Nomad pop-up cinema

We all like the excitement of pop-up shops.  We all like good films.  Well HURRAH for Nomad then, who’ve organised pop-up cinema.

This latest spell of sunny weather has done nothing but fuel my desire for lazy summer evenings.  Good job then that tickets go on sale today for a number of films around London over the summer months.  Watch films under the stars in places like Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

Watch classics like ‘Some Like It Hot’ and ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ along with a host of other great films.  It’s all very hush-hush – but from their past screenings, you can probably expect live music, costumed ushers and audience participation too.

Check the listings and book your tickets here.

Tickets are also available for film screenings in cinemas now.  Prices from £12.50.

 

Wandsworth Common Beer Festival

The weather has taken a good turn this week, so why not head to the Wandsworth Common Beer Festival this weekend?

With over 100 beers from across the country, there’s enough to suit every taste.  Children are welcome in the afternoons and along with the beer there’s plenty of entertainment on hand – they’re even showing the Wales v England match this afternoon.

Non-beer fans needn’t worry – cider and wine is on tap too.

Entry is a mere £2 (£1 CAMRA) and it’s all on at the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building on John Archer Way.

Head down there 1-11pm on Saturday and 1-4pm on Sunday.

Nearest Station: Wandsworth Town

 

International Chessboxing

Chess.  Boxing .  Combined, they make chessboxing.  And tonight, you have a chance to watch it.

So…what exactly is it?

Basically, what it says on the tin.  Designed to challenge you mentally and physically, participants take part in a quick warm up and then take turns to challenge each other in the ring – just like a normal training session.  But during the short recovery periods, athletes can also challenge each other over a game over chess.

After all the action, get involved with the cabaret dance party which will keep you entertained until the early hours.

Tickets are from £15 and are available only through the website.  There will be a limited number on the door.

It’s happening at the Dome at The Boston Arms, 178 Junction Road, from 7pm.

Nearest Tube: Tufnell Park

Forget the boat race – watch the GOAT race

The Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race is on this weekend.  But we all know it’s going to be packed and hard to get a good view along the river, right?*

So obviously the answer lies here: forget the boat race – head to Spitalfields City Farm to watch the great GOAT race instead.

Yep – you heard me – the Oxford v Cambridge goat race.

Two goats, both named after said universities.  Before they race around the farm, you can place a sly bet as there’ll be bookies on hand – but if that’s not your thing, just enjoy the goat themed stalls and entertainment.

The event starts at 1pm, but the race gets going at 4:30pm, on March 26th.

As expected, this is a popular event so book your tickets here – they’re only £4 (and the cash goes straight back into the farm).

Spitalfields City Farm is on Weaver St, just off Brick Lane.

Nearest Tube: Aldgate East/Liverpool Street

* Ok – if you do want to go and watch the actual Boat race, Time Out has a handy guide to the best viewing spots here.

Kensal Flea

Kensal Flea is a boutique flea market popping up this weekend.

Organised by Park Life – a blog for residents in Kensal Rise and Queen’s Park – there’s a whole bunch of stuff going on throughout Saturday, March 19, and it all sounds fab.

£1 entry gets you into the market which will be hosting stalls selling a variety of wares, including  jewellery, clothing, cakes, vintage fashion and homewares and more.

The entry fee will be donated to a couple of charities, including the local Lexi Cinema.

There’ll also be a pop-up art gallery and a selection of refreshments (including a pie stall, yum!) – as well as entertainment in the way of bands and DJs – and 6 Music presenter Shaun Keaveny will be hosting things from 1-3pm.

If that’s not enough, there’s an after-flea party with comedy from 7:30pm (£2 charitable donation), and then at 9pm a DJ will be on to entertain you for the evening (£3 entry).

It’s all taking place at Paradise by way of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane.  The flea market opens at 12pm and runs til 5:30pm.  You can get more info and RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Nearest Tube: Kensal Green.  Kensal Rise, Queen’s Park and Ladbroke Grove are all nearby.

Angelheaded Hipsters at The National Theatre

Alice Stevens

On a grey and wet day in London, I found the perfect way to spend Saturday morning by visiting the National Theatre for one of their platform events. In conjunction with a photography exhibition, titled Angelheaded Hipsters, currently running in the foyer of the Lyttleton theatre they held a platform discussing the Beat movement.

