May 2012
23 posts
7 tags
Somewhere you should go... Kona Kai
Live in the capital a good number of years and the hustle and bustle is bound to takes its toll - but new bars like the “Polynesian paradise” Kona Kai could just be what the doctor ordered. This Tiki-inspired newcomer offers an alternative night out in Chelsea, and is the place to go if you’re after chilled vibes, good tunes and some seriously gorgeous cocktails. Favourites on...
8 tags
Somewhere you should go... The Book Club's Jubilee...
We’re just days away from honouring Her Majesty’s 60 year reign, and with that, there’s a host of festivities and celebrations kicking off that’ll no doubt be fit for a Queen. But our personal pick is a boisterous street bash taking place on the East side this coming Sunday, because if anyone remembers the party The Book Club threw last year for Will and Kate last year,...
5 tags
Something you should see... The Forgiveness of...
The Forgiveness of Blood is about revenge, tradition, pride and blood feuds- yes, actual blood feuds- and contrary to what you’re probably thinking, no it isn’t set in the middle ages, but rather in present day Albania. The story follows Nik and Rudina, a brother and sister whose lives are transformed by an escalating land dispute between their father and a neighbour.
When their father is accused...
8 tags
Something you should see… The Suit
Living in London, it’s rare that you feel you’re missing out. Occasionally, you may just wish you were somewhere else, like when your favourite band is on a tour that forgot to include the capital, or when there’s a world-class exhibition happening on the other side of the Atlantic which has no intention of transferring. Thankfully, that feeling is rare; indeed the mountain comes to...
16 tags
Something you should see...Barbaric Genius
The life of a former alcoholic street thief turned chess champ (and eventually author) is the subject of this fly-on-the-wall documentary, shedding light onto John Healy’s tumultuous early years in the ‘60s. Paul Duane, director-storyteller of this feature film seeks to depict an eccentric by picking up excerpts from Healy’s autobiography The Grass Arena (1988) as well as recent footage of the...
6 tags
Somewhere you should go... Hackney Homemade Market
Here at TCé, there is nothing that warms our cockles more than a sprinkle of entrepreneurial spirit mixed with a dollop of creativity. Thatâs why we are big fans of Hackney Homemade Market, taking place every Saturday in the verdant grounds of St Johnâs Church opposite Hackney Central Station.
Providing a refreshing alternative to the overcrowded walkway of Broadway market and the hustle and...
7 tags
Somewhere you should eat... Cinnamon Soho
One of the very first restaurants I wrote about when I started the TwelvePointFive blog was The Cinnamon Club, chef Vivek Singh’s magnificent haute Indian in Westminster. Since then I’ve eaten out countless times and that meal still stands out in my mind as being one of the best.
Expectations were understandably high then when I went along to try out Cinnamon Soho, the second,...
4 tags
Something you should do... Rollerski
If you ever thought about hitting the slopes in Europe one day, but might have a slight aversion to the cold (raises hands), you might want to get your head around the idea of skiing - on wheels. Rollersking is the cross-country equivalent of the sport minus the snow, and goes back as far as the 1950’s, when competitors needed an alternative way to train in the summer. Nowadays, you’ll...
7 tags
Something you should see... Ethometric Museum
Seeing as we like the weird and the wonderful things that crop up in town, it took little convincing to spread the word about Etnometric Museum, a unique, immersive experience at Battersea Arts Centre where science meets theatre.  Hailed at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the performance sees attendees introduced to a peculiar collection of “ethometric” devices  - known for the...
7 tags
Something you should do... rollerski
If you ever thought about hitting the slopes in Europe one day, but might have a slight aversion to the cold (raises hands), you might want to get your head around the idea of skiing - on wheels. Rollersking is the cross-country equivalent of the sport minus the snow, and goes back as far as the 1950’s, when competitors needed an alternative way to train in the summer. Nowadays, you’ll...
6 tags
How to be a tourist in London for less
As we know, London is not famed for being the most economical city to live in or visit, making it inevitable to be caught in the catch 22 of seeing the sites and trying not to go bankrupt. So what’s the secret to enjoying the capital on the cheap? We’re all for saving money and exploring the city on a different kilt here at TCé, so you might want to incorporate some of these tips for getting...
7 tags
Somewhere you should go... The Grant Museum of...
