Alexander Armstrong
There are some things – rice pudding, olives, marzipan – that I adore all the more in adulthood for the fact that I despised them when I was little. They’re new friends, plucky underdogs, that have won through entirely on their own merits, and they demonstrate, if not maturity on my part, then at least progress and adaptability, which of course makes me feel terrific and adds further lustre to their appeal. Right at the top of this list, I add September. In childhood, a bleak time of pencil shavings, name-tapes and scratchy, pudding bowl haircuts, the putting away of summer’s shorts and snorkels, barbecues and bicycles for the snotty return to school.
As soon as I had put away school however, far from being Summer’s limp follow-on, September revealed itself to be the crowning glory of the year, the splendid climax to one season and overture to another. Like all those orchard fruits and brambles, it ripens in a sun that is lower but more golden than June’s, a rosy footlight that makes the year’s retreat to the shadows heart-rendingly beautiful. What but September could make the coming Winter feel not just palatable but exciting? These days, I find myself sniffing the air every morning from mid-July, to see if I can detect the smoky whiff of its distant approach. I crave the crackle of its drier leaves, its richer, headier flavours, and the comforting return to normal after the sultry open windows of Summer’s airless nights.
This September brings yet further excitement for me with the publication of my first novel, Evenfall; The Golden Linnet (out on September 12th). It is a thriller for children that I have been putting together in my head for over ten years. It tells the tale of Sam, an ordinary boy on the cusp of his teens, who learns an extraordinary secret about his family and the role it has played in thousands of years of history. But just as he discovers that their ancient magic lives on through him, he realises that a terrifying, all-powerful enemy is still circling. Sam needs urgently to bring together the Linnets, a forgotten sect of storytellers, older than history itself, and unlock their power to save the world from unspeakable evil.
A perfect read for all ages over 9. Enjoy it perhaps with an olive as the nights draw in…
Evenfall; The Golden Linnet by Alexander Armstrong, HarperCollins Publishers, out on September 12, available for pre-order now.
Alexander Armstrong, Actor and Comedian
Food & Drink: The Marquee Moon
Credit: The Marquee Moon
The Team behind Docklands nightclub The Cause, All My Friends in Hackney Wick and The Greyhound in Peckham - aka a trifecta of awesomeness - are revamping a pub in Dalston. Once The Marquis of Lansdowne, it's being relaunched as The Marquee Moon and alongside drinks (which we’ll come back to momentarily) they will be serving up "British pub classics with East Asian accents". Executive Chef and New Zealand native, Huri Rapana Neil, has created a menu that draws on bright, bold flavours and ingredients largely from India, Thailand, and China. Dishes are served sharing style, with must-orders including the ‘Masala potato flatbread’ inspired by a 3-month motorcycle trip around India, and the show stopping slow cooked sausage and mash served pinwheel style with bold southeast Asian flavours. To round off your savoury dishes there are sweet treats like rice pudding brûlée or negroni jelly sundae for dessert. As for the aforementioned drinks, the cocktails will obviously also be influenced by East Asia. Devised by Emmanuel Ferris-Hue (ex-The Ned and Disrepute), signature serves include Pandan Old Fashioned - Uncle Nearest Bourbon, mixed with clarified brown butter, chocolate bitters, demerara sugar, and topped with a Pandan leaf - and Alfonso Margarita - Reposado Tequila, vacuum sealed with Alfonso mangoes and cooked sous vide to extract their flavour, before mixing Manzanilla, agave, lime and tajin. Local and independent beers and spirits will also feature. Curated by The Marquee Moon’s GM Rosa Salice, the wine list has a strong focus on natural organic and biodynamic wines. Lastly, the music system at the pub will be top notch so you can expect DJs into the night.
