Clare Hornby
“December is a month of two halves. The start of the month sees the frantic race to prepare the business for the seasonal sale and the launch of our January collection, all before Christmas. But then as soon as my teenage girls break up from school, I’m all theirs.
Normally, we’d head immediately to Val D’Isère to spend five days at The Blizzard before the festive rush. With empty slopes and restaurants - it's bliss. My favourite restaurant is The Panoramic; slip into their cosy slippers, be greeted by their gigantic St Bernard and sink into a sheepskin-covered chair as you eat delicious cheese with everything, even grilled Romaine lettuce.
This year we will just dream of the Alps and instead celebrate at home in the Cotswolds with an abundance of new wired-haired miniature dachshund puppies - heaven.”
Art: Tracey Emin/Edvard Munch
Everyone knows the name Tracey Emin and can probably picture her unmade bed, which isn’t something you can say for that many famous artists. You can also instantly recognise some of Edvard Munch’s most inspiring works and are probably now picturing The Scream as you read this...right? In terms of their successes, Emin has been a major figure in contemporary art for over 25 years and Munch pioneered a radical new style known as Expressionism, and now for the first time from the 7th December at The Royal Academy of Arts, Tracey Emin selects masterpieces by Edvard Munch to show alongside her most recent paintings for a landmark exhibition. Emin has long had a fascination with the Norwegian expressionist and painter and the exhibition features more than 25 of Emin’s works including paintings, some of which will be on display for the first time, as well as neons and sculpture. These works, which explore the loneliness of the soul, have been chosen by Emin to sit alongside a carefully considered selection of 19 oils and watercolours drawn from MUNCH’s rich collection and archives in Oslo, Norway. This is an opportunity to see Emin’s work in a highly personal show. The selection reveals not only how Munch has been a constant inspiration – particularly through his profound portrayals of women – but also showcases Emin’s wide-ranging skills as an artist, which often interweave painting, drawing and writing.
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Theatre: Living Newspaper
The Royal Court in Chelsea is reopening its doors from the 10th December and bringing us ‘Living Newspaper’. More than 200 freelance artists have come together to create performances relating to the world as we know it right now, both locally and globally. The idea behind this came from the radical history of the Federal Theatre Project of the US – an arts programme that mobilised and employed artists and theatre workers surfacing from the Great Depression. A collective of writers have created six editions and performances will relate to longer form pieces, dating columns, a cartoon of the week, the world in pictures, a weather room, agony aunts, horoscopes and much more inspired by world events. The freelancers involved include writers, actors, animators, choreographers, composers, designers, illustrators, lighting designers, sound designers, stage managers and technicians and Vicky Featherstone, Theatre Director of The Royal Court says: “The aims of Living Newspaper are quite simple: to give as many people as possible work, to bring our theatre back to life and to create something which is urgent, dynamic, political and disruptive – acknowledging the hugely changed and changing times. It is a massive experiment but it is only something radical which has a chance.” We can either watch Living Newspaper live or online at home and what a fantastic way to again support the arts whilst reflecting on all that has passed in recent times.
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Christmas: Interactive Christmas Installation @ St Pancras
The nights are truly drawing in and we’re in ‘dark when you start work and dark when you get home’ territory now aren't we! Well thank goodness for sparkling, twinkling, smile inducing Christmas trees to brighten up our days. If you head to St Pancras you will see the most stunning Christmas installation - The 2020 Tree of Hope. The 34 ft high, pink EL&N wonderland-themed carousel, is topped with a ribbon-adorned tree and includes an interactive photo moment for guests to enjoy between 4-6pm daily, making for the perfect Instagram selfie. We have truly seen the world come together in a time of crisis this year and we will be forever grateful for the commitment, compassion and selflessness shown by NHS staff, key workers and carers throughout the country. To celebrate these heroes, the tree has been adorned with 1,200 meters of festive ribbon printed with quotes of love and hope from the fantastic team members at Imperial College Healthcare, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Ambulance Service and Royal Mail. EL&N’s specially created seasonal menu, bursting with festive favourites including a S’mores Hot Chocolate and Cinnamon Hot Pink Waffles will evoke even more joy among the station’s visitors. In homage to the station’s Christmas tree, EL&N have launched a pink 2020 Tree of Hope cake from which 10% of all sales will go to supporting food poverty charity FareShare. These can be purchased within any of the eight EL&N London cafés. It’s a beautiful installation with a very special cause and meaning behind it. You really must go and check it out.
