Arts & Culture
Originally published on Tuesday, 4th November 2014
The Culturist: November
Blame it on the Indian summer but for once, we’re welcoming November with its festive markets, winter warmer cocktails and chalet themed bars. And this year, there are some good ones. From the new winter festival (Winterville) to hot hut cocktail bars (Night Tales) and bah humbug pubs (in Winterville), we’re excited. But for those not ready to embrace the yuletide feeling just yet, we’ve got some options: two new restaurants (Soho and Shoreditch), photography (Bourdin) and a documentary (Annabel’s). Enjoy!
WATCH: A STRING OF NAKED LIGHTBULBS
Mondays and Tuesdays throughout November Curzon Street,, W1J 7TYFor information and to book a screening, call Annabel's on 020 7629 1096
Annabel’s, the grande dame of member’s clubs and the first (and only) of its kind, has turned 50 – but she isn’t slowing down. The den of London’s crème has taken to the silver screen in A String of Naked Lightbulbs, executive produced by Ridley Scott and Kate Driver. Expect candid interviews (Anna Wintour, Kate Moss, Goldie Hawn…), throwback footage and, of course, a dousing of old-school glam. Now about memberships…
BOOK A TABLE: OLD TOM & ENGLISH
November 14 187b Wardour Street, W1F 8ZB
Finally, a restaurant in Soho where you can book a table. Opening this month, Old Tom & English is bucking the ‘no-reservations’ Soho-wide epidemic with its ‘reservations-only’ restaurant. Book a table and head there for a classic British menu (fish and chips, Welsh rarebit…), vintage cocktails (negronis, Tom Collinses…), and plush décor designed by Lee Broom.
DO: FISH MARKET X FRAME
November 15 6 New Street, EC2M 4TR
Fitness with food. From last month’s Hemsley + Hemsley ‘The Mind Body Reset’ weekend at the Town Hall to this month’s Fish Market x FRAME collab, we’re calling a trend alert. Part of the new Warehouse Weekend Club series, book in for FRAME’s hour-long power DJ-fuelled yoga session, followed by healthy post-workout brunch courtesy of Fish Market. Think protein banana bread with cashew butter, spicy baked duck eggs and parsley quinoa risotto with smoked salmon. Good food and exercise… just as the doctor ordered.
GO: NIGHT TALES
November 14 - December 20 Thurs/Fri/Sat 288-299 Old Street, EC1V 9DP
It‘s back but this year it’s a bit different. Apart from the new 10,000 sq ft space in Shoreditch, Night Tales 2014 will be packing a new menu of pick-and-mix food stalls that includes Patty & Bun, Rum Kitchen, Voodoo Rays and guest appearances by Pitt Cue Co. Plus, there’ll be two new concept bars: Tales of Whisky and the Hot Hut Cocktail Bar. All this against a backdrop of wild gardens, log fires and candle light. You'll find us in one of their winter chalets, mulled negroni in hand.
SEE: GUY BOURDIN: IMAGE MAKER
November 27 - March 15 £9 4 South Building, Somerset House, WC2R 1LA
Guy Bourdin, one of the most influential fashion photographers of our time, is back in the limelight this month, thanks to Somerset House’s major retrospective: Guy Bourdin: Image Maker. Expect nothing short of 100 hyper-real, sexed-up photographs in true Bourdin style – think technicolour gloss and high fashion.
EAT: JAGO
Mid November 68-80 Hanbury Street, E1 5JL
It all started with Ottolenghi, followed by Palomar and now, with Jago, it’s safe to say Middle Eastern food has hit the big time. And just like Palomar, this one comes with good creds – Louis Solley (former head chef of Ottolenghi), Hugo Thurston (former general manager of Morito), and entrepreneur Vinny Burke are the boys behind this Hanbury Street restaurant. Expect inventive Ashkenazi dishes such as miso-marinated onglet, stewed octopus with lovage yogurt and grilled apples with sardines. But what has us most excited? Breakfast. Grilled challah bread with labneh, spiced baked beans and eggs make for an ideal brunch alternative.
SEE: MILLIONHANDS HOUSE PARTY
November 27 10pm-3am Dance Tunnel, 95 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB
Clothing brand and record label Millionhands is celebrating its 5th birthday and being the cool kids that they are, this means party time. Details are still hush but here’s what we know: five DJs over five hours at Dance Tunnel on the 27th of November. We’re predicting a big night with big tunes (they did just collaborate with Eats Everything…). Fingers crossed.
BOOK NOW: WINTERVILLE
December 2 - December 31 Victoria Park E3 5TB
For those looking for an alternative to Winter Wonderland, book a ticket for Winterville, Victoria Park’s first winter festival. Expect all the usual festive hoopla: outdoor ice rink, giant ferris wheel, horse-drawn carriages and food and drink stalls aplenty. And giving it that east-end touch, every Sunday the vintage spiegeltent features a LGBT takeover: think the Gay Bingo Christmas Show with Jonny Woo, Horse Meat Disco on decks, a festive Sink The Pink extravaganza and tranny shack DJs.
