Thursday 27 November 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I suggest testing out your vocals and adding some sparkle to your weekend attire by joining the Frozen sing-along at the Prince Charles Cinema.

If you haven't seen or heard of Frozen, then quite frankly I'm speechless. Since hitting screens in 2013, the tale about sisters Anna and Elsa have captivated children and adults, gone on to win two oscars and become the highest grossing animated film of all time. 

Having attended last weekend I can honestly say it's a hoot and after singing my heart out, and deafening those around me, my vocal chords are in dire need of rest. The evening shows are probably not suitable for youngsters (a lot of banter ensued around Anna asking Kristoff to take her up the North Mountain) but matinee performances will undoubtedly be swarming with mini Anna's and Elsa's with the occasional Olaf thrown in.

Frozen Sing-Along
Extras: Aside from coming together to sing Disney tunes, you get a bag filled with goodies including balloons and party poppers to make the film experience more interactive.
Cost: £16 (members £13.50)
Opening Dates: now till the 31st December, afternoon and evening screenings

Bricks of Art



                                 

So this weekend I hit the east side of London to check out the exhibition that everyone's been talking about...The Art of the Brick.

Conveniently located just off Brick Lane, the exhibition reveals some of the greatest works of art created by former US lawyer Nathan Sawaya. From ancient art to human emotion he's transformed the humble brick into masterpieces and this latest exhibition of his work demonstrated his ability and keen eye for replicating human expression and world famous art.

Everyone is obsessed with Lego. Since the little multicoloured bricks arrived in 1949 they've built up a huge following of kids and adults, inspiring us to use our imagination and build whatever springs to mind. Well most people followed the instructions on the box, but I must have been a brick rebel growing up. According to my Dad somewhere in the loft, amongst childhood toys and a sylvanian house, lives the most spectacular treasure chest filled to the brim with bricks that can make a castle with a dungeon, a luxury stable yard for the rich and famous and quite a few spaceships. SPACESHIP! I've even dreamt about living in a three storey, Victorian style Lego town house in Angel. It may not be structurally safe, but it's quite possibly the only way I'll make it on to the property ladder.

It's pretty obvious that I'm a fan of Lego, although I'm no way near in the same league as some die hard fans such as my Best Friend Ally, but I'm a fan none the less. Therefore it was only logical that I found myself admiring the statue of Lego David at the weekend and trying to guess how many bricks had been used to create it.
                            

Each room you walk through is styled to a particular genre or theme, highlighting Sawaya's talent as an artist. I was mesmerised by his brick interpretations of Gustav Klimt's The Kiss and Rembrandt's self portrait, but it's when you step into the human expression room that your jaw will quite literally drop. From a man clawing his way out of another man's stomach to a trapeze artist flexing their muscles, it's incredible to believe that these have all been created simply using Lego. The descriptions around each piece of work is useful, once you look past the slightly cheesy quotes. Even pop fans will be delighted to see that One Direction have been immortalised in Lego beside the Beatles. 
                          

                          

But it's when you get to the end of the exhibition where the fun really begins. If you can fend off the crowds of kids, you can delve deep into trays of bricks to make your own creations. I don't think I've seen my Dad so excited to build something - the spaceship he created was very impressive compared to my never ending staircase which had many design faults. His spaceship made it on to the display table, my staircase did not.

Maybe the great return home for Christmas will include a trip into the attic to resurrect the treasure chest of Lego. I might not be able to replicate the Mona Lisa, but I could try.

You've only got till the 4th January to see the exhibition. Visit http://artofthebrick.co.uk, to book tickets.

It only leaves me with one last thing. To share my top five things/objects you should make with Lego:
  1. The Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. It's more about Hans Solo than the ship 
  2. Anything related to Lord of the Rings even if it's just a plastic version of Gandalf's staff 
  3. The White House - why bother going through the rigours of campaigning when you can build your own version. You can't live in it, but you can look at it
  4. Anything to do with superheroes. Anyone who has made the Bat Cave is in my opinion the coolest person ever
  5. Freestyle - don't be limited by what's written on the box and instead come up with something creative. Anything is better than my never ending staircase

Thursday 20 November 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I suggest a craft infused evening of fun, with a cocktail or two, at Drink Shop Do.

