Lollypop Lollypop
C-Type photograph
150 x 114 cm
2011

Until 9 March

Sarah Maple, It’s a Girl

Toying provocatively with culture, feminism and religion, Sarah Maple – brought up as a Muslim by parents of mixed cultures and religions – fearlessly explores the circumstances of living as a Muslim woman in modern British society. Showcasing a selection of her feisty and often brilliant works over the next month, It’s a Girl opens at Shoreditch’s Aubin Gallery today.

Sarah Maple, It’s a Girl at The Aubin Gallery, 64-66 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DP; Running until 9th March.

Until Mid March

The Cosmopolitan’s Pop-Up Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas

OK, we tried, and we failed. Here’s ‘token Valentine’s Day feature #1′… One of The Strip’s more stylish residences, The Cosmopolitan, are celebrating the season of love with a very Vegas kinda pop-up. Say hello to the pop-up wedding chapel. Offering a tongue-in-cheek twist to the traditional Sin City nuptials – The Cosmopolitan welcome faux-weddings, and even pet-weddings. We’re really hoping that’s two pets getting married, but then this is Vegas…

Pop-Up Wedding Chapel at The Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South; Running until Mid March. Open Sunday to Wednesday 12:00pm – 10:00pm and Thursday to Saturday 12:00pm – 12:00am

11 February – 14 February

Pop-Up Cannoli Counter, The Foundry

Cannoli – “irresistibly crunchy pastry curls filled with a rich and airy ricotta cream filling” – are a classic Sicilian Carnival delicacy that date back to the 17th-century. Camden’s very stylish The Foundry are bucking the traditional Valentine’s schmaltz and declaring their own love for these traditional pastries with the Pop-Up Cannoli Counter. Chocolate Chilli cannolo – made with fresh chilli peppers, grown at the venue – sound delightful enough for us to fall in love at first bite.

Pop-Up Cannoli Counter at The Foundry, 3-7 Delancey Street, London, NW1 7N; Running 11th – 14th February. Book now to experience their Valentine’s Day spectacle and enjoy a three course Sicilian feast featuring the Cannoli menu and live jazz

Image courtesy of The Third Line and The Artist

Until 8 March

Elsewhen by Ala Ebtekar

Born in the US to Persian-Iranian parents, Ala Ebtekar explores the ancient mysticism of his culture’s history – fusing it with concepts of time travel, science fiction and the future. His otherworldly imaginations of the present day, clashing with mythology, comprise this solo show at Dubai’s The Third Line gallery.

Elsewhen by Ala Ebtekar at The Third Line Gallery, Al Quaz 3, PO Box 72036, Dubai, UAE; Running until 8th March. Open Saturday to Thursday 10:00am – 7:00pm

Limited Period

The Verbena Spa at Feversham Arms Hotel

‘Cupid’s Retreat’, ‘Valentine’s Package’, blah, blah… Yep, it’s the same as usual – repackaged with a shiny non-anatomical heart and a cherub with a crossbow. But, if you want to treat Mrs, or Mr (or Mistress, for that matter), then pure, heavenly bliss – at a get-away-from-it-all retreat – doesn’t come much better than at this swanky North Yorkshire spa hotel.

Cupid’s Retreat Valentines Package at The Verbena Spa, Feversham Arms Hotel, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5AG; Available for a limited period although there are alternative packages available at all times

Kris (Graffiti Map),
graphite and ink on cut handmade paper,
44×58″, 2011

Until 17 March

Ben Durham, Found Graffiti

LA’s Country Club present their 2nd Chicago exhibition – in collaboration with Andrew Rafacz Gallery – a curious body of work from American artist Ben Durham. Turning very low-brow street art – the graffiti in public toilets, for example – into very high-brow pieces of conceptual art, Durham uses stained glass and graphite and pen, on handmade paper, for his series of artworks and installations. Creating elegant and beautiful works from such primitive – almost tribal – forms of self-expression, Ben Durham’s Found Graffiti is an interesting study in art, but also psychology and society.

