Annoushka Ducas
“My favourite place in January is Mégève, where we have been going for many years. We always spend a few days ski touring through some of the prettiest pine forests in the Alps with the wonderful mountain guide Fred. My favourite mountain restaurant is La Forestière, for a simple but delicious lunch. We have had an apartment here for 24 years and my children all learnt to ski here: it really is a home away from home for all of us. A night at the Jazz Club is essential, as is lunch at La Petite Raviere - a tiny restaurant hidden away amongst the pine trees.”
Restaurant and Bar: Amazonico
Hello 2020! So we’ll kick off the first Hotlist of the year with a food related entry because...well that’s how we roll. If you haven’t booked any exotic trips for the first part of this year then fear not because for the price of a tube ride, get yourselves to Berkeley Square and take a trip to the Amazon thanks to newly launched Amazonico, an elegant rainforest themed restaurant open from morning until…early morning. The stunning and immersive gold and green decorated space has room for 300 guests and serves up sumptuous cuisine to appeal to all taste buds. Co-founder and chef Sandro Silva says, “Amazonico is a journey, a trip down the Amazon river through Brazil, Colombia, Peru.” A journey that also takes you via Asia with a dedicated sushi menu! Amazonico has landed in London following the cult success of its original Madrid site and the hanging foliage and hidden (plus not so hidden) animals will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a holiday. The Latin energy will radiate from all around you as you tuck into dishes that include charcoal grilled meats, Patagonian grilled hake or stone bass with quinoa crust, Brazilian palm hearts and Guillardeau oysters with a pineapple chimichurri. If you prefer the company of your closest pals only then make a reservation at their private rainforest room that seats 20. After the food and drink you can move into the jungle jazz club for nightly performances with artists singing jazz, soul and bossa nova. Amazonico is backed by the same investors as Roka and Zuma and with such a prestigious address, you know this isn’t going to be like visiting the Rainforest Cafe…
Lights: Canary Wharf Winter Lights
The lead up to Christmas is a bun fight for who can unveil the most extravagant light installation. But like moths to a flame us Londoners lap it up. Well what have Canary Wharf done? They’ve thought “Sod it, we’ll just do ours in January”. Bravo Canary Wharf. They also do not do them by half either! The Canary Wharf Winter Lights are pretty bloody spectacular and well worth a visit between the 16th and 25th of this month. Over 25 different installations will light up the January blues with work from some of the most innovative artists across the globe working in light art today. Visit the website to download a festival map that will guide you round the 90 minute route. The various designs include neon wording with powerful messaging, cascading waterfall lights, synchronised musical displays, designs to inspire thought around environmental issues and interactive light painting amongst many many others. So don’t hide indoors from the January darkness but instead light up your world, thanks to Canary Wharf.
Book: You’re not Listening, Kate Murphy
These days we are all very good at communicating. And that’s because on top of conversations and phone calls there are so many new platforms to help us project our voices- Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook, email and all the rest. But are any of us listening? Are we so led by our desire to make our voices heard that we aren’t actually checking to see who is hearing? New York Times contributor Kate Murphy’s new book explains that actually, the art of listening is getting lost. As a society we seem to have forgotten how to listen, like, REALLY listen and so Murphy has written her book having spoken to those who really do have to actively listen for a living- think bartenders, priests and the FBI- to work out what’s going wrong. It’s a fascinating and thought provoking read that will remind us all why listening is actually the best way to truly connect with people. The book is released in the UK on the 23rd January and available via all major book retailers but we’ve linked to Waterstones here.
Art: Picasso & Paper
The Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly is one of the most iconic art houses in the city. Pablo Picasso is one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. And they are coming together in January for a comprehensive exhibition devoted to Picasso’s use of paper, a simple but incredibly multidimensional art tool. At Picasso & Paper, over 300 of his works will be on display for the public to explore the numerous ways he worked with paper and we aren’t talking about fresh A4 sheets from the printer with an HB pencil- Picasso used newspaper cuttings, tablecloths and antique papers with rips, burns, colours and everything in between during his process for some of his major artworks including Guernica and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. The exhibition includes documentary footage of this icon at work with this universal material throughout his prolific 80 year career and what better way to kick off your new year of art discovery with a visit to explore one of the greats, at one of the greats.