November for many marks only two months to go till Christmas, but for many men it's the month of the moustache aka Movember. Men across the globe grow some amazing, weird and wonderful facial hair to generate awareness and raise money for men's health issues.

To show their support, Drink Shop Do in Kings Cross have been hosting special Friday events throughout the month, to raise money and provide some tasche-spiration by getting craft fanatics to make their own moustaches.

As not all of us can grow a moustache, this evening of craftiness is a great way to make your own and see what you would like with a bristly upper lip, whilst also doing it for a good cause.

There are so many great tasche's out there. Who will inspire you? Tom Selleck? Hercule Poirot or maybe even Charlie Chaplin.

Movember Mo Making
Extras: It's not just about the tasche! You can also enjoy some delicious cocktails including a Movember themed number!
Cost: Free to enter with a complimentary cocktail. £1 goes towards Movember when you buy a themed cocktail
Opening Dates: 21st and 28th November

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I suggest treating your senses, and a bad case of the munchies, with a visit to the BBC Good Food Show London at Kensington Olympia.

A feast for the eyes, feel inspired and try or buy local and international food and drink from a variety of stands. Talks and demonstrations with some of our TV favourites including Paul Hollywood, James Martin and Jamie Oliver will also be taking place across the weekend so you are bound to pick up some hints and tips to use in your kitchen.

There might just be one slight problem. You won't be walking home. You'll be rolling.

BBC Good Food Show London
Extras: Mary Berry will be there, need I say more
Cost: Starts from £26.50
Opening Dates: 14th - 16th November

Zombie Lockdown in Hackney Wick



So this weekend I found myself in a quarantined safe house, avoiding zombies, drinking beer and stuffing myself with cheesy chilli nachos at the latest Backyard Cinema movie night.

I feel well versed when it comes to zombies. World War Z is one of my favourite books and I've learnt some vital lessons from Rick and the Walking Dead TV series, so if a zombie apocalypse were to take place I believe I could kick ass and survive. The reality is that I'd probably be the first to be eaten or die in some trivial accident such as tripping over a kerb. Hopefully nothing bad would befall me during Backyard Cinema Apocalypse.


Born from a desire to enhance the cinematic experience and dull movie snacks and food, Backyard Cinema has grown from humble beginnings in a garden to taking over venues in Camden, revitalising the movie experience and offering delicious food for hungry guests. To celebrate the spooky season the film wizards headed to Hackney Wick to take over an old warehouse to showcase a series of zombie fest flicks with the added touch of an interactive theatrical zombie experience. From romantic zombie comedies to full on heart stopping, stomach churning, adrenalin pumping horror there's a wide selection of films to choose from to suit your fear factor limit. As much as I love Zombieland and 28 Days Later it was the first chapter of the cornetto trilogy, Shaun of the Dead, which felt right for this occasion.

On arrival at the quarantine zone we were lined up in two rows and given  orders from military personnel and debriefed on the situation. In a nutshell London wasn't in good shape. It had been taken over by the undead and as one of a small group of survivors, we had been directed to a safe house which also doubled up as a lab.....oh and they also happened to have a few caged zombies too. Health and safety issues all over the shop.

Whilst awaiting the movie, we were fed and watered in one of the safe areas which also featured an incredibly creepy shrine dedicated to victims - Backyard Cinema definitely pulled out all the stops to make the event as realistic as possible. I was also coerced in to buying some roasted bugs which according to experts, I didn't ask for ID, would provide me with the protein needed to outsmart and outrun zombies. Unfortunately, whilst texting this fact to my brother and telling him I'd eaten bugs, predictive text decided to change bugs to butts. As you can imagine he was slightly worried about where I was spending my Friday night.



