TCé picks: A selection of things to do and places to go – April 2013
The fourth month of 2013 promises aplenty in the way of festivals, parties, exhibitions and food glorious food – so forgive us if we’re feeling a little giddy about what we’ll be getting up to this April…
Cinema
Bird’s Eye View Film Festival: Celebrating Arab Women Filmmakers, April 3-10th – This year’s BEV will be honouring the work of women in the Arab world, offering insightful docs, film shorts, Q&As, live music and a special Fashion Loves Films programme, offering a host of parties and galas.
Art & Culture
Gaia: A Show of Hands at Nelly Duff, April 11th – One of the most thought-provoking street artists of our time will be presenting his first UK exhibition for one week only. The New York-born, Baltimore-based artist has built an international rep for his street murals, and this show will demonstrate his continuous fascination with hands through his unique style.
Eat & Drink
Dante Fried Chicken at Death by Burrito April 11-14th – We happily chowed down at Mr Dante’s finger-lickin’ pop-up last year so pleased to hear he’s back on our shores, this time with a cookbook and an exhibition. He’ll also be joining forces with Death by Burrito for a guest chef residency, where he’ll be serving up an exclusive dinner menu and all day brunch on April 14th, to mark the final day of the show.
Nightlife
The Doctor’s Orders Presents The Doctor’s Orders 250 Featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Nextmen And Rich Medina At Scala, April 13th – To mark their 250th event, the Doctor’s Orders guys are going all out to bring together some of the most celebrated DJs in hip-hop – and this is one party that won’t stop until the sun comes up.
Art & Culture
Pick Me Up 2013: Graphic Arts Festival at Somerset House, April 18-28th – Feast your eyes on an incredible array of illustrations and designs at this 11-day celebration of all things graphic. Highlights include workshops, creative forums and lively events every evening.
Eat & Drink
The Lab at Tobacco Docks, April 25-27th – The creators of the Taste of London fest are debuting a new experimental foodie weekend, featuring some of the most innovative chefs from around the world and masterclasses in experiencing food like never before.
Best bits from last month
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Somewhere You Should Go…Vista Bar
It’s easy to think of Trafalgar Square as an area reserved for tourists and pigeons but near the museums and art galleries is The Trafalgar Hotel which hides the beautiful Vista Bar, a stunning open air rooftop bar with views of the Square, Big Ben, London Eye and the Thames.
As central London’s largest rooftop bar, if you’re for looking for somewhere a bit special - perhaps for a date or celebration – just take the lift up to the sixth floor and stop by for a drink. Fitting in with the impressive surroundings is a drinks menu which of course features champagne and cocktails (though the usual bar drinks are all available). My favourite was the Gin Mary, a Bloody Mary given an update with bacon (!) infused gin. It gives it an extra kick that somehow works and makes you wonder why more drinks don’t have bacon added to them.
It’s certainly not the cheapest bar in the capital but considering the location it is the perfect place if you’re looking for something special and areas can be hired making it great for a birthday celebration. As for food, the menu is a relaxed mix of nibbly bits, salads and snacks perfect for picking and even includes caviar if you really want to go all out.
Despite the chilly winter months ahead, Vista plans to cover the roof and put on extra heating for comfort, so it’ll be worth the visit – just note it gets busy and is often used for private events – plus there’s a £5 entry charge after 4pm, though they do donate a £1 to charity. (Words: Lucy Palmer)
Something You Should See…Heiner Goebbels’ Stifter’s Dinge, Ambika P3
If ever there was an organisation that had its proverbial finger firmly on the pulse of cutting edge contemporary art forms, it is commissioning body Artangel. This month, the team that brought us Roger Hiorns’ sparkling azure ex-council flat grotto and Rachel Whiteread’s full-size casting of her own House have orchestrated the delivery of another extraordinary project to the heart of subterranean London: Heiner Goebbels’ Stifter’s Dinge.
