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This weekend we're looking West for our fill of fun: the Electric Cinema (plus a diner and donuts) is back open; there's a new hotdog guy on the scene and we welcome the latest Sunday lunch stalwart. Plus, stay tuned for the upcoming launch of The Rum Kitchen, another Westie. Otherwise, we're getting all our shopping done pronto – Louboutin, Percival and The Sunday Times Style boutique (not to mention the new Cambridge Satchel Company pop up) – and we've thrown in a few pressie suggestions. Plus: the Christmas tree of all Christmas trees… |
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| This Weekend’s Picks |
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| • FRI Electric Cinema
• SAT Wild Dogs
• SUN Portobello House |
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| CHRISTMAS |
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| Claridge's Xmas Tree |
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| It's isn't officially Christmas until the Claridge's tree is up. This year, Kally Ellis, founder of renowned British floral designer McQueens, is chief decorator. The natural forest tree has magnolia branches, lichen moss and 'forest murmurs' underneath, while baubles come in the form of crystal and emerald jewel eggs. |
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| Claridge's, Brook Street, W1K 4HR |
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| APP |
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| PERONI VIVI IN STILE |
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| Sponsored listing |
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| Santa Chupitos, 41 Slater Street, Liverpool, L1 4BX |
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| With only a discreet bronze plaque indicating what lies beyond, Liverpool's Santa Chupitos would be easy to miss if you didn't know it was there. Having gathered momentum since its opening in 2009, it's now the city's worst kept secret. And for good reason. With an exposed brick interior, graffiti-covered walls, and bartenders who'll make you a personalised concoction, this is one cool drinking den. And for those who like tequila, the tiny bar downstairs – El Bandito – comes highly recommended. |
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For more listings on Manchester and other UK cities, download Peroni's 7-city guide
Vivi in Stile, free on iPhone and Android |
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| FRIDAY |
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SHOP:
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN DOVER STREET |
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FILM:
Electric Cinema and Electric Donuts |
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| London's gentlemen can now sport a pair of red-soled investments, thanks to the new Christian Louboutin menswear-only store on Dover Street (it's the fourth one in the world). The two-storey space was designed by NY architects 212Box, all hand-crafted seating, red carpeting and vintage bits from Louboutin's travels. As for the shoes, expect silver capped boots, spikey loafers and gold hi-tops. While you're at it, visit the Mount Street store to check out the stiletto Xmas tree. |
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The freshly refurbished Electric Cinema in Notting Hill is back open for business with some new additions (read: diner and donuts). The cinema itself has had a refit – think red leather armchairs and front row double beds – while the foyer is now home to Electric Donuts (a creation from Chicago's Brendan Sodikoff, also creator of the diner downstairs). Expect coffee and donuts from 8am with weekly-changing flavours: maple bourbon, bergamot orange, ginger chew, Mexican chocolate and berry trifle. Take one to go, or as a cinema snack. This weekend's bill includes Silver Linings Playbook and Rust & Bone. |
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10am-6pm
35a Dover Street, W1S 4LT
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Film times vary
Cinema from £40, donuts £1.50
191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED |
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| SATURDAY |
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SHOP:
The Style Hotlist |
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EAT:
Wild Dogs |
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| Whether you prefer cyber shelves or the real thing, The Sunday Times Style's concept boutique will showcase their pick of international and upcoming designers, chosen by the magazine's editors. The weekly top 10 edit will be available online for a week at a time (with discounts up to 20%). Otherwise, head to the boutique store (designed by Feix & Merlin) for the edit featuring young British designers and labels including Helmut Lang, Elizabeth & James, Opening Ceremony and J Brand. |
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There's a new kid on the Portobello Market block, and he's all about the hot dogs. Wild Dogs, which will be outside the Portobello Star every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, source their 100% British sausages (made from pork shoulder) from Gloucestershire, while the pillowy buns come from an artisan baker in South London. Then all you need are some onions cooked in honey and thyme, and a squirt of ketchup and mustard. Hot diggidy. |
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11am-7pm
9 Mercer Street, WC2H 9HD |
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11am-4.30pm
£4
Outside Portobello Star, 171 Portobello Road, W11 2DY
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| PRESENT FOR HIM |
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| Worn By x LIFE Mag Tee |
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| One for Christmas Day, while watching Home Alone 1, 2, 3 and 4, of course. |
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| Worn By x LIFE Mag Home Alone Tee, available from here, £30 |
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| PRESENT FOR HER |
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| Bento by Lucy Folk x Yumiki |
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| Jewellery designer Lucy Folk has teamed up with Little Dragon's Yumiki to design a capsule collection of luxe-pop pieces. Staying true to Folk's food aesthetic, this collection is inspired by Asian cuisine: gold rice rings, colourful wasabi necklaces and bling sesame cracker earrings. Check out the fun campaign video here. |
