From Film Festivals To New Exhibitions: 9 Things To Do This Weekend

Catch the Royal Academy’s new exhibition, Francis Bacon: Man and Beast

You’ll no doubt have studied Francis Bacon during your GCSE art, but his work stems further than meets the eye. 

One thing that’s often apparent in Bacon’s bountiful work is his fascination with animals, from their shapes to how they resemble human parts too. This exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts explores his work, ‘where the line between human and animal is constantly blurred’.

Discover the next big hit at Sundance Film Festival

For the self-confessed film critics, grab yourselves front row seats to some of the best releases coming to the big screen right from the comfort of your home. This week sees the Sundance Film Festival take to the online world. Their programme is packed with exciting new releases from emerging and established filmmakers. 

Running until this Sunday, catch premiere screenings, short films and live events from your living room. There’s a whole lot to look forward to, from Jesse Eisenberg’s When You Finish Saving The World to Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee’s documentary Aftershock.

Check out this collaborative project at the Southbank Centre 

Fancy taking part in something a little different this week? Head over to the Southbank Centre and join musician Nabihah Iqbal and visual artists and quantum physicist Libby Heaney’s weekend audio-visual performance. 

Taking place this Saturday and Sunday, this collaborative product will guide you through field recordings of the Thames, Al-generated sounds and visuals, as well as music and words. You’ll be immersed into a world of real and artificial water-scapes, as you explore the symbolism related to the Thames. The project hopes to get audiences questioning the identity of the river and its meaning in contemporary Britain.

Stream the latest new period drama from the creator of Downton Abbey 

Period drama lovers, this will be music to your ears. A new historical drama has just dropped and it comes directly from the creator of Downton Abbey… 

The nine-part series is set in the American Gilded Age, a period of great change. It saw a mammoth economic growth, conflict between the old ways and new systems, and great fortunes made and ultimately, lost. The Gilded Age follows Marian Brook (Jacobson), a young woman as she transitions from rural Pennsylvania to New York City in 1882 following the death of her father. She moves away to live with her two aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Baranski) and Ada Brook (Nixon), both of whom come from great, old money.

Set on the brink of tremendous change and movement towards a more modern age, how will Marian fare? Will she follow the set out rules or surge towards her own future?

Julian Fellowes is leading The Gilded Age as creator, writer and executive producer. He’s the mind behind a wealth of hugely popular projects, including Downton Abbey and Belgravia. So it’s worth watching this new hit before Downton Abbey: A New Era, the sequel film finally hits cinemas in Spring 2022.

Get a taste of the Med at Selfridges’ new pop-up 

The Terrace at Selfridges has been home to many different collaborations, and their latest with Bombay Sapphire is bringing some much needed sunshine to these cold January days. Their two-month terrace takeover at Alto by San Carlo, the award-winning rooftop bar and restaurant at the iconic Selfridges London, is the ideal spot for a weekend catch up with friends, all surrounded by stunning Spanish and Italian décor. 

The new cocktail menu has been exclusively designed to celebrate the newest Bombay Sapphire gin and pay homage to the region from where the hero Fino Lemons are sourced, in Murcia, Spain. The backdrop might say London, but the drinks say Mediterranean.

Get inspired at AllBright’s Day Retreat 

If you’re yet to decide on your new year’s resolutions or need a little help steering towards your goal, book in for AllBright’s Day Retreat this Friday and see your 2022 vision board come to life. 

The female members’ club is inviting members to join them for a day of inspirational activities and workshops, nutritious foods and a chance to switch off from a state of ‘doing’ to a state of ‘being’. The day will be packed out with a full-body beginners Barre class, guided meditation, and a two-course lunch with Alice Liveing and friends. Alice will chat through healthy habits and nutrition advice for 2022, and will be followed by a vision board workshop with Poppy Delbridge. 

The day will finish with a CBD infused cocktail or mocktail with Trip CBD. It’s set to be a really inspiring day and a chance to connect with other like-minded members.

Cosy in for a winter meal 

Although we’re edging towards the end of January, it’s still very much winter and the weather isn’t getting warmer for a few more weeks. But instead of staying in and watching yet another Netflix series, why not head out, catch up with friends and explore one of the city’s cosy restaurants? 

Enter Coppa Club, the restaurant brand known for its igloos and snug interiors. They have a whole host of exciting restaurants across the city and beyond, all serving up warming winter dishes and many with open fires to warm up by. 

Right now their winter menu is excellent, offering everything from sauteed tiger prawns served with steamed rice, fragrant green curry sauce, toasted coconut and fresh coriander, to moreish ‘nduja and pork pappardelle with spicy ragu and parmesan cheese. Book in for dinner or enjoy cocktails with friends in one of their igloos or in front of the fire.

Celebrate Lunar New Year early

Lunar New Year might be celebrated on Tuesday 1st February, but the festivities are beginning to come out in full force already. 

The annual Trafalgar Square festivities may be cancelled but there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate in London. From wishing trees at MiMi Mei Fair and Battersea Power Station’s light festival, to set menus at one of London’s top restaurants, we’ve rounded up the best things going on to celebrate.

Check out this stylish new opening 

On Friday 28th January, TH@51 will open its doors for the first time. The new restaurant, located at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, draws inspiration from the Treehouse rooftop bar at The Taj Dubai, and will bring the outside in through its interiors. Expect a glass dining room, rich wood cladding, a soft green and pink colour palette, and a light, airy feel throughout. 

An open kitchen showcasing a theatrical Robata grill and chef’s table will take centre stage, with the menu drawing on influences from around the world. Expect signature dishes such as Burrata and kale chaat; Desi scotch egg; Moroccan poke; Korean roast; and a Paneer wellington.