Having travelled across the world, this remarkable ‘performative installation’ returns to its original home at Ambika P3, Marylebone Road. The massive monolithic interior of the former concrete testing facility has once again been transformed to become Goebbels’ cavernous laboratory of sound and light. Stifter’s Dinge defies definition: it is at once a theatrical performance, a visual spectacle, a musical sculpture – and yet it is none of these things exclusively.
A towering structure blinking with LEDs supports five pianos which appear to play themselves, singing out short melodies which combine and blend with the clanking and clunking of other components in the installation. Bodies of water bubble and ripple with the reverberations of sound; a thin mist hovers across the scene. Lights flash and dance across the space, casting abstract patterns on vast gauze screens that lower themselves from the ceiling at various intervals. Phantom-like voices hauntingly play out over projected images of idealised landscape paintings. At times meditative, at times unsettling, the experience is totally mesmerizing.
The title of the work translates as ‘Stifter’s Things’, after nineteenth-century writer Adalbert Stifter who was (in)famous for his fastidious, vividly detailed descriptions of nature: part of his attempt to close the gap between the ambiguity of language and the reality of experience. Goebbels uses similar tactics of immersion in his ‘no-man show’. The contemporary composer created this piece for instruments, not their players; and as the only human presence in the room, the audience is made to focus on the objects themselves which appear to perform autonomously.
This is a project to experience, not one to read about. Stifter was right – sometimes language just doesn’t have the capacity to adequately describe nature (or a multi-faceted, sensory-immersive installation). Artangel never fail to deliver the cutting-edge of cool – the newest addition to their list of weird and wonderful projects is no exception and should not be missed. (Words: Florence Ritter)
Heiner Goebbels: Stifter’s Dinge, in its new drop-in 4 hour long format The Unguided Tour, runs until 18th November. For more info, click HERE. A series of the original performances run between 13th-18th November.
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the quality of interesting happenings and stuff to do in London goes up a notch come September, so if you ever wanted to check out Rent, enjoy a free fest on behalf of Bo-Jo, try  fried chicken that aint KFC or play games all weekend around the Southbank, this month might just be for you…
Theatre
Rent at Greenwich Theatre, September 5th-16th - The outstanding Tony-nominated musical (and the longest running production on Broadway) comes to the capital for a limited run. Based on Puccini’s La Bohème, it’s tells the story of creatives living in New York’s Lower East Side struggling with life, love and HIV/AIDS.
Special Event
The Mayor’s Thames Festival, September 8 and 9th- Boris Johnson throws his annual end-of-summer fête for Londoners which features shows, music, a carnival (and costs us absolutely nada!)
Arts & Culture
Everything Was Moving: Photography from the 60s and 70s at the Barbican Art Gallery, September 13th to January 13th 2013  - Have a look at over 400 rarely seen photos taken during a revolutionary era, which also coincided with the golden age of photography.  Featured photographers include Bruce Davidson, Malick Sidibé  and Li Zhensheng.
Activity
The Hide & Seek Weekender 2012 at Southbank Centre, September 14th-16th - If you love games as much as we do, you’ll enjoy this unique weekend of playtime and performances.
Cinema
More London Free Film Festival at The Scoop, September 14th-30th - This year’s bill features Great Expectations, Senna  and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy so weather-permitting, this should be a brilliant opportunity to see some top films outdoors.
Eat & Drink
Wishbone fried chicken and beer at Brixton Mark, opens in September - Our mouths are watering at the idea of  this new opening, being brought to us by those guys behind the popular MeatLiquour. (Wonder if the Ludacris LP will be on rotation? Ha!)
