Originally published on Tuesday, 29th October 2013

The Culturist: November

It may be the month before Christmas, but we're not slowing down. Taking us into the festive period we've got a heavy dose of electro alongside a slew of culinary happenings – restaurants, pubs and car parks, and even a DIY Noma option. For some sartorial inspiration (and wish lists) Isabella Blow and J.Crew dominate.

EAT I: THE APE & BIRD PUBLIC HOUSE

Opens late November, The Ape & Bird Public House, 142 Shaftesbury Ave, Seven Dials, SE1 9RT

The old-mans pub is getting an upgrade thanks to Russell Norman and Richard Beatty who are transforming old London boozer The Marquis of Granby into The Ape and Bird Public House. They say pub grub – we say refined British classics. Expect dishes such as oysters with scotch eggs and celeriac fries, devilled kidneys on toast and poached trout with cobnuts and pan haggerty. And unlike their other outposts, this is a big ‘un: four bars and one restaurant spread over three floors. The best bit? Reservations are available.

READ: René Redzepi : A Work in Progress

£39.95, available for pre-order, Phaidon Store 

Fans of René Redzepi, listen up. The chef of Noma has released a diary: a candid and deeply personal day-to-day insight into his mind and creative workings. Think less Bridget Jones, more brilliant scientist with creative flair. The journal comes with a notebook of snapshots of Redzepi’s everyday life, plus a Noma recipe book. But if cooking up seathorn and roses or crispy reindeer moss isn’t your personal thing – Christmas is just around the corner.

GO: LEAF 2013

Festival passes start at £33 & gig prices vary, 7-10 November, LEAF 2013 

London is in for an electronic shake up. London’s latest festival LEAF (London Electronic Arts Festival) by Bestival boys B.Traits, Rob da Bank and Ben Turner is set to swamp the capital with DJ sets, talks, screenings and workshops. Flit between the LEAF HUB at the Shoreditch Electric Light Station to conversations with Giorgio Moroder, installations by Dinos Chapman and showcase gigs from the likes of Major Lazer, Trentemøller, The Bloody Beetroots. Diplo and Duke Dumont.

SHOP: J.CREW

November 8, J Crew, Regent Street, W1B 4PH & Brompton Cross , 171 Draycott Avenue , SW3 3AJ

We've shopped the pop up and now we're ready for the real deal. Come November 8, J.Crew is opening its flagship doors. Having already opened the men's boutique on Lambs Conduit, the latest venture will be a multi-storey house filled with men's and women's American pickings. And if you want to avoid the onslaught of Regent Street shoppers, a smaller scale boutique at Brompton Cross will stock limited-edition pieces from the J.Crew collection featuring edited rails of Comme des Garçons, Patricia Underwood and Penelope Chilvers. #UJLoves

#UJOUTANDABOUT: URBAN JUNKIES X W REPUBLIC OF VERBIER LAUNCH

Stay tuned W Verbier's search for a resident DJ continues, with the semi-finalists battling it out on the decks.

Urban Junkies were out in full force last Friday at the W Republic of Verbier Launch at W London, Leicester Square. Transformed into a winter wonderland, the W London was all decadent fur throws, snow-capped mountainscapes and -best of all- there was even a gondola thrown into the mix. As for the drinks, ice cold Verbier-inspired cocktails were the name of the game, accompanied by charcuterie and a soundtrack of house beats. Fun. To view the party photos, click here.

MAJOR LAZER: WHISKEY & BOURBON COLONIAL COMMON: A FILLING STATION BY TEROFORMA

£16.50, November 9, 29-32 the Oval Space, E2 9D

After giving us a taste of their dance-hall heavy beats earlier this year at the Roundhouse, they are back on a larger scale at 02 Academy Brixton (bets to see if the inflatable ball makes it South-west). Tickets are currently sold out, but there's always the returns queue. If not, DIPLO will be hotfooting it to the Oval Space for a guaranteed to sell out gig were he will be on decks 'till 4.30am, so if you haven't booked, get on it.

EAT II: WINTER EATS

Free entry, Hawker House, Launching November 8, 38-50 Pritchards Road, E2 9AP. Night Tales, November 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30, Abbott Street Car Park, Dalston, E8 3DL

Street Feast –having started a revolution isn't slowing down. Their Dalston lair may have closed but winter sees it back under the guise of Hawker House. Expect a Hot Bar and Whiskey Bar, with the feasts courtesy of slider bars, naan bars, pasta stations, a lobster truck and a 4.5 ton smoker. And following their lead, opening the day before comes Night Tales, a six-week project brought together by Dalston Roof Park, Background Bars & Bootstrap Company. Set in a disused car park (naturally) there are beats courtesy of House of Disco, Seth Troxler and Vortex Jazz Club, eats from Smokey Tails, Patty & Bun, BAO and Rainbo (to name a few), and cocktails via craft beers, mezcals, negronis and Absinthe hot chocolates. Between Hawker House and Night Tails we've got our winter hangouts sorted!

SEE: ISABELLA BLOW: FASHION GALORE!

£12.50, Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!, November 20- March 5, Somerset House, WC2R 1LA

Isabella Blow – we miss you. Gowns by day, hats for every occasion and always dripping in jewels, she was a fashion de force. And now, thanks to Somerset House’s latest retrospective Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!, we get to celebrate her life via a walk through her wardrobe. The exhibition of her life and 30-year career will showcase over a hundred pieces from Blow’s private sartorial collection, including garments from (her most famous protégée) Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, and Phillip Treacy – a literal a blow-by-blow account of a life lived through clothes. And if inspiration takes hold, a catalogue of photographs are up for sale.

PARTY: OSLO

Opens late November, Oslo, 1A Amhurst Road, Hackney Central, E8 1LL

Keeping with the bigger is better trend of 2013 comes Oslo. The new ‘destination’ spot, like its predecessor in Shoreditch (Far Rockaway we’re looking at you), is the latest food, drink and music hub with a late night license (3am). The 7000 square foot Nordic themed space will be a restaurant and bar by day and a live music spot by night. And ticking the Hackney boxes – the building is in a disused railway station.

EAT III: THE MAGAZINE RESTAURANT

Opens November 1, The Magazine, West Carriage Drive, Kensington Gardens, W2 2AR

The highly anticipated restaurant of the new Serpentine Sackler Gallery opens this month. Chef Oliver Lang has partnered with Kofler & Kompanie to bring experimental modern dining to Kensington Gardens. The 120 cover restaurant, inspired by the architecture of the contrasting Serpentine galleries, is expected to serve a fusion of Japanese, British and European cooking. Think black pudding and langoustines, Ibero pork cheeks with apple and elderflower and tapioca rice pudding. But this being Zaha Hadid's first restaurant space – it's about more than what's on your plate.