Having always been fascinated by the beat movement, the three panellists offered a fascinating insight into the origins of the beat movement, the characters involved and its influence today. The whole event was brought to life by actors reading excerpts from the key texts of this literary consciousness, and a trumpeter playing music such as My Funny Valentine and St Louis Blues.

The photography exhibition is also well worth checking out. It’s a collection of photos from Allen Ginsberg charting the early days of Kerouac, Ginsburg, Burroughs and Cassady – and also includes works by other photographs demonstrating the influence of the Beats.

With Ginsburg’s iconic poem, Howl, opening in cinemas this Friday, and Kerouac’s On the Road also being made into a motion picture with Sam Riley cast as Kerouac, their influence is clearly still being felt today. Their desire to move away from societal conformity and make sense of the changing world holds much resonance as events unfold in the Middle East.

The photography exhibition is free and is running until the 20^th March.

Nearest Tube: Waterloo/Southwark/Embankment

London Photograph Fair

This weekend you can gain free entry to the London Photograph Fair.

All you have to do is click here, and then email through to receive your voucher.

The London Photograph Fair takes place four times a year, and has an emphasis on photos from the 19th and 20th century (although there are some from this one too).

There are often hard-to -find photography books on sale as well.

To take a peek at all this, head down to the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury on Coram Street.  The free vouchers are valid from 2pm on February 20th – otherwise it’s £3 to get in to the exhibition (although some exhibitors will refund that on purchases over £20).

The fair is open 10am-4pm

Nearest Tube: Russell Square/Euston/Kings Cross

Last chance to ice skate at Canary Wharf

Tired of the cold yet? No? Well head on down to the last weekend of ice skating at Canary Wharf.

The ice rink is closing on Sunday, February 20 – so get your skates on (quite literally) before it’s over for another year.

Learn to skate amongst the towers above on the 720-metre-square rink, or watch from the bar or viewing gallery.

The rink is open 9:45am-11pm on Saturday, and 9:45am-7:30pm on Sunday.  Last entry to the rink is an hour before closing.

Tickets are £12 or £9 conecssions, and that includes the hire of the skates.

The ice rink is located at Canada Square Park.

Nearest Tube: Canada Square DLR

Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

Mmmm pancakes.  Stuffing your face with them doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with exercise – but the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is all in the name of fun.

And charity.

It might seem a while away – Pancake Day is on March 8 this year – but  if you’re up for it, you and 3 team-mates can race up and down Dray Walk to raise money for the London Air Ambulance.  Email or call 020 7375 0441 to enter or for more information.

That’s about a month to get in training!

After you’ve worked up an appetite after all that running, you can always reward yourself and eat the pancake – providing you didn’t drop it along the way….

Aside from pride and glory, the winners receive an engraved frying pan for their efforts.

The race goes from the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, starting at 12:30pm.

Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street

 

Gloomy Valentines

It’s that time of year again, Valentines Day is just around the corner.  If you’re single though FEAR NOT.  Feeling Gloomy and Down With Dating are here to save the day.

Tonight you can head down to o2 Academy Islington and drown your sorrows/meet your future love from 8pm.

The evening is split into two parts:

Feeling Gloomy embrace single behaviour on Valentines

Part One is organised by Down With Dating and is a speed hating and blind hate event.  No – that’s not a typo.

Speed Hating works the same as speed dating, but you get to rant about all the things you dislike about the world, and hope the person opposite you feels the same way.

Blind Hate works as if Cilla were there in person, asking you questions like “If I left you how would you take your revenge on my beloved pet kitten?”

Surprisingly, many people have found love through these events…

Part Two is brought to you by Feeling Gloomy, who will play you sad songs to let you remember your singledom.  Expect heartbreakers like Tainted Love and classic hairbrush sing-along song Total Eclipse of the Heart.

To add insult to injury, dead flowers will be scattered around the room, along with tissues to dry those eyes, and favourite divorce film Kramer vs Kramer will be screened on the wall throughout the evening.

Down With Dating starts at 8pm; Feeling Gloomy starts at 10:30pm.

Down With Dating tickets are £10 advance, whilst Feeling Gloomy tickets are £4.50 adv, £6 before midnight, £8 after, NUS £5.

All tickets are available from Feeling Gloomy or Down With Dating – or call 0844 477 2000

Nearest Tube: Angel