 Best bits from last month
- Something you should do… visit CambridgeÂ
- Somewhere you should go… Soho House’s Dirty Little Secret: Dirty Burger
- Something you should see… Carousel at The BarbicanÂ
- Where to try alternative ice creams in LondonÂ
- Something you should see… The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-Time at the National Theatre
If you think that poetry belongs in the days of Wordsworth, then prepare for a re-education. The Roundhouse’s event returns to air the UK’s hottest contemporary talent in spoken word. There is a cash prize up for grabs, as well as the accolade of being crowned poetry slam champion - and stars of the art will be present to judge the young newcomers, including Inua Ellams, Kat Francois and the mighty grammar-man, Polarbear (pictured below).Â
Originating in the US back in the 80s, the poetry slam event draws on a variety of influences and styles. It may have all begun in a Jazz club in Chicago but performances range from Hip-Hip rap deliveries to dub poetry and unrhyming narrative formulas. The content of the performances can be anything from politicised verse to current events (could there be some olympic references in there too?). Last year Zia Ahmed took the prize and it’s not hard to see why. Since the performers will be aged between 16 and 25 the subject are likely to be more politicised than ever, just like the days of Alan Ginsberg and the beat poets. So it’s sure to be a great event at the Roundhouse - a place that always concerns itself with pushing the boundaries - and we just can’t resist that! (Words: Laura Thornley)Â
The Poetry Slam kicks off on August 15th. For more info, visit http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/roundhouse-poetry-slam-2012
Words: Laura Thornley
Oh August - how did you get here so soon? Here’s to the last of the holiday months in the capital, which promises some very cool new nights  and that massive event that goes down in West London over the bank holiday weekend that always has the best jerk chicken…
Nightlife
The Love Below at Trailer Happiness, August 5th - There’s a new monthly Sunday lounge coming to Notting Hill for those cool Londoners who like their music hip, chilled and classic. It’s called The Love Below (and if you remember anything about its namesake album by Andre 3000, you’ll know you want to be here).
Nightlife
No Long Ting at The Brick Box, 354 Coldharbour Lane, August 10th - Illustrious London MC Ty curates a night of music, artwork, films, DJs, food (and cheap drinks) in Brixton - and whether this is the one-off or the start of something regular, it sounds BRILLIANT.
Activity
Street Photography Workshop, August 12th - Our sister site The Culture Club Photography Workshops wants to take you on a journey around Shoreditch where your photography skills will go up a few notches making you the envy of all your mates. One to book.
Bush Bazaar, Bush Theatre, until August 18th - Described as a “90 minute fantastical adventure” this pop-up theatre event brings together some of the capital’s most daring performers to perform a collection of shows that sound pretty intriguing…
Alternative
Midnight Run, August 18th - Poet Inua Ellams leads a creative, after-hours expedition around London to experience the capital in a unique way.  There’s food, games and “experiments” - and no running required - so  just try to hold out until 6am!
Cinema
Guilty Pleasures Cinema Party, August 24th and 25th -  This one’s for all the Madonna lovers out there, as the Troxy Cinema hosts a par-tay to top all partays, featuring a screening of Desperately Seeking Susan.  It’ll be a crazy, colourful  throwback to the 80s with DJs, dancers and bands (and we LOVE that).
Eat & Drink
Flat Iron pop-up steak and cocktail restaurant - this new foodie spot actually launched a few weeks back, but runs for six weeks only until August 28th (so thought it’d be worth a visit this month). Â These guys are serving up some serious slabs of meat, so those with carnivorous tendencies should head to The Owl and Pussycat pub, pronto (Tuesday - Saturday, 6pm-10pm)
Special Event
Notting Hill Carnival, August 26th and 27th - there’s dozens of floats, good food and tunes, happy people (although a little overpacked - but meh); it’s Europe’s largest street festival and a brilliant way to spend the bank holiday weekend. See you there?
 Best bits from last month
After years of planning, the Olympics have finally made it to London!!! We’re getting ready to party in the name of the Games,  so if you haven’t got tickets you’ll be pleased to know you can still check  out all the action at some of our favourite picks, just below:
Outdoors options (if the weather’s still lovely!)