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| Bento by Lucy Folk x Yumiki, available from Lucy Folk, Harvey Nichols and Colette, from £41 |
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| SUNDAY |
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SHOP:
Percival |
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EAT:
Portobello House |
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After a string of successful pop ups, London menswear label Percival finally has a permanent home in Soho (along with a new HQ and studio). The brand focuses on British-based quality workmanship, honest fabrics and classic shapes. Pick up great menswear buys for winter (and Xmas) – our fave is the waffle jumper in piccalilli – and check out the specially commissioned in-house concrete Persian rug, a collaborative piece with The Sculpture House. |
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If you're after a Sunday lunch complete with roaring fireplace, and are tired of your old faithfuls, Portobello House is worth a whirl. The new Sunday lunch menu is classic roast, but UJ likes what they do off-piste best: salt and pepper squid, avocado chilli salad, steak tartare and interesting platters. Drinks should be Bloody Marys or Mimosas, natch. And, if you don't live close, grab a bottle of wine and book into one of the cosy rooms upstairs. |
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11am-5pm
Jumpers from £80
43 Berwick Street, W1F 8RP |
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12pm-8pm
Mains from £12
225 Ladbroke Grove, W10 6HQ |
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| COMPETITION |
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| New Year's Eve Sanderson Sessions |
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Plans still pending for NYE? Head to the last Sanderson Sessions of the year with special guest Marina and the Diamonds for a night of music, food, cocktails and champers in the twinkling Courtyard. If you want to party late, then book in for a room package, which includes a bottle of bubbly and brunch at Suka.
We're giving away a pair of tickets for the NYE party with Marina and the Diamonds. To enter simply email competition@urbanjunkies.com with your name and number by December 10. |
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NYE Sanderson Sessions with Marina and the Diamonds, December 31 from 9.30pm
50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG
Party tickets £75 per person, New Year's Eve room packages from £425 |
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| AGENDA PICK |
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| HKK |
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| Another one from the Hakkasan contingent. Next to the recently-opened Chrysan is HKK, a modern take on the long-standing Chinese banqueting tradition. There is a single, ever-evolving tasting menu (choose between 15- or 8-course) curated by Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee (11 years at Hakkasan). Tong takes classical recipes and complex Cantonese dishes and injects them with modern flair: think lychee wood-roasted Peking duck with sesame pancakes, wok-fried lobster in yellow bean sauce and jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef. Enjoy – with wine flights or paired-down fresh fruit juices – around a custom-made glass duck oven topped by a chandelier of bone china peaches. |
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| More info |
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| Reserved |
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| Electric Diner – Chicago via Portobello |
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| 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED | 020 7908 9696 | @ElectricDiner |
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| In a sentence |
| Soho House's souped-up version of the classic American diner. |
| Location |
| On Portobello Road, next to Electric Cinema and underneath the Electric House club, the Electric Diner is the new neighbourhood stalwart. |
| Vibe |
| Dark, loud, bustling and friendly, this is a great place to come at all times be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night – at weekends it's open 'til 1am. We especially liked the reel-to-reel music machine which was blasting out The Roots when we were there. |
| Flavours |
| This is unabashed pleasure food. Chef Brendan Sodikoff, behind Au Cheval in Chicago, has added some of his signature dishes to the French-American menus (breakfast and all-day). Souped-up American Diner classics feature: the fried house-made bologna sandwich in brioche buns was huge, oozing and indulgently naughty (note: this is fit for two); the honey-fried chicken with chili and sesame seeds was so syrupy rich it tasted almost alcoholic; and the sides – French fries and roast tomatoes with steak salt and chives – weren't just a side note. Starters, though unnecessary, lean more towards the French: the chopped chicken liver on toast is always a classic fave. We also liked the dedicated eggs section on the menu. Then there's dessert which comes in the form of pies or floats, but we say pop next door for an Electric Donut instead. The drinks list includes 19 beers, carefully selected wines and 'strong drinks' – the Diner Bloody Mary was just how we like it, spicy and well-garnished with pickles and celery.
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| Décor |
| The dining room is long, dark, and on-trend – exposed brick, metal beams, hanging lights – and seating options are booth or bar. The red booths are the comfiest we've had and can fit 6 in comfortably (the more people, the more dishes you can share). It feels almost maritime with a low, curved, wooden ceiling. |
| Upshot |
| A whole of bologna this is certainly not. |
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Reserved Archive >
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WEEKEND GUIDE by JC , RESERVED by JC |
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(c)
2012 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved.
Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express
permission. Urban Junkies is a free daily mailer. All listings
and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from
venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure
accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility
for errors or omissions.
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