Weekend Wonders: 11 New Things To Try Out This Weekend
From partaking in indie film festivals to trying French fry-flavoured milkshakes, here’s what to do this weekend.
It’s almost the weekend – it’s so close we can almost touch it – which means it’s time to sample new brunches, watch new films and listen to Billie Eilish’s exciting new lp release. Well, that’s at least how we’ll be spending ours. Read on to find out more.
Make the most of the summer holidays at London Wonderground
From late night comedy and live music to vintage fairground rides, and even an urban beach, London Wonderground ticks all of the boxes and more for fulfilling our dream of living out childhood days once more.
Running all summer until late September, Earls Court’s London Wonderland is brought to life thanks to the Underbelly events team, bringing a bounty of exciting going ons for all ages to enjoy. Expect live dinosaur worlds coming to life on stage, comedy sets from Al Murray and drag shows.
From circus days to comedy productions, there’s so much to do and a whole lot of street food to enjoy too.
When: Running until 26th September
Where: Empress Place, Earl’s Court, SW6 1TT
Website: www.londonwonderground.co.uk
Catch a new film at the Sundance Film Festival: London
Watching film after film was one of the only things that has gotten me through the last 18 months. It’s been a chance to immerse myself,escape reality and venture into a whole new world, away from the worries of the pandemic. If you too fell back in love with the magic of cinema or you’d call yourself a bonafide film lover, then you might want to head over to Picturehouse Central this weekend for the Sundance Film Festival.
Running Thursday to Sunday, Picturehouse Central will welcome Sundance Film Festival: London back through its doors for the sixth year. This year’s programme includes twelve exciting feature films, panel discussions, Q&As and special guest appearances.
The festival begins with an exciting screening and Q&A with Edgar Wright for his debut documentary, The Spark Brothers. Other screenings include Manuel Crosby and Darren Knapp’s First Date, Janicza Bravo’s Zola and Ninja Thyberg’s Pleasure.
When: Thursday 29th July – Sunday 1st August
Where: Picturehouse Central, Corner of Great Windmill Street & Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly, W1D 7DH
Website: www.sundance.org
Check out the Amy in the Light exhibition
Last Friday 23rd July marked ten years since the tragic death of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. In honour of her music, talent and memory, the Brownsword Hepworth Gallery has opened a new exhibition, with never-before-seen images of the musical genius.
Amy in the Light showcases a collection of photographs from photographer and long-time friend of Amy’s, Phil Griffin. The result is beautiful, striking and well worth the visit.
The exhibition is open now and free to visit, Monday-Friday.
When: 23rd July – 14th September
Where: 15 – 17 Walton Street, SW3 2HX
Website: www.brownswordhepworth.co.uk
Check out this cool new restaurant opening, Sachi at Pantechnicon
If your holiday to Tokyo has had to be scrapped for another year, fear not as we’ve found the perfect new restaurant bringing the sights, sounds and flavours of Japan to the capital.
Sachi, a new restaurant celebrating the food, culture and design that Japan is so renowned for, has opened its doors in Pantechnicon, London’s home of Nordic and Japanese creativity.
Expect refined interiors, nodding to Japan’s celebrated simplistic designs, and Japanese-cum-Nordic influences scattered throughout the menu. Menu highlights include Hotate no chōri – scallops, artichoke and yuzu with fermented grains; Suzuki Usuzukuri – seabass, lava salt, sea and buckthorn; and Robusutā Nama Harumaki- lobster, kohlrabi and cucumber with mugi miso.
Where: Pantechnicon, 19 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8LB
Website: www.pantechnicon.com
Try a French fry-flavoured milkshake…
So you’ve tried a French fry, you’ve slurped up endless milkshakes but have you ever tried a French fry-flavoured milkshake? We think not.
This weekend sees Londoners in for a sweet and salty treat as they have the chance to try the world’s first French-fry flavoured milkshake. Available to try this Saturday at the E20 Street Food market in Hackney’s Olympic Park, the sweet and salty milkshake is set to be one of those weird combinations you’ve always longed to try but never dared.
It’s said to draw inspo from the food combo of dipping McDonald’s fries into an ice cold milkshake. And the sweetest part of the whole experience? East Villages will be giving away 250 free milkshakes so you can try one out for yourself.
Entry is free but you can register to secure entry here.
When: Saturday 31st July, 12-6pm
Where: Victory Parade, East Village, E20 1EX
Website: www.getliving.com
Visit Heather Phillipson’s powerful exhibition at the Tate Britain
Tate Britain’s latest commissioned exhibition is bold, vibrant and powerful. Titled ‘Rupture No.1: Blowtorching the Bitten Peach’, Heather Phillipson’s work has utterly transformed the central gallery space, creating what she describes as ‘charged ecosystems, maladaptive seasons and unearthed lifeforms’.
