the 1-2-3-4

Have you heard about The 1-2-3-4? It's a one day music festival taking place in Shoreditch Park on Saturday July 9th. Early bird tickets have sold out but you can still get full price tickets here. Line up includes The Raveonettes, Black Lips, The King Blues and Lydia Lunch - the festival celebrates all things rock 'n' roll. I think this is another one to add to the list...

best.burger.ever.

Last night friends, I experienced what was in all serious probably the very best burger I have ever had.

Burger Monday is the brain child of New York food critic Daniel Young. Now based in London, Young has been on a quest to find the world's perfect burger and to aid his search, launched Burger Monday in April of last year. Combining the ideas of social media and food, Young organises a series of monthly pop up dining experiences, whereby top UK chefs create exclusive burgers specially for the group. Last night's burger was made by Chelsea pub, the Admiral Codrington, head chef Fred Smith and was utterly delicious. Toasted brioche bun, reduced tomato sauce glaze, sharp dill pickles and an amazing iceberg lettuce slaw made this burger something I will not soon forget.

Burger Monday events tend to sell out quickly, but I would highly recommend checking them out if you are in the mood for an excellent burger. YUM.

madame butterfly

I know it is stating the obvious - but there is so much to do in London during the summer time! 

Next Monday, one of my favourite operas, Madame Butterfly, will be streamed live from The Royal Opera House on to a big screen in Trafalgar Square. The event is free and open to the public so they suggest you arrive early. Everyone is encouraged to bring cushions and a blanket to sit on as well as food and drink to enjoy whilst watching the performance.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a rainless and balmy evening, I can't think of a better way to spend a summer's night.

oh so pretty

I'm obsessed with delicate, simple gold rings and this one is just stunning.

Bario-Neal

lovebox

Lovebox - yes? Yes! It would be rude not too.

Lovebox has become a bit of a tradition for us as it is located practically on our doorstep in Victoria Park. The festival runs for three days and this year there are so many acts I don't want to miss! Snoop Dogg, Phoenix, Robyn, Jesse J, Beth Ditto and Blondie are at the top of my list and I can't wait to dance the night away to 2ManyDJs, Horse Meat Disco and of course Groove Armada.

The husband and I will be hosting a brunch before the festivities start on Sat 16th July - and if you would like to pop by leave a comment in the section below. Just make sure you book tickets quickly as it is sure to sell out. Hope to see you there!

abu dhabi

I'm just back from a weekend trip to Abu Dhabi - updates to follow. But whilst I'm getting caught up - here is what my approach to the desert looked like. Nothing but sand for miles.

hackney homemade

There is a new market coming to Hackney! Starting on Saturday and running throughout the summer, Hackney Homemade is being held in the gardens of St Johns Church (off Mare Street). In addition to a normal Farmer's Market with fresh fruit & veg, this market specialises in high quality handmade and vintage goods. Created by local resident Jane MacIntyre, the idea is to promote local traders and small businesses and to celebrate the great community we have in Hackney. See you there on Sat!

restaurant: north road

People. I have eaten at some pretty tasty restaurants in my time, but the experience the husband and I had at North Road was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Six dishes of exquisite composition, flavour and texture, the meal we shared is not something I will soon forget.

Led by Danish head chef Christoffer Hruskova, North Road has already been recognized as one to watch for its innovative cusine and cooking styles. Trained at Noma, Hruskova has successfully implemented core principles of Nordic cooking into his dishes whilst maintaining distinctly British ingredients. His food comes with an amazing sense of lightness - there are no heavy sauces or grilled meats - instead meats are cooked sous-vide, vegetables are mainly left raw and seasoning takes the form of pickling or smoking instead of the more traditional salt and pepper. 

Starter of Lobster with Rose Petals

Beef Tartare with Duck Egg Yolk & Bone Marrow

Quail with Black Truffle and Onion Three Ways

Roe Deer Rolled in Hay Ash with Beets Two Ways

Burnt Cream with Fresh Flowers

 As you would expect, the menu changes along with the seasons. Dinner for two with wine was definitely pricey, but well worth it for something truly special, I will definitely be back.

North Road, 69-73 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4NJ

art, art and fashion - pt II

Sunday started with a trip to the V&A to see the Yohji Yamamoto exhibition. Yamamoto, a Japanese fashion designer, became famous in the early 80s for his work which challenged traditional notions of fashion. He played around with shape, made garments from unfashionable types of fabric  and constructed pieces that questioned traditional roles of masculinity and femininity. 

In the main gallery, the retrospective displays a wide array of beautifully constructed clothes, as well as catwalk videos and photographs of his various collections. The best part however is on leaving the gallery, you can embark on a treasure hunt to find a selection of other pieces that have been hidden throughout the museum. Delightful fun and definitely worth a visit.

art, art and more art

What a weekend! I went on a bit of an art splurge Sat and Sun and managed to visit no less than four stunning galleries in London. 


And what caused this mad interest in art? I've recently become the proud new owner of a National Art Pass. Created by the Art Fund, this pass gives you free entry to over 200 museums and galleries as well as 50% off admission to major exhibitions - so worth the £35 annual fee!



