Arts & Culture
Originally published on Tuesday, 3rd June 2014
The Culturist: July
June has arrived with a host of new openings. From open-air exhibitions to roof top barbeques and a disco shed – the summer calendar is looking good. Gastronomically speaking, we're getting a taste old school Vienna, contemporary Venice and an art-infused restaurant. And for those traditionalists out there, Romeo and Juliet is the hot ticket.
EAT I: FISCHER'S
Opens June 4 50 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HN
It's finally here - the much-anticipated restaurant from dynamic duo Corbin & King (The Wolseley, Delaunay, Brasserie Zédel) opens this week. Keeping in tune with their penchant for Eurocentricity, Fischer's is styled as a Viennese café. Inspired by old school informal "Konditoreis" (little cafes), the menu features Konditorei staples of brötchen, sandwiches and goulash - and, of course, favourites including schnitzels, sausages and strudel. And with its informal Viennese vibe, don't be afraid to pop in just for a patisserie treat or hot chocolate.
SEE I: SeERPENTINE PAVILION
Opens June 26 Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA
June is here and so too is the open-air cultural calendar, starting with the Serpentine Pavilion. Opening at the end of the month, Chilean architect Smiljan Radic's 350 square metre shell-like boulder will make its mark outside Kensington Gardens' famous gallery. Unlike the 2013 cloud-like structure, expect a massive, semi-translucent, cylindrical installation set on, er smaller, more opaque boulders, with a changing mood: from a cold white structure in the day to a warmer, amber-hued installation at night. Our tip - try to bag an invite to the opening.
EAT II: Polpo Notting Hill
Opened May 31 126-128 Notting Hill Gate, W11+3QG
Transporting the flavor of Italy via Soho to the west, Polpo Notting Hill has opened its doors. With Richard Beatty at his side, Russell Norman has taken over the All Bar One site with their Venetian bàcaro. As you'd expect, the menu is similar to the Soho and Covent Garden siblings. Think small simple plates of neatly divided meatballs, pizzette, fish and cicheti. As with the other Polpos, dinner reservations are a no-go – but, we say, take a seat at the bar and make your way through the cocktail list of stiffly made classics.
PARTY: The 2 Bears Rooftop Picnic + XOYO Residency Series
June 7 and 14 Print House, 18 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL
If you missed last year's instalment of XOYO Loves – held on the roof of the South Place Hotel (followed by a raucous after party at the club itself) – then you're in luck because XOYO is set for another double header day-to-night party, this time in the form of a teddy bears' picnic. DJ duo The 2 Bears (AKA Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell) are hosting daytime pre-parties for two of their residency dates at XOYO. Starting off with a 'bring your own meat' barbeque on Dalston Roof Park with daytime jams by the fluffy duo themselves and followed by the sundowner party at XOYO. Both dates are selling fast, so get on it!
SEE II: DAVID ShRIGLEY AT SKETCH
Opens June 6 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG
Now for some food for thought. Having closed his 2012 exhibition at the Hayward Gallery to rave reviews, David Shrigley is leaving the gallery walls for a major takeover at Sketch. Following on from the previous artist-in-residence Martin Creed, this is set to be the largest presentation of original Shrigley drawings to date. Expect 239 of the artist's signature sketches to cover the London restaurant, from wall to tables and crockery: Sketch is getting Shrigleyed. So book a table, order some wine and get cultural.
WATCH: ROMEO AND JULIET AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Book tickets here From June 11-22 Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP
Star crossed lovers, two rival families and Renaissance Verona…yep, it's Romeo and Juliet via the English National Ballet. Set for a two week staging at the Royal Albert Hall, Derek Deane's production of the Shakespearian romantic tragedy is as you would expect: lavish. With over 120 dancers, actors and swordfighters – if you're going to see one traditionalist ballet this year, make it this one. But if you miss it, come December, there's always the Nutcracker...
INTERNATIONAL: JEFF KOONS' SPLIT ROCKER
Opens June 25th 45 Rockefeller Plaza, NY 10111, United States
Never one to fade into the background, Jeff Koons has planted a giant flower into New York City's Rockefeller Center. Part of The Koons retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Split-Rocker is reminiscent of his 1992 sculpture Puppy (1992), and will be decked out in fresh flowers in a similar vein. Expect the blossoms to cover the 150 tonne sculpture composed of two halves: one based on a toy pony, the other a toy dinosaur. The Pavilion versus Rockefeller, you decide?
