Arts & Culture
Originally published on Tuesday, 3rd March 2015
The Culturist: March
And suddenly it’s March. Time to get out and about for some springtime action. From a ballet with Jay Z to a couple of fashion must-dos and an electronic shakedown, this month will keep you busy. Plus, there are a couple of new Haggerston openings (and we’re not just talking about Jonny Woo’s new pub) and a party in a desert. Enjoy!
BOOK NOW: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY
March 14 - August 2, £16, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
If you haven’t bought tickets yet, what are you waiting for? The exhibition honouring the directional work of Alexander McQueen has already sold more than 30,000 tickets, meaning act fast. For those who saw the original exhibition at the Met in New York, a re-visit is in order. The London show will be a third larger, and will include rare earlier works, along with an additional 30 garments, including pieces lent by the Isabella Blow Collection and the House of Givenchy.
EAT: THE RICHMOND
Opens March 20, 316 Queensbridge Road, E8 3NH
The highly anticipated restaurant from three-time Michelin Bib Goumand winner Brett Redman opens this month. Redman is transforming the Richmond Pub in Hackney, with stylist Margaret Crow by his side, into a ‘neighbourhood’ restaurant, featuring east London’s first raw bar. Expect ceviche, several types of oysters and clams, a rotating selection of carpaccios and tartars and fish, all ethically sourced, of course. We’ll be heading in for ‘oyster happy hour’ and negronis on tap.
WATCH I: DIOR AND I
From March 27, selected cinemas
From McQueen to Dior, or specifically, Raf Simons. Dior and I, the latest fashion doco on the must-watch list, follows the designer during the lead up to his momentous first couture collection for the French house in 2012. Directed by Frédéric Tcheng, the man responsible for the sartorial silver screen hits – Diana Vreeland – The Eye Has To Travel and Valentino: The Last Emperor, means we can expect the same compelling, behind-the-scenes drama and roll call of fabulous names.
DRINK: PAMELA
Opens mid March, 428 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA
We can’t wait to meet Pamela, the new bar in Haggerston, from the guys behind The Alibi and Birthdays (Real Gold). Set to take over the space of last year’s Bleach pop up bar on Kingsland Road, the details are still hush, but if it’s anything like the other venues expect nothing short of a late-night, party dive. Bring it.
WATCH II: ROMEO AND JULIET AT THE PEACOCK THEATRE
March 3-29, Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, WC2A 2HT Tickets from £15
A ballet done to a soundtrack of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jay Z… oh yes! Sadler’s Wells is blowing traditionalism sky high with its latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Set against big screen projections, the Rasta Thomas’ Dance Company will take to the stage, fusing ballet, hip hop and acrobatics, with a dream score that mashes classics with not-so-classics – think Vivaldi meets EDM, all in the name of Shakespeare.
SEE I: DESIGNS OF THE YEAR 2015
March 25 - August 23, £13, Shad Thames, SE1 2YD
Designs of the Year, a highlight in the culture calendar, opens this month. Spanning architecture to fashion, catch up on the best designs from the last 12 months. From campaigns to rehabilitated imperfect fruit (finally!) to the fashion collections of J.W. Anderson and Thomas Tait (to name a few), and of course, some tech-tastic designs such as the Google self-driving car, the future is here, folks.
INTERNATIONAL - PARTY: DESERT HEARTS SPRING FESTIVAL
March 27-30, from $100, Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, Palomar-Julian, CA
Another one bites the dust. If you’re after a Burning Man pre-party, try Desert Hearts – we’ve heard good things. Taking place in the Los Coyotes Indian reservation in SoCal at the end of the month, expect 72 hours of continuous dust-filled solid house, techno and partying. Headliners include Audiofly, Rodrigues Jr and Berlin based M.A.N.D.Y. Get in the mood here.