Ben Durham, Found Graffiti at Country Club, 835 W. Washington Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Chicago, 60607; Running until March 17th

Images © David Pearson

Until 15 April

Louis Ghost Chair, Bath

Iconic designs rarely deserve the tag ‘iconic’. In fact, ‘iconic’ – and we’re certainly guilty of this – is one of the most overused adjectives of our times. One such design that does warrant this misused label, however, is the unquestionably ‘iconic’ Louis XV armchair. From quintessential period-piece to modern design object (in the form of Philippe Starck’s ‘iconic’ Louis Ghost Chair), the 18th-century Rococo classic has a genuinely intriguing past. And it’s exactly this past that Simon Martin explores in this 17-minute homage, showing now at Bath’s Holburne Museum.

Louis Ghost Chair, The Holburne Museum, Great Putney Street, Bath, BA2 4DB; Running until 15th April. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm and Sunday 11:00am – 5:00pm.
Free Admission

Ongoing

The Lounge at Odeon Whiteleys

Forget the romanticism of dry-humping on the back seats at your local movie house this Valentine’s, the Odeon at London’s Whiteleys Shopping Centre have upped the luxe-cinema ante; introducing a “Finger, Fork and Spoon” menu, courtesy of top chef Rowley Leigh. So, if you fancy flirting with red mullet and prawn risotto, or hot dog popcorn – whilst watching some big-budget codswallop like War House – this February 14th, this is the gig for you.

Odeon Whiteleys – The Lounge, Whiteleys of Bayswater, Queensway, London; Open Daily

Formerly the Great Eastern, one of the original London railway hotels, the building dates back to 1884, and there’s a definite feeling of that history – even if it has been given a 21st century sheen. It’s that 21st century sheen that may put some off. Andaz is Hyatt’s “boutique” brand, but the spectre of ‘corporate business hotel’ is still most definitely there, it’s in the city – it can’t escape it. But what the Andaz does do, is use that ‘corporateness’ (yep, just made that one up) to its advantage. Sure, there’s a sheen – but it’s one that just feels luxe. The furniture and fittings in the rooms are heavy, the doors solid, and the walls thick. It’s got a weighty 5-star feel but, with their commitment to art and design, you feel less guilty about shacking up in a business hotel, in fact you positively embrace it.

Their USP is bringing the ‘small’ hotel service to a big chain. There’s no check-in desks, instead you walk straight into the “Andaz Lounge” – where drinks are free and smartly-dressed, well-mannered types check you in with iPads (oh-so modern). There’s a complimentary non-alcoholic minibar, and there’s complimentary serving of wine in the lounge come evening time. It’s quite obviously a big brand cherry-picking the best components of a stay at a truly boutique hotel, but it works. And it’s impeccable – you’d think you were in America the service is that good.

Where the Andaz really excels is in its food and drink offerings. It’s like a whopping great American resort-hotel – but a stone’s throw from Spitalfields and Hoxton. There’s exceptional Japanese at Miyako, exceptional fresh seafood at Catch, exceptional pub-grub at George, British à la carte at 1901 and a brasserie menu at Eastway. It really is exceptional. And seemingly, somewhat of a secret – only half the London-based (and East-end types at that) people I asked actually even knew the hotel existed, let alone of its ridiculously diverse food offerings. The resplendent halls and history-packed spaces that these bars and restaurants inhabit are just the icing on an already scrumptious cake.

Of course there’s high-end leisure facilities too, all the business malarkey of course, and there’s the location – it’s next door to Liverpool Street Station, and as mentioned, a stone’s throw from some of London’s hippest spots. There’s no individual designer rooms, there’s no quirky amenities and the bar isn’t a hipster graveyard – but if you want to be in the hub of all East London has to offer and you want true, true 5-star luxury – but without the faceless conveyer belt experience of big, ugly business hotels – I really don’t think London has a better alternative…