Food: The Barbary, Notting Hill
Credit: The Barbary
On the 12th of September, The Barbary are branching out from Covent Garden and opening a new site over in Notting Hill, specifically Westbourne Grove. As with the original restaurant, they're inspired by the food cooked over fire from “the countries from the Atlantic Coast through to the Mediterranean Sea leading to the Middle East”. Dishes on the sample menu include Sea Bass Chermoula, Whole Dover Sole, Coffee Rub Chicken and Hereford Sirloin on the Bone, alongside seasonal flatbreads. Puds include fire-baked basbousa and there will also be the incredible hashcake which is a must for any first-time visit to The Barbary. This new site will be much bigger than the counter-only version in Seven Dials, but will still include a big counter space as well as plenty of booth seating. A separate cocktail bar with a crack-glazed volcanic stone bar will serve up some delicious mixes, but the wine list is what you really want to go for. They will have 250 bottles on offer and a big reserve selection that will apparently include rare bottles of Krug and Salon. Another great addition to the West London dining scene.
Games: Bridge Command
Credit: Bridge Command
Space obsessives, games fans, interactive nuts and those looking to just do something a little different, come hither and let us tell you about Bridge Command. If you have ever dreamed of commanding your own Starship then your mind will be blown at this top tier immersive experience. As the bridge crew of your own vessel, you and your team will boldly go where no immersive theatre audience has gone before. The world of Bridge Command is a terrifying glimpse into a possible future. Earth is dead, the victim of climate catastrophe and societal collapse. Only a fraction of humanity has escaped from its dying home, and the uneasy peace between the survivors is decaying fast. All of the old tensions and rivalries are re-emerging in the face of desperate circumstances. The clock is ticking on the human race. So dramatic… Awoken early from Cryo-sleep, you have been pressed into service on board a Talavaar-class destroyer and the Commonwealth Stellar Navy needs you to report for duty. Fusing gaming technology with theatrical performance, Bridge Command offers a variety of scenarios testing your collective competence in problem solving, diplomacy, bargaining and space combat as you strive to keep your ship operational through a range of trying circumstances and moral issues designed to keep the whole team fully engaged. Designed for groups of between three and six people, the set is built almost entirely from recycled materials which we love and tickets are priced from £25. You can also book tickets for younger ‘cadets’ under 16, and you’ll find all this intergalactic fun in Vauxhall.
Art: Yoshida; Three Generations of Japanese Printmaking
Credit: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Featuring over 75 exquisite prints from the Yoshida dynasty of artists, this new exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery is a must see. Journey from the rich, nostalgic landscapes of the prolific artist and patriarch of the family, Hiroshi to the abstract work of the family’s later and current generations. The first of its kind in the UK and most of Europe, this exhibition shines a spotlight on three generations of woodblock print artists including Yoshida Hiroshi, Fujio, Tōshi, Hodaka Chizuko and Ayomi, tracing the evolution of Japanese printmaking across two centuries. It features loans from international and private collections and culminates with a new site-specific installation of cherry blossom by Yoshida Ayomi, Hodaka’s and Chizuko’s daughter. Yoshida Hiroshi is considered one of Japan’s greatest artists. A pioneer of the shin hanga movement, he travelled across the world and gained an international reputation for his woodblock prints of American and European landscapes. Hiroshi’s wife Fujio travelled with him across the USA and Europe, exhibiting her delicate water colours of Japan to acclaim. There are prints from Hiroshi’s and Fujio’s sons, Tōshi and Hodaka, both of whom brought post-war abstraction to the Japanese printmaking process. And lastly Hodaka’s wife Chizuko was a renowned artist and co-founder of the first group of female printmakers in Japan, the Women’s Print Association. Her works were said to have connected popular art movements such as Abstract Expressionism and traditional Japanese printmaking. What an incredibly talented family and such a special exhibition to go and see and you have until the 3rd November to go.
