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 find plenty of urbanites in Hyde Park skating pole to pole, having fun with one of the most unique hobbies worth taking up his summer. 
I joined the Rollerski company on a Thursday evening for a beginners lesson - and soon found out it’s a lot harder than it looks. Once I was fitted with boots, a helmet, elbow and knee pads (which would later be my saving grace), and given a pair of poles and skis, our instructor led the small group through a series of drills and exercises - like the forward-leaning “zombie run” - just to understand how we would need to move when we put on the skis. The rollerskis themselves felt a bit awkward and on the tarmac, it was a little tricky moving along, as well as learning how to stop and turn (unsurprisingly, I fell down five times). Also, it was important that we took our time with the entire process, as it was tempting to just take to the skis and dash off, with little concept of different techniques like double poling, which would later be my favourite. 
Yet after two hours of skating along in different ways - one skate on, no poles, both poles, skating around in a circle, three strides and a roll - the entire group was starting to get it. Of course, we’d need a few more lessons to really get the hang of rollersking, but we definitely proved you can have with with skiing - right on our doorstep. (Words: Matilda Egere-Cooper) For more info, visit www.rollerski.co.uk
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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.
Taxali’s work is instantly familiar, bearing a worn, retro look. He uses found materials as well as inspiration from the 1930s to produce his illustrative pieces of beautifully realised characters - full of innocence and humour. The variety of methods he draws on is astounding, and techniques including screen-printing, oils, inks and pencil drawing all play a part. His graphic and stylish work has not gone unnoticed either by big brands and companies such as Coca Cola and Levis, who’ve employed his skills in a commercial capacity. Not only that, but he sits on the Postal Stamp Advisory Board in his home country of Canada and was even invited to design five coins for the Canadian Mint - now surely that speaks for itself? A show, in a vital art space, worth checking out. (Words: Laura Thornley)
Gary Taxali’s My Feelings Like You exhibition is on at The Outsiders Gallery, 8 Greek Street, Soho W1D 4DG until June 2nd. For more info, visit www.theoutsiders.net
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 the spirit of the genre, but with a reckless twist; instead of the flamboyant tribalism of Kuti’s era, this new brand of afrobeat(s) - african pop music - is fun, flashy and youthful, being led by a gang of sharp-suited, bling-wearing rappers and singers who proudly spit in their mother tongue (and sometimes in autotune). “It’s a good vibe,” says DJ Neptizzle, a Vietnamese DJ who regular spins at afrobeat parties all over Europe. ” It’s almost like how bashment or dancehall was 8 years ago. Everybody can listen to it and they wouldn’t even care (about where the artists are from). It’s dance music, and it’s different.”
Despite Afrobeats going back nearly a decade, 2011 was a massive year for the music in London, following the soldout Afrobeats Festival in the summer - and even US heavyweights were getting in on the act, with Kanye West making a surprise appearance at the show of his new signing, D’Banj, a singer from Nigeria. And now with afrobeats getting playlisted on Radio 1, dances like the “Azonto” catching on and the popular single Oliver Twist getting an official release this month, superfans like Rickie from @AfrobeatsUK believe 2012 will be a massive year for the scene. “People like DJ Abrantee on Choice FM are commercialising afrobeats…and Tim Westwood has started playing afrobeats on his show. There’s been alot of development, with African artists coming over here and selling out…it will become more popular.”
DJ Abrantee hosts the Afrobeats Music Festival at Roundhouse on Sunday, May 6th (followed by Afrobeat Sundays at Proud 2, O2 Arena). For more info, visit www.thecamdencrawl.com/artist/afrobeats)
Having new adventures in London are pretty high on the agenda over at TCé HQ and since we’ve celebrated our 2nd birthday recently (the belated card’s in the post right?) - we thought we would get back to our roots - out exploring the big smoke and burning off the birthday cake. Cue Jonny from Bowl of Chalk: not a street artist adorning the pavements with artwork using the medium of chalk but an urban explorer who employs cockney rhyming slang to describe his weekend activities - a series of informative, fun and friendly walks about a lesser-known London.