BT London Live: Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square (from August 29th for the Paralympics Games)
These are likely to be THE destinations of the fortnight as you can check out live coverage of the Olympic games on gigantic screens, as well as live music, Have-A-Go sports sessions and cultural attractions absolutely FREE - simply turn up and get involved (subject to capacity) or click here  to register for guaranteed entry tickets. Hyde Park will also be hosting a ticketed Opening and Closing Ceremony concert featuring Snow Patrol, Stereophonics and Blur. www.btlondonlive.com/home
Camden Beach at Roundhouse
We’re miles away from the nearest coast, so Camden Beach at the Roundhouse is this year’s thoughtful alternative, giving you the chance to chill out with a margarita and kick back in a deckchair while casually watch the games. It’s free too ;-) www.roundhouse.org.uk/camden-beach#.UA66rI7ajOY
Last Mile Festival at London Pleasure Gardens
LMF are giving us live music, food, theatre, sideshows and cabaret alongside screenings of the Olympics and Paralympics. The event marks the first time the full Gardens site is open to the public, so it’s a fab option - especially for those nearish the Docklands. www.londonpleasuregardens.com
Indoor options (in case it starts to pour)
Kona Kai bar, Chelsea
We checked out these guys some months ago and are loving the nod to all things Polynesian - so along with screenings of the events, look forward to hula-hooping, limbo-ing and Hawaiian dancing contests (with prizes!), and a cocktail in honour of the games. Spirit of Olympia Iced tea anyone? www.konakai.co.uk
Carom, Soho
This vibrant Indian bar has got an indoor summer garden and a menu of yummy cocktails to choose from as an alternative way to enjoy the games - they’ve also got four screens with the option to make a private booking if you want to watch the Olympics with just a few pals - nice! www.meza-soho.co.uk
Yager Bar, St Pauls
If you work around the city, you might want to head to this popular locale to check out the summer games - they’ve got Bronze, Silver and Gold packages starting from £25 which offers a viewing area, sharing platters and a round of drinks or wine.www.yager-bar.com/summer-sports.php
Waterpoet, Spitalfields
This East-end watering hole is not only screening the Olympics on nine screens but are hosting a massive Opening Ceremony Party with fancy dress and plenty of fun and games such as “olym-ping pong” and “olympic sized pool” (which sounds like good ole’ ping pong and pool to us, but meh). It all goes down from 6pm. www.waterpoet.co.uk
Where are you watching the games? Let us know in the comments section
As far as entertainment goes, there’s few things more mind-boggling to see than the circus arts - and if you’ve had to chance to check out legendary companies like Cirque do Soleil, you’ll know why. Death-defying stunts, dramatic tricks, fearless athleticism - it’s an incredible craft of physical endurance, and one which never fails to leave crowds both mesmerised and inspired.
So given the chance to learn how the pros do it best, I recently visited Aircraft Circus in Southeast London as part of the Acer U-Experience to get a taster of basic skills. Along with Circus Space in Hoxton and Gorilla Circus in Regent’s Park, they’re one of a few organisations in the capital enabling the general public to experience the circus world by trying it out themselves.
Technical director Nick Ditton, who’s been with the company since it started five years ago, says it’s a sport that’s becoming increasingly accessible thanks to centres like Aircraft - and what’s more, it takes the monotony out of everyday exercise, engaging the mind and body. “You can’t do these things in your average sports centre,” he adds.
Our session starts off with a lesson in the three ball juggling cascade - a technique which Nick says is a great warm-up for the more physical skills we’d be learning later. We start by practicing how to catch two balls, throwing them in the direction of the “infinity” symbol (∞).
The challenge was getting that extra ball in the mix - and confidently throwing it to catch it with the alternative hand. My left hand just didn’t want to let that third ball go!
We then went on to learn flying trapeze on a petit volant - a smaller version of the grand set-ups you’d find at a circus show. We were taught the beats of a normal swing, which involved knowing when to kick your legs back to build up momentum, not hit the platform and fly higher which each swing.
My few attempts were tragic. I couldn’t quite get a rhythm going, plus I nearly buckled mid-swing because I lacked the upper-body strength needed to hold myself up for long period of time - but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun!
Finally, my favourite skill of the day was acro-balance (and maybe because I was the one being lifted, rather than doing all the lifting). That said, you still need to be coordinated and trusting of your fellow acro-balancers to pull off something like the thigh-stand pyramid (see below) - but it makes for a triumphant finish!
