Arts & Culture
Originally published on Thursday, 5th May 2016
The Culturist: April
Aside from sunshine, the month of May has greeted us with dumplings, old fashioneds, negronis, and some smooth jazz. Plus, Michelin chef Tom Sellers, acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama and Frankenstein are all back in the limelight. As for festivals, South London is representing with a one day bash. Enjoy!
EAT: RESTAURANT OURS
Opens May 19, 264 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW3 2AS
The highly anticipated second restaurant from Michelin-starred Tom Sellers has opened. The menu, like Restaurant Story, will be modern European and British cuisine such as quinoa with celeriac and smoked egg emulsion, monkfish with squid ink and courgette and veal chops with black truffle. As for the setting, expect a high tempo scene – giant trees, a mezzanine lounge, central bar. Oh and a catwalk?
DRINK: NEGRONI BAR
May 11- 21, Red Gallery, 1-3 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DT
It’s undeniable negronis are still having a moment. Case in point: the world’s largest negroni bar has hit London. As expected, the pop up will have all manner of negronis with over 30 different combinations and flavours. As for us, we’ll be making the most of the menu and ordering flights aka the Negroni Selecta. Aside from the libations, there’ll be a rotation of DJs including Crazy P and PBR Streetgang.
BOOK: OBONJAN
Opens May 13, 250 Paradise Row, E2 9LE
Or, if old fashioneds are more your tonic, head to Sager + Wilde Restaurant and take yourself up to their brand new Lounge Bar (on the mezzanine level), dedicated to the cocktail. With head bartender Marcis in charge, you can expect not only his signature (and UJ fave) olive oil old fashioned but a menu of creative twists on the classic…we’ve heard rumours of both a burnt coconut and maple old fashioned.
SEE: LIAM SCARLETT’S FRANKENSTEIN BALLET AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
The ROH has been busy breathing new life into Opera (from a Virginia Woolf ballet to a one-act version of Carmen,) and now, an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by choreographer Liam Scarlett is set to take the stage, with a lead performance by the Royal ballet’s principle dancer, Federico Bonelli. This is a hot ticket, so get organised.
PARTY: GALA
May 29, 11:30am – 10:30pm £25 Brockwell Park, SE24 0PA
If you’ve yet to experience the new gen scene of South London, now’s your chance to take it all in at GALA, the one day festival in Brockwell Park set to showcase the music, parties, food and drink scene of South London. Pick and mix from food vendors such as Kricket, Rum Kitchen, and Salon (to name a few) as you get down and dirty to the sounds of Norman Jay, Crazy P, Nightmares on Wax. As for drinks, it’s all about the Aperol Spritz bar. South London REPRESENT!
EAT: SHOTGUN X DUMPLING SHACK
UJ loves dumplings, so we’re happy they’re officially back on the menu. First with Dumpling Mondays at Rawduck and now Shotgun is set for its own dumpling showdown. Come May 15, the Southern BBQ joint will be hosting a ‘People’s Brunch’ with Netil House’s Dumpling Shack. Expect a dim sum style brunch menu mashing the two culinary styles for one day only – think brisket in bao and Chinese style dirty rice and even a salted egg custard 1235 Donut. Next on the dumpling trend, The Hoxton Hotel’s soon-to-open dumpling shop, Dumpy Lynns.
WATCH: BLOOD ORANGE
May 25 – July 30 Free entry Victoria Miro 16 Wharf Road, N1 7RW And Victoria Miro Mayfair 14 St George Street, W1S 1FE
Yayoi Kusama is back on British soil with a new show at the Victoria Miro gallery. Spanning the gallery’s locations and waterside garden, expect nothing short of the eclectic, surrealist, abstract and, of course, dotty art she is known for. There’ll be her signature pumpkin sculptures, new paintings from the artist’s ongoing series My Eternal Soul, and several mirror rooms (created especially for the show). If it’s anything like her major retrospective at the Tate Modern in 2012, put this at the top of your culture calendar.
DRINK: WHITE LYAN CELLARS
Opens May 23 4-10 Tower Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9NP
The team behind London’s ultra luxe Third Space gym is set to open a pay-as-you-go fitness centre in Covent Garden, Another_Space. The concept: A boutique, glossy gym offering just three classes: Cycle, Yoga and HIIT, plus a food and smoothie bar by Natural Fitness Food and Detox Kitchen. But, the best bit? No membership. No joining fees. Go!