I opted to try his St Paul’s Cathedral to Monument tour which is an area packed with history and incident - as well as some funny old English traditions. Without giving too much away, we managed to pack in a high point, a bridge with a difference, Christopher Wren’s house (or is it?), a big puddle, a prostitute’s burial ground, a brush with Keats and sheep herding across London Bridge… just to mention a few! The group was a friendly, intimate mix of Londoners wanting to get to know the city in a different way and have lots of laughs on the way around. Audience participation is encouraged bringing a fresh, personal feel to the walk. This is not your standard walking tour and working on a tipping policy (just pay what you want or can) Jonny isn’t your standard tour operator. So if you’re looking for a friendly way to learn more about London, you need not (walk) further. (Words: Laura Thornley, Pic: bowlofchalk.net)
Just around the corner from one of London’s busiest modern day transport hubs sits a quiet house in a stately street. The old lantern outside the door hints at what lies inside: an historical time capsule that is worlds away from Liverpool Street’s hustle and bustle. Behind its doors, 18 Folgate Street holds an imaginative still-life drama without any visible actors – except for the resident black cat.
Dennis Severs, a Californian obsessed with English history, moved into the property in 1979 and set about restoring each of the ten rooms to represent a different historical period, from the 1700s to the early 20th century. Three generations of the fictitious Jervis family are woven through the portraits and armchairs, bedspreads and knick-knacks that litter the place. But this is not a museum, and its contents aren’t preserved with glass cases or placards. This is a lived in house, whose inhabitants have supposedly just left the room, and their presence can be felt throughout a visit there.
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Payment is taken on the doorstep, along with a finger to the lips and a heartfelt request to be as quiet as possible. Once inside, the candlelight reveals steaming teapots, freshly sliced boiled eggs, half eaten bread on the kitchen table. Tiptoeing past rumpled sheets in the bedrooms and ducking under wet washing hung across the stairwell gives the strong impression you’re trespassing in someone else’s home, but frankly its too fascinating to feel guilty. As the family’s wealth rises and falls throughout the centuries, the quality of their lifestyle changes too; moving further into the house introduces peeling wallpaper, thinner carpets and an accumulation of dust and cobwebs.
The scent of cloves and oranges, the flickering candlelight and an array of background sounds guide your senses in building an image of the unseen inhabitants’ lives, from the clothes they wear to the letters they’ve written. If you’ve ever imagined yourself stepping into a painting, this is the place to experience it for real. (Words: Flora Baker, Pics: Roelof Bakker)
The museum opens every Sunday afternoon & Monday lunchtime and costs £10. For more info, visit www.dennissevershouse.co.uk
David Hockney is undoubtedly one of the best British artists of the 20th century, and has a long established fascination with the depiction of landscapes. Working most recently on huge canvases filled with bright contrasting colours, his work is vibrant, bold and exciting.
Thinking outside the traditional painter’s box, Hockney has been drawing on an iPhone since 2008, eagerly graduating to the iPad in 2010. Using a simple app called Brushes, his initial infatuation with iPhone-drawing was the ability to send finger-drawn images to friends, usually of flowers, or the view from his window. This became an almost daily habit, and led to his recent ‘Fresh Flowers’ exhibit, which involved drawings made on the electronic devices that were projected onto screens.
His latest exhibition, ‘The Bigger Picture’, is comprised of work from the last few years; a range of vivid large-scale paintings inspired by the East Yorkshire landscape and created especially for the Royal Academy. Using a tablet proved invaluable for creating these works, as they are made up of multiple panels, the size of which allow the viewer to really get lost in the scene portrayed. A series of films have also been produced, using 18 cameras and multiple screens set up in the gallery, which will show an artistic journey through the eyes of Hockney himself. It’s a great example of how modern tools and artistry can combine to create new ideas – and, at 74, Hockney also proves that you’re never too old to get to grips with technology. (Words: Flora Baker)
‘David Hockney: A Bigger Picture’ opens at the Royal Academy of Arts runs until April 9th. For more info, visit www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney
Gone are the days when you would hear the words ‘TV serials’, and automatically think of one-dimensional characters and dodgy storylines often involving at least one miracle resurrection. Yes, sadly the soap opera days are a far, soft focus away from the dynamic TV storytelling we are now used to. The likes of Twin Peaks, 24 and The Wire have all made for a film-like experience on our domestic boxes. But naturally, this hasn’t just happened in the US, and proof of this is the Institut Francais’s London Paris TV Festival.
