Jeremiah Emmanuel
“My name is Jeremiah Emmanuel. I'm twenty two years old. I'm an activist, an entrepreneur, a former deputy young mayor of Lambeth and member of the UK Youth Parliament.
Raised in south London, I lived in an area where crime and poverty were everywhere and opportunities to escape were rare. Violence was accepted, prison was expected. That was the world I knew; the only one I thought was possible for people like me.
Then I discovered another world, one with opportunities around every corner. As I grew my network, I realised that the system actively works against certain members of society, silently preventing people from succeeding. I made it my mission to change this and to teach people like me about the secret rules of society that empower some to get ahead and keep others down.
Memoir meets manifesto, Dreaming in a Nightmare is a powerful account of the challenges faced by a new generation and how readers can rally to create change.”
Jeremiah Emmanuel, Youth Activist, Public Speaker and Entrepreneur
Activity: Chaos Karts
A few years back some super fun peeps brought the Crystal Maze to life and opened up the experience to us, Joe Public. Well, they’ve only gone and done it again but this time it’s Chaos Karts that will have us acting like kids and storming around an experience all giddy and competitive! In the first of our trio of game-inspired Hotlist entries this month, comes this video game go-karting experience that opens in Brick Lane on the 14th and is just one of the latest exciting experiences opening up post-pandemic. Players will race around a track that is virtually projected onto the floor of the 20,000 square foot venue. The fact the track is virtual means there is an ever-growing number of tracks to tackle and conquer. As with all racing computer games, you can collect ‘power ups’ and ‘weapons’ as you drive around, to use against your competitors, whilst dodging obstacles and storming for victory. The karts react to the course and vibrate to give the driver the sensation of competing on a real-life track. You can book with up to 16 mates and tickets cost £44. It’s not the cheapest activity out there but if it’s anywhere near as slick and exciting as the Crystal Maze was, then we are sure it’s worth every penny. Get your racing shoes on!
Restaurant: Park Row
How is it that until now we didn’t have a Batman-themed restaurant in the capital? Goodness knows but our (niche) prayers have been answered and Park Row is incoming. Simply attending a restaurant and eating food then leaving is so 2015, so we of course all look for an immersive experience to accompany any good meal these days. From the 10th of the month on Brewer Street in Soho, this new venture from Wonderland Restaurants and Warner Brothers, will come to life. They describe themselves as a ‘rich melting pot of some of the finest creative minds and storytellers from the world of food, film, and magic with a vision to bring curiosity and wonderment to the dining experience in a way never seen before.’ Upon entry you will descend into the Batcave in a cloud of mist entering into Pennyworth’s which is the first of the venue’s five separate areas. This restaurant and bar is an undisputed art deco masterpiece and pays homage to the Wayne family’s faithful butler. Guests are invited to savour classic cocktails, the finest caviar and sample the legendary Inishtree single malt whisky. Whilst everything is on theme you will marvel (see what we did there) at the premium and stylish details that will possibly even make you forget about the cape-wearing, nocturnal crime fighting chap who resides there. The 18,000 square feet venue will ensure you are continuously entertained, fed, watered, and impressed in equal measure. Visit the website to discover more and make your reservations.
Art: Mother of Mankind
The House of Fine Art has just opened a new and unmissable exhibition showcasing 18 emerging and award-winning Black female artists from around the world, including Jamilla Okubo, Sophia Oshodin and Cece Philips. Mother of Mankind celebrates Black femininity in all its form, exploring what it means to be a woman from Africa. The works collaboratively create a rich tapestry of themes including identity, gender, family, society, sexuality, empowerment, and consumerism, from the perspectives of black femininity. The artists share a bold figurative approach and a courageous, spirited embrace of mixed media that make the show a spectacular display of colours, lighting contrasts, and styles of portraiture that range from classic, austere, and prestigious to surreal, sensual, and playful. Curator Adora Mba says of the exhibition “The women presented in this show are in the early days of their artistic careers, yet already making waves and drawing attention amidst an industry which tends to be more supportive of their male counterparts.” Entry is free until the end of the month.
Bar: Skylight Peckham
Another day, another rooftop bar. You guys know we’re a fan of an elevated drink experience but especially this year now we have freedom and the opportunity to stare at a vista that isn't our living room walls. Allow us to introduce Skylight in Peckham is the newest venue from the incredibly popular Skylight in Wapping. With room for 250 guests it’s no pokey Juliette balcony we are talking about here but rather a vast terrace wrapped around a restaurant and bar serving up a masterpiece of Italian-inspired gastro treats and cocktails to write home about…well maybe just Instagram instead. Live Music and DJs will entertain you as you feast your tastebuds whilst you feast your eyes on the panoramic sweeping views of London from your seat. Skylight is located atop the Mountview Academy building on Peckham Hill Street so leave your vertigo at home and get down (or up we should say) there for a summer’s evening of indulgence.