The space, filled with blood red walls, showcases a series of multimedia projects from video to sculpture, installation to poetry. It’s a ‘pre-post-historic environment’, abrim with imagery, sounds and motions you wouldn’t typically see casted together.
Complex and emotional, it’s well worth the visit to deep dive into one of the best working artists of our generation.
When: Until 22nd January
Where: Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain, SW1P 4RG
Website: www.tate.org.uk
Take your granny out to Brixton Brewery
When was the last time you took your Nan out for a night on the town? If you’re scratching your head, then it’s about time you did something about it. Thankfully, Brixton Brewery is on hand this weekend with their four-day celebration dedicated to the oldies in your life.
Running this Thursday to Sunday, the brewery is running a really sweet campaign, ‘Bring your Gran for a can’, where over 60s will receive a free can of Generation Pale Ale. Bring a friend, relative or colleague and treat them to a night out.
This Thursday 29th, they’ll also be running a night with Age UK Lambeth, hosting a night of free beer and music, courtesy of over 60’s partier DJ Shadow Sister.
When: Thursday 29th July – Sunday 1st August
Where: Brixton Brewery Taproom, Arch 548 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PF
Website: www.brixtonbrewery.com
Dance the night away at this soul night
Restrictions have eased, live music is back on and nhow is throwing the Saturday soul night you won’t want to miss.
Running this Saturday night, the Macclesfield Road hotel will be inviting guests to dance the night away. Fueling the music for the night is DJ Calvin Francis who’ll be spinning the decks, playing soul music favourites.
Make a day of it and head down early to grab a bite to eat from their all-day dining menu. Feast on dishes such tomato and melon bruschetta; charred octopus kebabs; and the intriguing rosemary doughnut packed with parma ham, parmesan cheese, black pepper and pickles. There’s also delicious sourdough pizzas, fish n chips and beef burgers.
The night kicks off at 5pm and will be running until midnight.
When: Saturday 31st July, from 5pm
Where: 2 Macclesfield Road, EC1V 8DG
Website: www.nhow-hotels.com
Drink to restrictions lifting at Bocconcino
The weekend always calls for cocktails, and no more so than now! With restrictions finally lifted, celebrate with loved ones at Mayfair’s Bocconcino.
They’ve launched a new cocktail menu to celebrate. Their mixologists have been busying themselves, preparing an array of cocktails filled with fruits, spices and liquors. Not to mention a dash of smoke, fire and ice in tow. From refreshing cucumber martinis for warm weather nights to classic French 75s, there’s something for every taste bud.
No longer will you have to pick your five favourite friends, hurrah!
Where: 19 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8ED
Website: www.bocconcinorestaurant.co.uk
Get tipsy at this tequila filled brunch
Brunch just got a whole lot boozier. This weekend Cali-Mexican restaurant, Madera at Treehouse London, has teamed up with tequila brand, Casamigos, to bring Londoners an exciting new summer brunch series.
Taking place on the last Saturday of the month, guests are invited to brunch through a sun-filled Mexican brunch and sip on Casamigos cocktails. Enjoy cocktails like A La Vida, a mix of Casamigos Reposado, carrot juice, lemon, honey and ginger, and the La Barrio, a fruity blend of Casamigos Blanco, watermelon, mango and chilli shrub, lime and agave, while you dine and party out the afternoon.
On the food menu, expect dishes including Fajita bowls; Tres Leches French toast; Taquitos al gusto; and Mushroom and truffle frittata.
Alongside the food and drinks, the brunch also features live entertainment, dancers and DJs.
When: Saturday 31st August (next dates: 28th August & 25th September
Where: Madera at Treehouse Hotel London, 14-15 Langham Palace, W1B 2QS
Website: www.treehousehotels.com
Listen to our album of the week, Billie Eilish – Happier Ever After
I won’t lie, Billie Eilish’s raspy vocals, dark lyrics and edgy style captivated me as much as any other young listener when she released her debut pop-heavy album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? In 2019. So like every other young millennial and Gen Zedder, I was ecstatic when she finally dropped new singles and hinted at her new album earlier this year.
But if her singles and her blonde style is anything to go by, the new album, Happier Ever After, is going to be different. She’s already set a new record on Apple Music, for becoming the most pre-added album on the streaming service, ever.
So, what can we expect from the album? A more mature, slower sound, but some real scorchers to set her music apart from the rest.
Release Date: Friday 30th July