Until 5 February

The Photocopy Club, Shoreditch

One of the many art projects taking things back offline and keeping it strictly lo-fi, The Photocopy Club was born in November last year, and has already seen photographers from all over the world submitting photocopied images via snail mail. The subsequent submissions then comprise bi-monthly exhibitions such as this, at Shoreditch’s Beach Gallery. Challenging art elitism, and generally just reintroducing a bit of that magical punk DIY, the club’s founder – self-published photographer Matt Martin – plans to fund a book, that celebrates the best works of the first 6 shows, with the proceeds of the exhibitions; where photocopies are sold for as little as £2 to £5. Just brilliant…

The Photocopy Club at Beach London, 20 Cheshire Street, London, E2 6EH; Running until 5th February and then again at Create in Brighton on 18th April

Reprinted by arrangement with Penguin,
A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
from Paris versus New York by Vahram Muratyan
Copyright (c) 2011 by Vahram Muratyan.

Tonight; 6pm – 8pm EST

Paris Versus New York at The Standard

Homesick during a long trip to New York, Paris-based illustrator Vahram Muratyan set about creating a series of brilliantly understated visual comparisons between the two iconic cities. The resulting body of work has found its way into a quite wonderful publication and, following a launch at Paris’ capital of cool Colette, the New York launch takes place tonight at the ever-hip The Standard…

Paris Versus New York, A Tally of Two Cities book signing at The Shop at The Standard, 442 West 13th Street, New York City; Tonight 6:00pm – 8:00pm EST

Third prize
Christina and Mark, 14 months,
2011 by Dona Schwartz
© Dona Schwartz

Until 12 February

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery

With some 60 works by some of the world’s most talented portrait photographers – amateurs, gifted students and celebrated professionals alike – it’s your last chance to see this year’s National Portrait Gallery prize show, including utterly compelling works like this melancholic 3rd place winner from stupidly talented American photographer, Dona Schwartz…

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE; Running until 12th February. Open daily 10:00am – 6:00pm, Thursday and Friday 10:00am – 9:00pm; free entrance

3 February – 5 February

International Student Film Festival

With a judging panel that includes Jan Harlan (producer of The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut), Lord of the Rings editor Jabez Olsen and Simon Pegg, the first annual International Student Film Festival looks set to be a rewarding experience for the international students who are travelling from some 38 countries for the event. Organised by young people, for young people, this fledgling filmmakers showcase looks set to be an interesting addition to the international cinephile’s calendar…

International Student Film Festival at London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6SB; 3rd February to 5th February

6 February – 12 February

Stockholm Design Week

Nobody needs to be told about Scandinavian design’s influence on global aesthetic, ergo you shouldn’t require the proverbial degree in aerospace engineering to know that Stockholm’s very own design week is one of the hottest dates on the design calendar. With high profile events, installations and pop-ups scheduled all around the city – next week will be another big one for Sweden’s capital…

Stockholm Design Week incorporating Stockholm Furniture Fair and Northern Light Fair, In and Around Stockholm; Design Week runs 6th – 12th February whilst the Furniture Fair and Northern Light Fair run 7th February – 11th February

Until 12 September

Geometry; Lighting up Brentford

Passengers flying in and out of Heathrow this year may be forgiven for thinking Jean Michel Jarre has taken up residence in West London. Watermans‘ International Festival of Digital Art gets underway with what promises to be a spectacular installation from French artist Félicie d’Estienne d’Orves. Lasers bouncing between 2 programmed mirrored masts are set to punch the night sky with their contorting geometric patterns – and all without a dull new-age synth soundtrack. Perfect…

Geometry is part of the International Festival of Digital Art 2012 in collaboration with Watermans and will be seen for miles around Brentford; Running until 12th September

7 February – 11 February

The Cinnamon Club Pops-Up at Desmond’s, Manhattan

Westminster’s swanky The Cinnamon Club has been somewhat of an institution for well-to-do fans of its modern-Indian fayre over the last decade and, next week, well-to-do New Yorkers with a penchant for said modern-Indian cuisine will be able to see what all the fuss is about at equally-swanky Upper East Side establishment Desmond’s. The former 1920s bank, with its graceful domed ceiling and open kitchen, is a thoroughly splendid setting, and those braving the interaction between society types will be rewarded with dishes of the ilk of seared breast of Long Island duck with Hyderabadi-style sesame and tamarind sauce. Pretentious? Perhaps. But don’t let the clientele put you off what will be a weekend of undoubtable gastronomic delight…