Totally Serialized showcases episodes from the best of what the two countries have to offer. For the UK that means Death In Paradise, Misfits (all-nighter) and This is England ‘88 (naturally) plus Q&A with the cast. The French proffer their star-studded Platane (Vincent Cassel and Monica Belluci) and Braquo, amongst others. There will also be industry talks about how to write for TV and Q&A sessions following the screenings. The event promises to be a real first, dedicated to a newly revamped genre that often looks like and surpasses its film counterparts. And if that doesn’t sway you, then get yourself down there in the name of EU relations. Your countries need you! (Words: Laura Thornley)
The London Paris TV Festival takes place January 19-22. Click here for more info.
In the last few years, the number of places you can go to watch a film has increased beyond the drab concrete walls of a multiplex. Now, you can catch a flick in the friendly atmosphere of the local pub, the luxury of a five-star hotel or the gothic surroundings of the Union Chapel. Such an imaginative choice of locales combined with an eclectic selection of films means there’s more variety for a great night out, so beyond our fave Secret Cinema, here’s 10 alternative film clubs in the capital guaranteed to enrich your cinematic experience.
Silent Cinema
Applying the same ingenious concept that has made Silent Disco such a popular attraction in music festivals across the UK, Silent Cinema (pictured) provides the audience with wireless headphones so that they can relax and watch a film without any unwelcome background noise. Since there’s no noise pollution, screenings are held in unique locations like the Mile End graveyard or a multi –storey car park. Fittingly, the films that are shown are perennial crowd pleasers, like Grease or Invasion of the Body Snatchers that can be frantically enjoyed without any hint of shame. After all in Silent Cinema, no one can hear you scream (or laugh hysterically for that matter) www.silent-cinema.co.uk
Bad Film Club
From complete silence to absolute pandemonium. The Bad Film Club’s (the brainchild of comedy duo Nicko and Joe) main goal is to recreate on a larger scale, that priceless living room atmosphere of watching a god-awful film with friends. Sneers and jeers then are not frowned upon during screenings but greatly encouraged creating a unique interactive cinema experience that becomes even more genial thanks to a live DVD style commentary provided by Nicko and Joe, often joined by special guests. From big-budget Hollywood flops like Pearl Harbour to direct-to video sequels like Shark Attack 3, the Bad Film Club covers a great range of cinematic travesties, obeying only one rule: Films must be produced after 1975 as, according to the comedy duo, this is the “should know better” cut-off point. Celebrated surrealist writer and filmmaker Ado Kyrou once said that “Learn to see the worst films… they are sometimes sublime.” Sure, but they are also really damn funny. www.badfilmclub.com
Close-Up
For people with more “elitist” taste in films, Close Up offers a fascinating trip to the challenging but ultimately beautiful moving images of the avant-garde and experimental cinema. In addition to monthly retrospectives of the oeuvre of renowned auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard and David Lynch, Close Up also introduces us to the work of less known but equally adventurous filmmakers like Aphichatpong Weerasethakul, whose films was screened last November. For anyone interested in delving deeper into the vaults of film culture and history there is also a library collection of over 14,000 titles that includes rare titles from the early ages of cinema as well as obscure experimental films. Screenings take place at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club and the cost of admission for non members is £5 (screenings are free for members). www.closeupfilmcentre.com (44 Pollard Row, London E2 6NB, Closest tube: Bethnal Green)
Whirled Cinema
Whirled is unfortunately one of the very few cinemas in London that promote foreign and independent films. In a small but elegant auditorium, film lovers can enjoy an eclectic list of cinematic titles that usually have received a short showing in British cinemas. A great opportunity then to discover contemporary cinematic treasures on the big screen before they are released on DVD. Films are screened every Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening, only for members who can bring along one guest. www.whirledart.co.uk/cinema (259-260 Hardess St Loughborough Junction, SE24 OHN, Closest train station: Loughborough Junction)
Roxy Bar & Screen
While live music shows and sports evenings are still the principal events that accompany a drink at a pub, lately, bars have started to organize more and more special film screenings, and in the case of Roxy Bar the diversity of films shown is pretty impressive. From releases like The Tree of Life and Bridemaids to horror double bills and cult Japanese films it is difficult to find a genre that it is not covered. Add to this a regular Film &TV quiz that offer cash prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd place and Roxy may well become your favourite film venue. Film screenings take place in the back area of the venue Sun-Weds.www.roxybarandscreen.com (128-132 Borough High St London, SE1 1LB, Closest tube: Borough)