If you’re interested in the animal kingdom, then chances are you’re already familiar with West London’s wonderfully impressive Natural History Museum. However, if you have time to spare, then we also highly recommend a visit to the lesser known Grant Museum of Zoology near Euston Station, open 1 - 5pm Monday to Friday. It’s a bit of an obscure gem.
Part of University College London and founded...
8 tags
Somewhere you should eat... MEATmarket
The speedy success of the MEAT empire feels like the archetypal American dream story, only in burger form. Owner Yianni started out selling burgers in Peckham from a roadside food van. It was unceremoniously named Meatwagon, but popular, so much so that it evolved into Meateasy, a pop-up in an old pub in New Cross. Meateasy sold the kinds of burgers that draw the kinds of crowds only hyped up...
7 tags
Somewhere you should go... Filmbar70 at Roxy Bar &...
Who can imagine more natural bedfellows than a comfy sofa, a classic cult film and a glass of something boozy? Well we can’t and that’s why we are drawing your attention to this great new series at the Roxy Bar & Screen. Filmbar70 will be taking over the speakeasy style back room at The Roxy to win you over to their way of thinking: that the 70’s was the golden era of...
9 tags
Something you should see... Babel
It’s easy to see how the biblical account of Babel can inspire writers, with its theme of a united humanity that’s bound by a single language, vision, journey - and put in the context of a multicultural city like London, the idea of this utopia can really get you thinking. Many people from all walks of life live in the capital, but what does it take for us to be truly connected with...
7 tags
Something you should do... go travelling in India
In February, TCé contributor Flora Baker left the Big Smoke in search of fun and adventures in India. She’s been documenting her trip on site www.thirtyonedistant.wordpress.com, and below are snippets from our favourite posts so far:
An Indian Introduction - March 5th, 2012
On the morning of my 24th birthday, I awoke to red ants crawling in my toothpaste and a broken toilet seat. I...
9 tags
Somewhere you should go... Maltby Street market
Borough market on a Saturday has gone from being a Londoner’s haunt to a tourist destination in its own right, up there with the London Dungeon and HMS Belfast. As good as it is, its popularity means the market can be overwhelmingly full come lunchtime. Luckily, for those craving the ethos and artisan quality of Borough without the scale and the crowds, there is a nearby alternative: Maltby Street...
7 tags
Somewhere you should eat... Pho
The constantly evolving culinary landscape in the capital means you can now expect to see easy dining outlets that specialise in unique international cuisine once the preserve of those-in-the-know - ahem, Mexican - but now it seems Vietnamese food is happily making the rounds, with Pho now operating in six locations in the UK. With a heart for simple and nutritious street food, Pho first landed...
9 tags
Something you should see... Gary Taxali at The...
Gary Taxali may have won over 500 industry awards (including a Grammy!) and be a household name in North America but since this is his first UK solo show, you will be forgiven for not having heard this Canadian artist’s name being bandied around local art circles before. But from the looks of this exhibition, TCé is pretty certain he will be getting the attention he deserves over here too.
...
10 tags
Somewhere you should go... Afrobeats Music...
Back in the 70s when the legendary Fela Kuti had the genius idea of combining traditional Yoruba music with funk, jazz and highlife, it wasn’t long before “afrobeat” crossed over and set the legend on course to becoming one of the greatest musical exports to come out of the continent. Fast forward over 40 years and it looks like a new generation of African artists are reviving...
8 tags
Something you should do... visit Paris (on the...
With a whole bunch of Bank Holidays on the way, a quick trip to Paris to enjoy great food, arts and architecture might just be the mini-break you need. Writer Ena Miller tells The Cultural Exposé about her adventure to the City of Love and how she did it on the cheap….
London to Paris, Paris to London. All for £69 with Eurostar.
A casual Skype chat turned into booking-a-holiday-chat. I...
8 tags
Somewhere you should eat... The Hunter S Pub
With Dalston firmly established in its rep as the hipster region of the East End, it’s not surprising that a quirky new kid on the block like The Hunter S would set up shop in the area, hoping to match the popularity of Victoria Park Road’s Hemingway (the same guys are behind both) but overall, be a very good gastropub. The stylish and curious decor declares Hunter’s bold...
6 tags
Somewhere you should go... The London...
Organiser Sean Flowerdrew might just be realising his dream - making The London International Ska Festival an annual affair. Now in its 3rd year and picking up momentum as it goes, the event has outgrown its Clapham venue and moved to pastures new, north of the river, perfectly filling the gapping hole the 23 year hiatus of the music has left behind.
Like the past two years, there are a huge...