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Kids: Hogwarts in the Snow
We still don’t really know exactly what the full Christmas period will look like, but frankly, we should be ensuring it’s still as magical as ever for children, regardless of the additional social distancing and government guidelines that we may have in place. So what better way to get into the festive spirit than with some magical Potter and a ton of snow! From Thursday 3rd December for Hogwarts in the Snow, we are all invited to explore one of the best sets from the Harry Potter franchise, Diagon Alley, as it has undergone a stunning wintery transformation. The cobblestones and magical shop fronts will have a festive makeover, draped in layers of filmmaking snow. During production, many different types of ‘snow’ were used, each selected for its ability to crunch under foot, float like falling flakes or glisten in the light like ice, but never melt. Using the same techniques, filmmakers will cover the magical shopping street this year. The stunning Hogwarts castle model will also be transformed and as you step into the authentic Great Hall set, you’ll be welcomed with wreaths, garlands and trees topped with witches on miniature broomsticks. The long dining tables will be dressed as they were for the seasonal feast in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, complete with SFX flaming Christmas puddings and prop versions of the mouth-watering roast turkeys and hams studded with cherries. Many more iconic sets will receive a festive touch and children (and adults too) will feel immersed and excited for the Christmas season. Please note that tickets must be pre-booked, and all extra features are included in the ticket price.
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Bar: Pergola Paddington, Miracle on Kingdom Street
Winter Wonderland may be cancelled but now that full lockdown is over we can’t wait for a festive beverage or two under an outdoor heater and a blanket! And thankfully, Pergola Paddington are also not going to let anything get in their way as they open ‘Miracle on Kingdom Street’ this month- huzzah. With a hardcore heating system meaning you can sit outdoors with friends without worrying about breaking the rules, log fires will also burn away as you knock back some mulled wine or boozey hot chocolates along with roasted chestnuts, fondue, burgers and other Xmassy themed treats. Oh, it simply is the ‘most wonderful time of the year’. Open until February 2021, the venue will also host festive film screenings, wreath-making master classes and gospel choir singalongs during these cold winter months. The website lists the full range of activities you can book but we recommend getting in quick to reserve a table as bars with outdoor seating and heating are golden these days!
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Theatre: Six the Musical
Henry VIII’s wives may not be the first thing that springs to mind when brainstorming musical themes but Six the Musical is exactly that. A comedy pop musical about all of his loves...even the ones he beheaded. One of the first musicals to return following lockdown, Six is coming to the Lyric Theatre from Saturday 5th December until April 2021. Of course, this will all be adhering to social distancing rules and therefore reduced audiences, but the theatre is back and we must all go and support the Arts after this horrid year. So, the premise is simple (not really). Henry’s many wives are back and have formed a girl band, naturally. They each sing their hearts out and tell the audience their sorry tale trying to invoke the most sympathy but under the guise of pop music and ridiculous humour. Honestly, it just doesn't make sense as a concept but yet it's been a huge success and we are so strangely intrigued to check it out. For some lighthearted and probably tenuously historically accurate entertainment, look no further. Would not recommend in lieu of GCSE revision, however, would highly recommend for some festive sassy silliness.
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Dance: Sadler’s Wells, Social Disdancing
Lockdown 2.0 put a halt on the Sadler’s Wells planned programme but now that we are coming out the other side of it we are so excited that their new Social DisDancing programme (Yes, we of course are also obsessed with the puntastic name) kicks off again this month. On the 11th and 12th December, Breakin’ Convention hosts a mini hip-hop-dance festival also called ‘Social DisDancing’ with a bunch of hip hop favourites: A.I.M, the explosive all female popping crew, Birmingham-based O’Driscoll Collective, b-boy Marius who stars in a duet exploring duality and mental clarity and East London favourites the mighty Boy Blue are also performing. The performance includes Our Bodies Back, an empowering ode to Black womanhood. Following this on the schedule is seasonal favourite ‘The Little Match Girl’. Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, Arthur Pita presents a beautiful recreation of The Little Match Girl through dance, song and Frank Moon’s live atmospheric music. Perfect for the whole family this festive season. How glorious to have these dancing delights to round off the year. Tickets for both can be bought via the website.
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Charity of the Month: Various
The 5th December marks International Volunteer Day so rather than recommending one charity in particular to you this month, we thought we would instead encourage you to get out and volunteer somewhere that can make a difference. It doesn't have to be the 5th December specifically either, why not challenge yourself to dedicate 1 day, any day, this month, to volunteering or helping those in need. You could go out and give blood or donate blood plasma to the Covid-19 research efforts? Look up your local food support groups and donate some food or volunteer to collect on behalf of those in your community who may not be able to access or afford basic food parcels. Dig through your wardrobe and donate warm clothing to local homeless shelters, thinking of those who don't have somewhere warm to sleep each night. Grab some bags and pick up litter in your local park or head to the coast and clean up the beaches of plastic. Think of that cause that means the most to you and go and make a difference, no matter how small you think it may be, it could mean the world to someone or somewhere. Send us a message and let us know what you got up to!
App of the Month: Ecosia
Are you mindlessly scrolling the internet each evening looking for Xmas presents, recipes for the BEST roast potatoes, new games to entertain the family or how to create your own cracker? Well what if you knew that as you scrolled through website after website, you were in turn planting trees.... Ecosia is the search engine that uses their profits to plant trees! The more you use their site, the more profit they make, the more trees get planted. Simple as that. Over 100 MILLION trees have already been planted thanks to Ecosia users so download the app to your phone and consciously scroll from here on out. Their website tells you how the trees planted so far have made a difference to communities around the world. Search the web, save the Earth.