Moors Bar
Moors offers another example to support the theory that bars are quickly becoming alternative film venues. The main attraction of this North London bar for film enthusiasts is the Feast on Film monthly event that gives the opportunity to aspiring directors to present their short films to an audience. In addition to this, by showcasing little known feature films (black comedy The Honey Killer is a highlight among this month’s screenings) Moors offers in significant doses one of the purest joys that film buffs so vigorously seek - the discovery of an emerging filmmaking talent. Feast on Film is held on the third Wednesday of every month. www.moorsbar.com/film (57 Park Road, Crouch End N8 8SY, Closest train station: Hornsey Rail )
Firmdale Hotels Weekend Film Club
An ideal Saturday night often does not need anything more than a dinner at a fine restaurant, a few drinks in a cosy bar and a nice film. Firmdale Weekend Film Club offers the enticing option of enjoying all three of those in a luxurious hotel. In a beautifully designed screening room you can watch an eclectic list of film titles, like Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. It is the screening of indisputable classics though that should seal the deal for true film lovers. Who can possibly resist spending a night that begins with a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant and culminates with a screening of Capra’s heart warming masterpiece It’s a Wonderful Life? Screenings take place at the Soho Hotel (4 Richmond Mews London W1D 3DH) on Sundays, at the Covent Garden Hotel (10 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9HB) on Saturdays and Sundays and at the Charlotte Street Hotel (15-17 Charlotte Street London W1T 1RJ) on Sunday. www.firmdale.com
Jameson Cult Film Club
If a lush hotel is the ideal place to watch a Capra’s film then surely a seedy motel would provide the perfect locale for a screening of the granddaddy of all slasher films, Psycho. The transformation of the Union Chapel into the legendary Bates Motel for a Halloween screening of Hitchcock’s horror classic is a perfect example of the fruitful imagination of the people behind the Jameson Cult Film Club as well as of their determination to offer a mesmerising experience to the hordes of film buffs. Watching your favourite film in the company of equally devoted fans dressed as their favourite characters will help you understand not only the lasting impact of a cult film but also the impressive power of a damn good film. Other films screened by Jameson Cult Film Club include Taxi Driver, The Blair Witch Project and Alien. Screenings have taken place in various locations in cities like London, Manchester and Liverpool. www.jamesoncultfilmclub.com
Duke Mitchell Film Club
King’s Cross Social Club, the venue for the Duke Mitchell Film Club’s monthly cult film nights, may not undergo any transformation akin to the ones that characterize the Jameson screenings but the sense of a celebration of the unique beauty that can be found in cult films is equally strong. It will be quite difficult to find a more obscure list of titles than the ones shown in these cult film nights (three words: Turkish Grindhouse Night). To make these events even more irresistibly insane, feature films are mixed with equally far-out shorts and music from exploitation soundtracks (all introduced by the instantly lovable Duke). The cherry on top though is the incredible Trailer Trash, a compilation of B-movie trailers arranged by Alex Kidd, a one- time online editor at HMV, that needs to be seen to be believed. Film nights take place on the last Wednesday of every month. www.facebook.com/thedukemitchell?sk=info (2 Britannia Street WC1X 9, Closest tube: King’s Cross)
Gothique Film Society
As demonstrated by the two previous entries in this top ten list there is a close affinity between horror fans and film clubs. This of course is not something new. For 45 years now, Gothique Film Society has been championing the artistic merits of horror and fantasy films. Having tracked down obscure titles in a pre-DVD era, Gothique Film Society continues to go strong offering an eclectic list of rarely seen horror and fantasy films. With a list of honorary presidents that includes Christopher Lee and director Terence Fisher, Gothique Film Society has an undisputable status. It is the devotion though that regular members have shown to this society for all these years that strikes as its most laudable merit. A potent reminder that a film club at its heart should be a celebration amongst friends of the unparalleled magic of films. www.thegothiquefilmsociety.org.uk (Conway Hall 25 Red Lion Square, WC1, Closest tube: Holborn)
Honourable mentions:
The Brockley Jack Film Club (http://brockleyjackfilmclub.co.uk/)
Cigarette Burns (http://www.cigaretteburnscinema.com/)
