Dame Helena Morrissey
“March is a month to celebrate! Whatever the political dramas, spring is in the air (I’m writing this bathed in glorious English sunshine) and International Women’s Day on the 8th is a celebration of women’s progress (though the real celebrations should be saved for when we don’t need a special women’s day at all). For the Morrisseys it’s a fun birthday month, too - my daughter Millie and I share a birthday on the same date in March and this year we’re also throwing a 21st birthday party for her elder brother. Spring, sunshine, women’s progress and life itself - really, what could be better?”
— Dame Helena Morrissey
MUSIC: RE-TEXTURED
It’s been more apparent of late that many are revitalising some of the brutalist buildings and architecture in our city. Look no further for example of this than Franks in Peckham which took over the roof of a multi storey car park and now the rest of the building has been transformed into a creative space for socialising, learning and sharing with others. Just down the road is the Bussey Building, a bare bricked simple structure that hosts raves by night and art fairs by day. Well, it was only a matter of time therefore before a festival wormed its way into the folds and that’s what we have with the brilliantly new Re-Textured Festival, brought to you by Krankbrother, an established and underground music event promoter. Combining techno and some of the capitals most iconic concrete structures, the festival takes place at the end of this month. Venues include Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank, Walthamstow Assembly Hall and Village Underground, in a semi experiment exploring the relationship between the music and the urban structures. As well as the sounds there will be lighting and visual installations across each to add another angle to the experience. Will it work? There’s only one way to find out. But Krankbrother rarely get it wrong...
GAME: CRYSTAL MAZE
Kids of the 90’s went mad when news of a real life Crystal Maze experience open to the public, was going to launch back in 2016 so get ready to squeal again because they are back with a brand new maze, brand new games and even more crystal balls up for grabs. Tickets go on sale this month for the new venue, just minutes from Piccadilly Circus and anyone that went to the last one needn't worry because everything is new, so you can’t cheat your way round the maze based on prior experience! Thankfully though, the bomber jackets are still there- because that was half the fun of running round with your mates like loons, you all matched and it made for some mega insta posts. Richard O’Brien remains in the form of his alternative persona’s with many actors reprising his role who make the entire experience so fun, they really do get into character! Tickets start around £50 but can vary depending on group size and you can even hire out the whole thing for a corporate event, or frankly a mega birthday party or private event of your own. Trust us, it is WELL worth the money. Now go grab those golden tickets and prepare to laugh a lot.
RESTAURANT: HARLEQUIN
Harlequin - named after the bold coloured sea bird - is the new opening from ambitious chef James Erasmus (ex. Ledbury and The Harwood Arms) and the team behind Nest in Hackney. So we know this is a good start! Located near Parson's Green on Wandsworth Bridge Road, they serve a monthly changing set menu (plus a snacks menu) built on the British seasons and James’ ancestral routes of South Africa. Courses include Biltong Carpaccio, Braised Short Rib of Belted Galloway Beef with Mash Potato and Turnip Tops and Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Cashew Nut Ajo Blanco. *dribbles. They are open Wednesday through to Saturday AND you can book a table, thank the food Gods. With oak top bars, white washed walls and lots of greenery, the interior decor makes it a calm and non-fussy venue to relax in with the focus on the food and a nice glass of vino.
VENUE: BIKE SHED
If you’re a fan of donning leathers and straddling a powerful engine or simply just admire all things motorbike related then you will likely have heard of The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club and at long last, it is a place you can go to, seven days a week. After almost five years of blogging, publishing, meets, rides and events they’ve quit the day jobs and created a full-time space in the heart of Central London at 384 Old Street. If you’ve been to one of their events you know exactly what to expect: Great custom bikes, proper barista coffee, superb food & hospitality, plus a shop curated with all the best gear & apparel, and you can even get your hair-cut. The restaurant serves up everything from breakfast to a hearty Sunday roast and the shop stocks everything a bike fan could want. They also have a unique private events space behind the shop for hire. It’s an incredible place and well worth a visit.
