly rap competition and open mic night brings together the best freestylers the UK has to offer, all of whom are battling it out to win the coveted Lyricist Lounge trophy.

Located in the heart of Hoxton, the event takes place in the Macbeth. It’s not the setting you would expect to host such freestyle battles, but the classic-styled themed pub is more than adequate to deal with the crowd this event is now attracting,  who come from all walks of life, with one common denominator - their love of Hip-Hop. Freestyle cyphers are wedged between intermissions to keep the audience energy up, which helps to add to the already vibrant and positive atmosphere. Audience participation is encouraged too, with MC  for the night Leen asking the crowd to throw random words at the participants to rap about, making it more challenging for them.

All in all, it’s a great night, and if  the performances in the Lyricist Lounge are anything to go by, I see big things in store for the UK underground Hip-Hop scene. (Words: Bunmi Adigun)

The next Lyricist Lounge takes place on March 22nd - for more info,visit www.facebook.com/events/302921526433940

Original Article

2012 may not be a vintage year yet, but don’t let that stop you from popping open the cork on some thrifty fashion bargains.

Pop Up Vintage Fairs London host magical monthly vintage fairs in Hampstead Heath, where attending their events is like being the proverbial kid in the candy store.  Prepare to salivate at their unusually wide array of quality retro garb, accessories, homeware and antiques with over 35 different stalls set to peddle their wares.

There will also be live music and a pop-up beauty parlour to help you to get the authentic 1940s starlet look to accompany your new high octane vintage glam. Think Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Liz Taylor. ’50s pinups and ’60s go go girls. Or if you need a quick breather from all the bargains, you can always pop into their charming tea rooms for a sweet slice of red velveteen.

Bring your galpals, boypals or that special someone and try and convince them you need that vintage Chanel bag. Like, really really badly.

Admission to the fair is £3 for adults and £2 for students. Visit the Pop Up Vintage Fairs’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/popupvintagefairs  for more details. (Words: Aoife Moriarty, Pics: stylesight.com) 

Original Article