The Exploding Head Film Club (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Exploding-Head-Film-Club/120102584678252?sk=wall)
Kino London (www.kinolondon.com)
McGuffin Film &Television Society (http://www.mcguffin.info/)
It’s a New Year (wahey!), and if you’re single, meeting someone may be on your wish list. So in a city packed with interesting things to do and people just as intriguing, merging the two could make for some love connections over this season that might (fingers-crossed) last in time for February 14th! So here’s some alternative events that could give you a chance to meet that someone special:
Doodle Date
Doodle Date is a creative take on speed dating that takes out the rigid conversation. You take turns doodling to draw a picture together or converse through images which might lead to romance. What’s great is that you don’t have to be Picasso to do it, even stickmen enthusiasts can join in! Next date, January 17th. www.doodledate.com
Swing Dancing
The London Swing Dance Society hosts weekly swing dancing events that happen across London. Dancing with several partners during the session means it’s like speed dating but without the unnerving pressure as you’re there to shake-a-leg. It’s a light-hearted way to meet new people and you never know - it could have you swinging “head over heels” in love! www.swingdanceuk.com
Salsa Flirt
For a night of Latino flavour, Salsa Flirt holds weekly parties every Saturday with a Latin class for beginners. With food and wine served in the bar area you’ll find yourself dining and dancing while you make new friends and you never know it might lead to more. Saturdays, Miabella Bar & Club, Greek Street (Next event, January 7th). www.meetup.com/London-Salsa-flirts/events/42490792
A Game of Two Halves at Bar Kick, Shoreditch High Street
Football, drink and Edwardian costumes are not the usual elements for romance but A Game of Two Halves makes it work. The evening is split, between ‘the pitch’ where you can enjoy interactive table tennis and ‘the bench’ where you get chatting at the conversation tables. A couple in old-fashioned costumes basically referee everything and it’s pretty fun. www.agameof2halves.co.uk
Meet & Mingle
It’s no secret that the capital can be a lonely one, and beyond the usual work/social/community circle, it can be tough getting connected with the city’s dwellers. So voila - the Meet + Mingle was born, and the aim is for people from all walks of life to simply have interesting conversations with as many people as possible, without the awkwardness that can come with dating-type events (M&M is a purely platonic affair). So come with an open-mind and expect a fun and enlightening experience - you never know who you might meet! www.facebook.com/events/323250677695549/
Other suggestions
Meetup.com - this free website is a brilliant way to find people who are into the stuff you like - whether it’s board games, dim sum, or simply having a good old fashion debate. The events are varied, but it’s a great way to meet new people while finding things to do in the capital. www.meetup.com
Doingsomething.co.uk - their motto is “Dating’s more fun when you’re doing something” and the whole premise is that you recommend an activity and hope that someone will want to do it with you, taking “internet” dating into the real world. But with most dating sites, the more you put in, the more you get out of it, so you’ll need to be seriously on the case - and there’s alot more flexibility if you get a paid package - but it’s definitely worth a gander. https://www.doingsomething.co.uk/ (Words: Tosin Omilaju)
Daniel Young runs this group, aiming to elevate the burger to its rightful position as a culinary highlight. He gets a great butcher to make a burger, and a great chef (including teams from Hawksmoor and Salt Yard) to devise a three course menu around it. But beware - this is the hottest ticket in town, as the most recent events have sold out within 20 minutes. Daniel also runs other events like SpagWednesday, which are easier to get tickets to.http://youngandfoodish.com/events/burgermonday/( Picture courtesy of Paul Winch-Furness)
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The +65/plusixfive supper club is devoted to Singaporean food (+65 is the international dialling code for Singapore), and the founder and resident chef Goz (pictured) and friends regularly entertain people in his home, cooking classic dishes with a modern twist. Guests bring payment (a minimum amount is suggested) and a bottle. If you’re looking for a fun, friendly supper club in someone’s house then this is a good place to start. http://plusixfive.wordpress.com
ferdiesfoodlab is a regular supper club run by Simon Fernandez. Simon started a few years ago, as an extension of cooking for friends, and this has now evolved into regular banquets at Toynbee Hall, a grade II listed building. The events are usually fortnightly, on a Friday evening, and a minimum contribution of £45 is required from all guests. These always look like amazing parties, and have attracted some really good reviews. http://www.ferdiesfoodlab.co.uk/