Activity: Birdies
Crazy golf has had a rebirth in recent years and is one of the most popular alternative nights out so it may be no surprise that new ones are still opening up. However, the brand new Birdies site gets cool points for being nestled in the arches of the infamous Battersea Power Station and then gets even more for being a “surreal” course to complete. The 9 hole venue offers up a reimagined and improved version of this classic game with smoke, mirrors, butchers curtains, neon lights, mind bending layouts and all sorts to contend with. The website alone will give you some idea of what to expect! Much like any decent crazy golf venue though, Birdies will offer up food and drink for us all to indulge in as we play but even the cocktails in the elegant bar have a twist with some CBD infusion options then there’s a chocolate fountain and a Pan-Asian street food menu from Taco-Yaki that includes both vegan and gluten free options, naturally. The regenerated Battersea Power Station is going to no doubt become THE place to hang out so Birdies have nailed it by setting up home already and we can’t wait to head down for a par-tee.
Film: London Short Film Festival
Calling all film fans- 2020 marks the 17th London Short Film Festival from the 10th until the 19th of this month. The Festival is a chance to discover new talent and innovative short films as they showcase the best of UK independent films alongside international submissions including dramas, comedies, documentaries, low budget shorts and experimental works. There are numerous film screenings, live music events, talks and workshops bringing together new and established talent in filmmaking at unique and independent venues across London. Renowned as the capital’s ‘cornucopia of new and beloved shorts from around the world’, the LSFF is the first significant date on the UK’s film calendar as each January sees diverse audiences of 10,000+ at some of London’s most historic cinematic venues, from the Institute of Contemporary Arts, to BFI Southbank, to Dalston’s Grade II listed Rio. It’s not one to miss.
Experience: Secret Theatre- Masquerade Ball
Secret Theatre have travelled the world with unique and sold out, immersive site projects that have entertained a global audience with intimate experiences. They are back in London this month with their brand new experience- The Invitation, a secret Masquerade Party in one of London’s most opulent and historic venues. We are invited to immerse ourselves in a mysterious, site specific, arcane world of masked secrets, hidden clubs and a tragedy like no other. As their name suggests, there is a certain high element of secrecy around the experience and you only get access to information upon purchasing a ticket but having previously been voted by GQ as the “coolest show” and “Number 1 event” by Tatler magazine, we aren't particularly concerned about being disappointed! In a world where not everything is as it seems, will you be able to figure out your fate? Be warned, this is a devilish, theatrical immersive experience. Tickets start from just under £40 but there are dinner options available which of course will up the price. *goes mask shopping*.
Charity of the month: Alcohol Change UK
So, many of us will be hopping on the Dry January bandwagon but why not give the money you save to a charity dedicated to driving a change in alcohol habits, Alcohol Change UK. A bad relationship with alcohol can lead to issues such as poverty, mental health issues and homelessness and as a charity they are striving to make changes here. To be clear, Alcohol Change UK aren’t anti alcohol, but instead want to promote a change in people’s alcohol habits making drinking a conscious choice, not a default. In the UK one person every hour dies as a result of alcohol. Alcohol harm – mental health problems, liver disease, one of seven forms of cancer, economic difficulties, and so much more – can affect any one of us, from any walk of life. The money you donate helps to fund the education and support of those in need. Dry January may seem like a fad that everyone jumps on after the excesses of Christmas and New Year’s Eve but research from the University of Sussex has shown that the health benefits are greater than you may realise. Over two thirds of those who took part in their study reported generally improved health, slept better, had more energy and over half had lost weight and could concentrate better. So if you are going to give Dry January a go, consider donating to Alcohol Change UK.
‘App’ of the month: Giki
Giki is here to make it easy for us all to shop sustainably. They believe we can all reduce our environmental impact one habit at a time and play a part in protecting the environment now and for future generations. If you download the Giki app you can get informed and know the impact of your UK supermarket products for a more sustainable lifestyle. Simply scan the barcode of the item to see if the item is healthy, organic, free from chemicals, responsibly sourced, meets animal welfare standards, has a carbon footprint, recyclable packaging and many other ratings that can influence your purchasing decision for the better! There is no Planet B after all.