Right my lips are sealed. I'm not giving anything else away as you really have to experience it for yourself to understand how great and slick the evening was. However; if there was one thing I learnt from the evening, it's who you can rely on in a zombie invasion. Clearly not my twin sister who sprinted away and abandoned me in my hour of need when a crazy female zombie launched herself at me. Maybe blood isn't thicker than water after all.

I don't think I've screamed so much in my life - looks like all that time invested in zombie themed books, films and TV shows hasn't helped at all.

If you haven't had your fill of frights for 2014, then you've got a few more days of zombie fun left. Visit www.backyardcinema.co.uk to book tickets.

In case a zombie apocalypse does occur in the near future, then below are some of my favourite tips courtesy of Columbus from Zombieland to help you survive.

1. Cardio 
2. Double tap 
3. Get a kick ass partner 
4. Beware of bathrooms
5. Double knot your shoelaces

Thursday 6 November 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I recommend tucking into a feast fit for a king at Forza Winter.

The communal dining, pop up feast based in Peckham tempts your taste buds with five divinely delicious Italian courses created using British ingredients. From simple starters to decadent mains you'll share the feast with fellow diners, no tables for two I'm afraid, and a bubbling pot of fonduta takes pride of place at the centre of the table. Great for dipping just about anything into.

I was fortunate enough to attend their last winter feast - I've never tasted a minestrone soup as good. Tickets sell fast, so get in quick and book.

Forza Winter
Extras: It's not all just about great food! There's a hot cocktail bar serving winter themed drinks or why not enjoy a good old pint of Moretti beer.
Cost: £30 per person
Opening Dates: Now till 20th December

Tuesday 4 November 2014

The Monster Mash Bingo-Style




So this weekend I like many others celebrated Halloween, but instead of dressing up and trick or treating I joined forces with witches, ghosts, ghouls and Stewie from Family Guy for a night of musical bingo.

The evening was a spooky edition of Indeedy Musical Bingo - the complete opposite to your average bingo night out. Set up in 2007 the event sets up camp in different venues across London and the US during the year, but don't expect a 'knock at the door' or 'legs eleven' from the MC. Instead think Gangsters Paradise or Vogue when it comes to ticking your way on the path to a full house.

Now my bingo skills are a little sketchy. I haven't played in a long time, but two memories always spring to mind when I think of this classic game. The first was striking it lucky with a full house during a visit to Ireland to see my 90 year old Great Auntie Nellie. I was only 13, but winning 5 euros was a moment of triumph even if the conversion rate wasn't great. My second memory is a bingo set my dad bought and used on a weekly basis to decide which numbers to go for in the national lottery. Each time he'd switch it on, it would scramble the image on the TV screen - not great when you are watching your favourite TV show and you believe that the Poltergeist film is becoming reality. So basically it's been a while since I've played, but by golly I wanted to win.

Despite standing in what felt like one of the longest queues ever for a G&T, my spirit couldn't be dampened as the anticipation built for the first round - a Halloween music themed round followed by a 90s round two and a hip hop round three. There's something quite spectacular about seeing a room full of spooks and monsters busting moves to 50 Cent In da Club.

Now the prizes to be won were slightly on the unusual side. You don't win money, but instead it's inflatables, sweet treats, retro CDs and much more. I had my eye on a huge inflatable dinosaur which I can assure all would have been used to recreate Jurassic Park in Shoreditch.

Sadly it just wasn't meant to be and I left the evening empty handed. Maybe I should have tried my luck at donut bobbing or fear pong!

Regardless of walking home without a prize, it was a great night out and the effort people went to with their costumes was amazing. Besides any excuse to dress up as a sorceress is always a good excuse. Roll on the Christmas event.

For more information and to find out where the next Indeedy Musical event will be visit, http://musicalbingo.indeedyinc.com/