If you’d like to give circus skills a go, sunday taster classes take place at Aircraft Circus, starting from £35 for Adult Trapeze. They also offer private classes, intensive courses and classes for kids. For more info, visit http://aircraftcircus.myshopify.com.
This experience comes courtesy of Acer UK. Check out the Acer Intel U-Experience team on our journey and discover more about the challenges at: https://www.facebook.com/
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
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 was delighted, but fearful. With little cash, could I still have a decent holiday in expensive Paris? I relied on Travelzoo’s weekly top twenty email to find me a hotel deal. As much as we wanted cheap, we didn’t want scummy. When Hotel Gat Folies popped up, I was relieved. It was in a cool area called Opera, way less than half its usual price, far enough from the tourist traps, but close enough to still feel involved.
Free champagne and chocolates every night were thrown in for free too. Isn’t that a wonderful way to start an evening? The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet conveniently doubled up as lunch. Bon appetite - yes indeed. We dined on eggs (anyway you liked), toasted sandwiches, Madeira cake, fruit salad and cereal. We sneakily stuffed croissants with jambon et fromage and let the warm Parisian day melt the cheese.
We shared our feast at the top of the Le Sacré Coeur (The Sacred Heart) and joined the crowds to marvel at the view. Free entertainment was provided by an amazing Ghanaian footballer, who climbed up a very tall street lamp to show off his amazing skills.
Being cheap wasn’t depressing; it was all wonderfully fantastic. Transport options were limited to legs and bikes. Walking meant we spent most of our time wondering where we were. We found gems like Derrière (French for bottom or backside) on Rue des Gravilliers, a beautiful, alternative restaurant beyond our budget. But we oooo’d and aaaah’d, went in for a chat and I left knowing I’d be back. I figure you can still appreciate the good things without having to have it.
The temporary beach created down by the Seine was a treat. It gave us the opportunity to stop and watch Paris go by and remind ourselves we were actually here. In Montmartre, an artist told us about the Paris he knew as he helped us find the man in wall - Marcel Ayme.
We peeped inside vintage shops, resisted buying souvenirs and took a few too many pictures at the love wall where “I love you” is written in hundreds of different languages - nice.
To see the great sights you don’t have to get your wallet out. Just stroll. We passed under the Arc de Triomphe and did a happy dance at The Louvre - just to lighten things up. The Eiffel Tower looked better from a distance with a chocolate crepe in hand. Nutella - not champagne - seems to be the national treasure so we fitted in fine. When we weren’t walking, we cycled. 1 euro for 24 hours. Once you master the system and realise you’re allowed to cycle on the pavements - you can’t help but go downhill and shout whooooopeeee. The bikes come in handy at 2am. We had a magical ride through the streets, weaving in between cars as part of a cycling convoy of newly found friends. Oberkampf street was the street with some groove. Some shop windows and doors were left wide open and good tunes hit you as you walked past. Next stop - Chez Moune nightclub in Pigalle. Monday to Friday is female only. At the weekends it’s free for all. The vibe’s decent and the drink prices remained a mystery, as the cheap bottles of supermarket plonk we’d sipped back at the hotel still danced merrily through our veins.
Our last meal was in sophisticated-looking MacDonalds (What we ate was determined by how much money we had left in our purse). Staring out into the streets we munched on French fries, never wishing we could be anywhere else.
My friend Carolina spent about £55 over 3 days. I squandered a little more as I couldn’t leave Paris without buying a vintage French frock. I found a pretty one for a whole 10 Euros (about £8). I love it now and when someone asks “where did you get that dress from” I smugly reply “oh it’s just a cheap thing from Paris.”
They say money can’t buy you happiness and it certainly didn’t when Carolina and I invaded Paris. But with lack of funds we still managed to create a happy bubble we now seriously miss. (Words: Ena Miller)
Do you have a lovely holiday experience you’d like to recommend and share with The Cultural Exposé? Email info@theculturalexpose.co.uk - we’d love to hear about it!