Activity: Monopoly Lifesized
Game suggestion number two for you now and it’s another real-life classic for us to enjoy- this time a full-sized version of Monopoly is opening on August 14th, offering you the chance to hop around the board and build the property empire of your dreams. It’s called Monopoly Lifesized and is billed as a hybrid of escape rooms, board games, and team challenges. Taking the Monopoly board as inspiration, the creative team behind this adventure have turned it into a feat of both physical and mental challenges for participants to solve as they move around the massive board, including challenges such as building London’s landmarks against the clock, solving murder mysteries, or staging a Mayfair heist. Many elements of the original remain in place such as the thrills of passing Go, the disastrous frustration of spending a turn in Jail, or scooping a prize on Free Parking. There are four different boards available for gameplay which are: Classic, The Vault, City, and a special Junior board for kids aged 5-9, and as many as 24 people can take part in teams. Every team will have one of the classic Monopoly pieces leading them around the board and once you land on a square, you’ll head into the corresponding room to complete your challenge, each of which is themed around the area of London it represents. Monopoly Lifesized is setting up shop on Tottenham Court Road in the old Paperchase building. Renamed ‘The Court’, the three-floor space will house avid gamers all year round, in addition to a Monopoly-themed cocktail bar and restaurant named ‘The Top Hat’, and a shop selling Monopoly merch. It’s the first in a series of planned live gameplay venues coming to Central London. We can’t wait!
Festival: London Wonderground
If you head over to Earl’s Court you can indulge in a two-month-long festival with live music, live comedy, circus, food, drink, fairgrounds, DJ’s and even an urban beach alongside a 1000 person performance Big Top. London Wonderground is a mashup of Wondergound and the Underbelly Festival and has relocated to EC from the Southbank for 2021 and there is plenty of entertainment for both big kids and little kids on the programme. Some of the entertainment you can expect includes Film Reads which is reenactments of some of the best classic movies of all time but with comedy thrown in. Films include The Lion King and Shawshank Redemption, Dead Ringers live featuring faces such as Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson, A Night at the Musicals with a fab cast taking you on a journey through iconic musicals and just so so much more. You need to check out the website to really understand just how much entertainment is on offer here. It’s free to head into the Wonderground but make sure to prebook tickets to any specific shows you wish to see as they are all going to be popular! Food trucks, drinks vans and everything in between will help you keep your energy levels up too.
Activity: Four Quarters
The third and final game-themed entry for this month is Four Quarters in Elephant and Castle. Following on from the arcade game Four Quarters venues in Hackney and Peckham, the Elephant Park site is going to be its flagship location with 30 arcade machines, eight console booths and two large screens where games will be projected in a 3000 sq ft space including a bar which is set to mimic an arcade machine, with screens built into the walls showing games played on nearby controllers. Craft beers, classic cocktails and an array of burgers and small snacks will fuel the games for you and they include: Street Fighter II, Pac Man, Point Blank, Asteroids, The Simpsons, Space Invaders, and Sega Rally. The name of the bar refers to the American coins which are used to activate the machine but in real terms you can play four games for £1, making it a fairly reasonably priced night out! This is yet another excuse to hark back to our childhoods and release our inner kids and we are totally here for it.
Charity of the Month: Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. Founded on women’s struggle against patriarchy, sexism and male violence, Women’s Aid grew out of the Women’s movement in the ’70s and ’80s. They have been at the forefront of shaping and coordinating responses to domestic violence and abuse through practice for over 45 years and empower survivors by keeping their voices at the heart of their work, working with and for women and children by listening to them and responding to their needs. Each year they help thousands of women escape abuse and do this via all manner of ways from campaigning to providing frontline services. The goal is a world where domestic abuse is no longer tolerated. There are many ways we can get involved and support the invaluable work they do, from volunteering and campaigning, through to simply donating. Visit their website to find out more.
App of the month: Broadcasts
Tune in to thousands of live internet radio streams from across the globe with Broadcasts. Discover techno from Germany, reggaeton from Paraguay, classical from Estonia and K-pop from South Korea! This app would be especially fab for anyone learning a new language. Or perhaps you're a sports fanatic and want to hear live updates from matches in another country? Whatever your passion may be, tune in to global radio to stay up to date and broaden your listening options with this app!