The Cinnamon Club at Desmond’s, 153 East 60th Street, between 3rd and Lexington, New York City; 7th February to 11th February

Until 11 February

The Customized Show, London

London-based sneaker brand Double Identity have let 10 designers loose on their shoes for an interesting interactive exhibition that, for once, actually does something useful with a QR code. Visitors can choose their favourites from the customised pairs by scanning the code, whilst those who can’t make it can interact via the brand’s Facebook page; which is more than worth checking out for some of the outrageously fun designs…

Double Identity present The Customized Show, 5 Kingly Court, Off Carnaby Street, London, W1B 5PW; Running until 11th February. Open Monday – Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Just on the edge of Farringdon’s foodie (god I hate that word) mecca, Exmouth Market, The Quality Chop House is an exemplarily specimen of Victorian curiosity. The creaky wooden pews are tight, uncomfortable, but so utterly brilliant, the tiles, lighting, wooden panelling… everything is just so right about it, and – by god – the images we received just don’t do this splendidly unique dining room justice. But, you ask, “what of the ‘funky’ new restaurant?”, well – surprisingly – it’s just as good.

For all its nouveau mix-and-match menu and fashionable fusing of international tastes, Meatballs is really just a restaurant that focuses on the simplicity of mastering a single dish – and boy have they mastered the humble meatball. Succulent and meaty without being too heavy, these unctuous little flavour-grenades are made freshly on-site – from beef, lamb, pork, chicken and even courgette – and are available in a portion of 3 for just £3.95. And that is really all you need to know.

Forget the Blueberry Gin & Tonic – a refreshing take on the original G&T – forget the sides, like pearl barley risotto, and forget the desserts – you won’t need any – just grab yourself a beer and a portion of London’s best meatballs, because it’s nice to be reminded that simplicity is key…

Sure, Union Jacks is a potentially divisive concept – Worcestershire sauce braised oxtail pizza (well, he calls them ‘flats’) is enough to give any Italian a heart attack – but the interiors, courtesy of award-winning agency Blacksheep – are where the Brit-theme really takes shape. With unabashed tongue-in-cheek nostalgia, the design concept offers up tea-cosies, vintage tellies and 1950s colour palettes, all centered around the retro cinema-board menu and open kitchen. It’s not big, and it’s not clever – but it’s bloody good fun and, most importantly, it looks a treat…

Want to bag yourself a Jeremiah Weed t-shirt? The first 18 people to tweet this get one. Can’t say fairer than that, can you?

With show director and co-founder of 100% Design and TENT London, Ian Rudge, at the helm, you’d expect nothing less. It’s a small show, but rather than feeling like it lacked anything, it just felt incredibly well edited.

And the atmosphere was almost serene; calm yet inspiring – what more could you want from a design show?

Here are a few of my favourite things…

Soft, comfortable and cosy is definitely a key trend for these recessionary times, and warm winter blankets were everywhere. Grey is clearly still a big colour too – or maybe I just see it everywhere because I love it!

1. Selection of three grey blankets from Foxford
2. Bronte blankets
3. Donna Wilson’s new blankets for SCP
4. Zeena bird motif blanket (I spotted Zeena’s work at Craft Central a few weeks back, so it was great to see her here too.)

Bright, happy colours and things designed to make you smile were prominent too – perhaps also in reaction to all the doom and gloom out there in the real world. For now, I’m more than happy to inhabit this little world instead!

1. Rainbow brights from Koziol – and you can’t argue with a strap line like “better design, bigger smile”
2. Another new product from Donna Wilson; launched at the show. With an invitation like that, who could refuse to help with the drying up?
3. More lovely products from Zeena
4. And you couldn’t have a ‘colourful and happy’ selection without including Jonathan Adler – on fine form as always.