First visit was The Hayward to see Tracey Enim: Love is What You Want. Whilst I've heard a lot about Enim as a celebrity, I wasn't super aware of who she was as an artist. The show is almost like a retrospective of her work, covering every period of her career and showing her art in a wide array of medium. For sure worth checking out...but after my visit, I can't say I love Enim as an artist.

Next we checked at the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery. One word for the works on display: stunning. There was a variety of portraits to see, some looked like photographs, others paid homage to classical art. The skill involved was evident in each portrait and made for quite phenomenal viewing.

Tracey Enim photo via Southbank Centre
National Portait Winners via NPG

ring here

A wonderful friend of mine has recently opened a delightful new gallery aptly called Ring Here. Tucked away down an otherwise quiet street in SE11, the gallery is covertly housed in the front room of her home, a converted Victorian shop.


Clara Goldsmith, gallery curator, is looking to highlight exciting new artists and the opening exhibit by Philippa Johnson doesn’t disappoint. In Drawing on Surface, Philippa uses strong graphic design and a variety of interesting textures to create a new experience viewing everyday household items.


The highlight of the show, a stunning window installation, reminded me of the delicate latticework you find in Morocco. I suggest going at dusk so you see the romantic, whimsical pattern the sunlight makes when streaming through the decorated window.


Visits to Ring Here are available by appointment only, 7 days a week. To book you can call 0207 735 1007; email ringhere@gmail.com; or follow @ringhere on Twitter. They are also having a late night opening on June 24th - so go check it out. It really is wonderfully delightful.

Ring Here

Picture via Twenty-6

the spicery

Have you heard about The Spicery? I can't believe I've only just found out about it! The concept is simple - spices taste best when they are fresh. The Spicery aims to keep them that way, by grinding and blending in small batches and then selling the spices (online!) as quickly as possible.

In addition to having just about every spice under the sun, they also have an amazing spice box scheme. Once a month, a surprise spice pack and recipe card is delivered through your letterbox. The aptly named 'Friday Night Curry' collection includes such mouth-watering dishes as Rose Petal Moghul Lamb Curry, Tandoori Chicken and Sri Lankan Mackerel Curry. De-li-cious.

I will be signing up right now and waiting impatiently for my first spice box to arrive.

The Spicery

the turbun

Loving this new look. Dubbed the turban, it's half bun and have turban. Wonder if I can rock it this festival season?

Via Cup of Jo

beautiful bags

So many bright and beautiful bags this summer. As much as I love all of the below, I'm trying to find one bag that would work for lots of occasions. Which one would you choose?

A twist on a classic khaki from J.Crew.

Colour block with this orange fabulousness!

Super bright for spring spotted on the greedy girl.

Something elegant for a summer wedding perhaps?

Classic colour, clean lines, stunning clutch.

This gorgeousness here, via the superfab miss moss.

hackney picture house

Have you heard the news?

Hackney is getting a new cinema! Set to open in Autumn 2011, the Hackney Picture House will be taking over the council-owned Hackney Ocean. The four screen cinema will show independent and foreign films along side more traditional Hollywood blockbusters.

They are offering Founder Memberships for £30 a year which gives you access to free tickets, discounted food and drink, no booking fee and invites to free previews. As the Ocean is literally across the street from our flat, becoming a founding member seems like a good deal to me!

Hackney Picture House

inspiration

How stunning is this Parisian apartment? I love the light open spaces and the mix of vintage and modern furniture - so simply but beautifully styled. Ah...I can always dream.

Via Solid Frog

fun times in londontown

What a wonderful weekend!


The husband and I had a date night on Friday. We started with a scrumptious meal at the Anchor & Hope. I was perhaps just a (tiny) bit hungover from a larger than expected Thursday night...which meant I ate loads! We shared two delicious starters of potted shrimp with pickled cucumbers and a ham-hock terrine with chutney. For the main course we splurged on a fore-rib of beef and for dessert still managed to still stuff down a huge slice of banoffie pie. All completely delicious.

After dinner we were lucky enough to catch the closing night of Cause Celebre at the Old Vic. The Terence Rattigan play tells the true life story of Alma Rattenbury, a women who in 1935 was tried alongside her teenage lover for the murder of her husband. It was gripping!

The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of brunches, dinner parties, bike festivals (more on that later) and lazy cups of coffee. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.


The Anchor and Hope, 36 The Cut, London SE1 8LP
The Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1 8NB

bonjour paris

I'msure most of you know that Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world. And one of my favourite blogs, Oh Happy Day, is offering a to give away a 7 day trip for two to this magical city! To enter to win, simply click here  and leave a comment.  Fingers crossed. Who can say no to the chance to visit Paris?!


photo here

luna and curious

This amazing little shop keeps popping up in blogs I read and after checking out their wares, I can understand why. Full of beautiful things, the Shoreditch based boutique is a collection of exquisite homewares, unique jewellery and quirky gifts.

Cuffed Bear Necklace and Nailed Animal Brooches

Pretty Deer & Butterfly Paper Eyelashes

 

 Amazing ceramics, I am loving these Skeletal Plates and Espresso Mugs

And a sweet love/hate teapot and matching cup and saucers 

I wouldn't say no to this gorgeous set of four bird mugs either!

All found at Luna & Curious, 24-26 Calvery Ave, E2 7JP