Bar: Oriole
Credit: Oriole
Oriole has had a transformation in Covent Garden and has now reopened once more. “The same, but different…”. Split across two floors now, on the ground floor, you’ll find the Bamboo Bar serving up aperitivo style cocktails, plus Oriole’s delicious small plates menu. For this bar you are welcome to just walk in without prior booking- always good to know if you are looking for something a little fancier on a night out and haven’t pre planned! Downstairs in the Restaurant, you’ll find a more familiar Oriole vibe: a plush basement space reminiscent of the original speakeasy. With their innovative signature cocktails all available to sip on alongside a new á la cartè food menu, which celebrates the fusion cuisines of Latin America, it’s an indulgent sort of affair. Your evening will naturally be soundtracked by live jazz, cabaret and world music, from some of the finest musicians in London.
Theatre: Waiting for Godot
Credit: Waiting for Godot © 2024 Theatre Royal Haymarket
Waiting for Godot is a play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett in which two characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting the titular Godot, who never arrives. From this month, a new production opens at the historic Theatre Royal Haymarket for a strictly limited run, starring Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati with multi award-winning director James Macdonald. Witty and absurd, poignant and profound, Waiting for Godot’s timeless take on what it means to be human makes it one of the defining works of the 20th century. They simply wait by a tree for Godot, they don’t know who he is, why they are meeting or what time he is coming – only that something incredible could happen when he does… “Let us do something, while we have the chance…at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it before it is too late!” Tickets are priced from £15 and the production runs until Mid December. A theatre trip is the perfect autumnal activity so book in soon before it sells out!
Festival: CelebrASIA
Credit: Battersea Power Station
South East Asia is taking over Battersea Power Station in September with CelebrASIA, a new festival shining a light on the cuisines, culture and creativity of the region. With events and activities taking place both inside and outside of the power station, the whole area will be transformed by lanterns, sculptures and immersive installations, designed to transport us to the continent without leaving little ol’ London. Renowned chefs from across South East Asia will serve up delicious delicacies including Malaysia’s Roti King, Singapore’s Old Chang Lee and Budgie Montoya’s APOY amongst those who have been confirmed so far. There will be an artisan market where we can buy sauces, spices, snacks, jewellery, homewares and accessories to take home as well as an arts and crafts workshop where we can try lantern-making or the Malaysian art of Batik. For the more young at heart and body, the Asean Games will give visitors a go at traditional childhood games and all of this fun will be soundtracked by live performances each weekend. We can’t wait to CelebrASIA.
Fayre: Camden Inspire
Credit: Camden Inspire
Camden Inspire is a celebration on the 7th September of Camden’s creative souls, who come together to deliver a weekend packed full of performance, art and creative workshops. This community-powered street festival embodies the spirit and diversity of the vibrant borough of Camden. It began as an innovative experiment led by Camden Town’s Business Improvement District post-lockdown and has blossomed into a dynamic showcase of creativity and community spirit. Year after year, Camden Inspire has evolved, expanding its creative program and partnering with established local cultural organisations. The festival partners with the likes of The Roundhouse, Green Note, Fiddlers Elbow and Camden Open Air Gallery so we can expect a jam-packed programme of top-notch live music, spoken word, poetry and dance. There’ll also be street art galleries, creative workshops and of course a smorgasbord of delicious local food on offer including Vibe n’ Go, Mildred’s, and Dumpling Pimps. Check out their website for the full listings of who you’ll see and what you can do!
Charity of the Month: Mind
Credit: The Poetry Pharmacy
Tuesday 10th September will be an unmissable, one-off evening celebrating the power of poetry, in which William Sieghart, author of the bestselling anthology The Poetry Pharmacy, will be in conversation with Stephen Fry, President of Mind, with an array of dazzling guests to read poems on prescription for a range of common, emotional conditions. Taking place at the Royal Geographical Society, this truly soul-soothing event will see William and Stephen discussing their favourite poems and poetry's benefits to our mental health, plus welcoming actors to the stage to read powerful, moving and healing poems. They want poetry to be our prescription as they delve into the power of words to uplift and inspire. Mind as a charity offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf. They empower people to understand their mental health and the choices available to them through their Infoline, which offers confidential help for the price of a local call, their Legal Line, which offers information on mental health law and their award-winning information, available online and in print.