BAR: DO NOT DISTURB
The name of this bar makes it sound a little like where one would go on an illicit date or to entertain an affair, but actually, the whole premise is based around a 1920’s speakeasy, back in a time when booze was banned and those who sold it were breaking the law, so we understand their need for privacy. The good news is that despite its name, you actually must go and disturb because you’ll be annoyed if you miss out. Do not Disturb is located in Mansion House, underground and very lowly lit, all the better for secrecy after all, and is part of the hotel/restaurant combo, Vintry and Mercer. Drinks on the bar menu are made up with barrel aged liqueurs and include all our favourite friends such as The Manhattan, The Negroni as well as others that titillate us to say the least- the Hanky Panky and El Presidente. A bar snacks menu to accompany will take the edge off and whatever you do, just don't alert the authorities.
EXHIBITION: IS THIS TOMORROW?
Head to The Whitechapel Gallery in East London to take a look at their latest exhibition, Is This Tomorrow. More than ever there is a focus across the globe on our behaviour, consumerism and technological advances and how this is all changing, destroying and altering the planet, how we live and what it all means for the future. With this in mind, the gallery has invited ten groups of artists and architects to explore the potential of collaboration and how they see the future. This is a mirror experiment from The Whitechapel Gallery who did the very same thing in 1956 when names involved included Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi. The 2019 experiential projects take the form of environments, models, structures and systems, incorporating artworks, objects, film and graphics. Food for thought indeed and tickets are only £12.95. We wonder how many predictions will become a reality…
WOMEN OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL: WHAT NOW?
The annual Women of the World Festival is a global movement founded by Jude Kelly at the Southbank Centre in 2010, celebrating women and girls and looking at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential. This year we sincerely recommend you get yourselves down there for What Now?, a two part event on Friday 8th March, led by Kelly and with guests including Maisie Williams, Annie Lennox, Julia Gillard and Jordan Stephens. Together they will present stories, performances, discussions, and speeches all “designed to blow your mind and change your worldview”- So clearly they think it will be a mediocre afternoon…..joking. It probably will literally blow your mind and be the best Friday you’ve had in quite a while. Tickets vary in price depending where you nab a seat but you can find the option to buy plus all the other information you may need, here on the website.
MOTEL: MOLLIE’S
The ever expanding, world dominating Soho House Group have recently opened their latest venture- Mollie’s Motel. Located in Oxfordshire, in Buckland, this is the first of a group of 1950s American-inspired budget motels that will open across the UK. At a cheaper rate than other venues, Mollie’s opens up the Soho House Group to more people than ever with rooms priced at £50. The motel has 79 bedrooms, which will include interconnected family and bunk rooms, all designed by the infamous Soho House design team whose style is recognised the world over. The whole set-up is inspired by American diners of the 1950s so it’s no surprise that the in-house diner will serve up American classics from breakfast through to dinner including waffles, cheesy nachos, Dirty Burgers plus vegetarian options and a full children’s menu too. Wash it all down with a Mollie’s mule (not one for the kids) and stay tuned for the next of Mollie’s openings planned in Manchester and Bristol. Thanks Nick Jones for always encouraging us to book mini breaks and escape to one of your trendy bolt-holes.
CHARITY OF THE MONTH: WWF EARTH HOUR
At 8.30pm on Saturday 30th March you need to switch off all your light for 60 minutes. Why? Because it’s Earth Hour. And Earth Hour is all about protecting our planet and helping in the fight for solutions to the devastation and destruction that we as a species are causing to the planet. Organised by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the support they receive from millions of us helps them and others explore ways in which we can protect the planet including influencing national climate policies, planting new forests in Uganda, and banning plastic in the Galapagos. It’s not just us in the UK that are joining in because people across the globe take part and huge iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and Buckingham Palace are switched to darkness in support of this important message. “We’re fighting for our world”. So join the fight and flick that off switch.
APP OF THE MONTH: DUSK
Ya know that feeling when you want to go for drinks but that bar on the corner is out of bounds since you had too many vodkas and danced on the tables, yer mate hates the other one by the office and your partner insists on drinking something they don’t serve at your other regular? Well fear no more as the DUSK app is here to help your drinking establishment woes. It helps you filter through all the options in your chosen city (Well London, Liverpool and Manchester SO FAR) depending on the vibe, size, area you are looking for and more. You can flick through videos to get a better sense of what each has in store and save your faves in a list. A simple idea but always handy to have an encyclopedia of information on such things in one handy place and more importantly you can discover new places you didn’t even know existed before DUSK. Check it out on the app store here.