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.

 

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

Place In Mind

Is the daily grind getting you down? Feeling claustrophobic in London? If you’ve forgotten what green space looks like, worry not – head down to see Harry Cory Wright’s ‘Place In Mind’ exhibition.

Taking photos of a variety of landscapes across the country (including Stonehenge and come of Britain’s coastal cliffs), ‘Place In Mind’ captures the intensity of each scene.

Taking only one photograph in each location, Harry Cory Wright also uses an old-school camera (rather than a DSLR) to capture the moment.

The exhibition is on at Eleven, 11 Eccleston Street and opens this Friday, February 4.  It runs until March 26.

Opening hours are Tues, Wed, Fri: 11am-6pm; Thursday 11am-7pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.

Nearest Tube: Victoria or Sloane Square

London International Mime Festival

”                                                    “

Sorry, was just miming out that this weekend sees the start of the London International Mime Festival.  Did you get it?

Hmm, I’d better tell you about it then.

It starts on Saturday, January 15th – and there are all sorts of things to be getting involved with.

Not only are there lots of performances to go and see (click here for the listings and how to get tickets), but there are also workshops to have fun with.

Topics include ‘Creating Theatre and Performance’, ‘Introduction to Commedia for Performance’ – based on the old Italian mime shows, and ‘Clown Through Mask’.  Information on all of these – and others – can be found here.

The performances include mime, mask work, acrobatics, circus skills, animation and puppetry. Venues include Southbank Centre, Barbican, ICA, Roundhouse and Royal Opera House.

Ticket prices vary.  The festival runs until January 30th.

Driven Creativity

The weather outside is frightful…so why not do something indoors yet cultural this weekend?

The Brick Lane Gallery is hosting Driven Creativity – an exhibition showing off shortlisted and winning entries from the G-Technology Driven Creativity competition

You’ll be able to see photography, film and music – and the best bit is, it’s all free!

The exhibition is running until Monday, November 22 and is open 1-6pm every day.

Nearest Tube: Liverpool St/Aldgate

 

RCA Secret

Ever wondered what it would be like to own an original piece of art by a well-known, critically acclaimed artist?

Well, now’s your chance.

RCA Secret is happening this weekend, and you’ve just about got enough time to go and see which pieces you fancy.

This is original art. Thankfully it won't be in the sale.

Here’s how it works: there are 2800 postcards to buy – but they’re all signed on the back, so you can’t see who made them until once it’s been bought.

Once you’ve picked the ones you like (you’re allowed to choose up to four), make a note of them and register yourself as a collector.

Each postcard costs £45, and will go on sale on Saturday, November 20 at 8am.  Get there early to ensure you get the ones you want!

Previous artists who’ve donated their work include Tracey Emin, Mary Quant, Yoko Ono and Manolo Blahnik.  The fun of it is, some work is done by students and graduates of the Royal College of Art – so even though they might not be famous now, you might pick up something for the future…

You can go and look at the exhibition today until 9pm, and tomorrow – Friday, November 19 – from 11am-6pm.  Admission is free.

The Royal College of Art is located on Kensington Gore.  See their Facebook page for photos and tips on the sale.

Nearest Tube: South Kensington/High Street Kensington.

 

Ahmed Mater exhibition

Ahmed Mater : Doctor, artist. 

His new exhibition is currently on show at the Vinyl Factory  on Poland Street, and showcases art influenced by his profession, religion and Arabic culture  (Mater grew up in Saudi Arabia).

Materials include x-rays, paper dipped in tea  and pomegranate – some of which are traditionally used on religious manuscripts.

The exhibition runs until October 30, and is open Monday-Saturday, 11am-6pm.

Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus

Hyper Japan

If  

line-dancing doesn’t take your fancy, check out the Hyper Japan exhibition at the old Truman Brewery. 

There’s tons of stuff to get involved in including manga drawing classes, getting your photo taken in a kimono and making some sushi, as well as the opportunity to sample Japanese foods and trinkets at the stalls.

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto (c)

Tickets are £5-8 and are available from the website or on the door.  They’re selling out fast so snap them up quickly for this afternoon through to Sunday October

3rd.

Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street/Aldgate East/Aldgate