There was also a lot of retro glassware around and these products from iittala and wireworks particularly caught my eye. I hadn’t come across wireworks before, and their products seem really well thought through in terms of functionality and aesthetic, so definitely worth a look.

1. iittala glass bowls (stocked at Skandium)
2. wireworks glass domes with wood or metal base
3. wireworks storage jars that can be opened with one hand – genius!
4. More iittala glass bowls, viewed from above (stocked at Skandium)

Finally in no particular order, I also loved…

1. Rob Ryan’s height chart for SCP “the village grew into a town and the town grew into a whole city…”
2. wireworks again, this time with a gorgeous Scandinavian-inspired bathroom accessories set – I love the combination of wood, grey and white used here
3. More Scandinavian style, this time from Design Stockholm House, stocked at Skandium
4. And just a little bit more from Donna Wilson – sorry! But it was my favourite stand, and I do love her work.

Overall I was very impressed with Home and look forward to it becoming a regular event on the design calendar.

Until 31 January

Leeds Print Festival

Print’s dead? Don’t believe everything you read, the process that dates back 1,000s of years is just as alive as ever – and the chaps at a new print festival in Leeds are celebrating just that over the next few days. Tomorrow’s live printing event, Print Is Dead. So Are Zombies, Ghosts and Vampires. Be Afraid of Print is worth going along to for the title alone. Don’t you agree?

Leeds Print Festival at Leeds Gallery, Munro House, York Street, Leeds, LS9 8AG; Opens today and runs until 31st January

27 January – 3 February

IMPRINT – A FABELIST Festival of Local and Global Stories

Music, art, literature and gastronomy; IMPRINT – a festival presented by international arts community, FABELIST – hopes to engage adults and children alike, with a fusion of artworks, storytellers and theatrical performances. If you’re in or around NW8′s Church Street Neighbourhood then go along and show your support, be inspired by FABELIST’s troubadours, and “be whisked on your way to future stories by a magic flying balloon”. How fabulously arty…

FABELIST present IMPRINT at Serpentine Gallery Centre For Possible Studies, 21 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HR; 27th January to 3rd February

Photography by Jonathan Perugia

Sunday; Lunchtime

The Cornish Grill at Redhook

A British institution, but about as interesting as a night out with George Osborne; the traditional Sunday roast was in need of a shakeup. Enter Matt Chatfield of The Cornish Grill and a monthly pop-up at Farringdon’s delightful Redhook. Inviting some of the capital’s top-chefs – this Sunday they welcome Alyn Williams (formerly holding top chef positions with Ramsay and Wareing) – to conjure up fine dining goodness from the finest Cornish seafood, meat and vegetables; this is one Sunday roast we’re very excited about…

The Cornish Grill at Redhook, 89 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5QU; Sunday lunch on 29th January. Tickets cost £40.00 each and are expected to sell out quickly

Photography Benjamin Backhouse

Opens 27 January

The Hummingbird Bakery, Islington

Splendidly scrumptious, American-style bakery The Hummingbird Bakery are continuing their onslaught on London’s cupcake scene with a fifth branch opening tomorrow in Islington; with the first 1,000 customers bagging themselves a lip-licking cupcake shaped bundle of joy, expect somewhat of a drooling stampede come 11am…

The Hummingbird Bakery, Angel Building, St John Street, London, EC1V 4AD; Doors open 27th January at 11:00am

Until 10 February

Espacio Nomadic – Not in Transit

The Espacio Gallery Project – a 100-plus strong community of artists in quest of their own permanent London gallery space – present their second ‘Espacio Nomadic’ show at The BAR Gallery; displaying the works of 18 of their artists. Part of an ongoing travelling showcase of their artists, Espacio Nomadic will tour established galleries until they finally lay their hat; Not in Transit features the work of artists based and working in the UK but with roots spreading the entire globe…

Espacio Nomadic – Not in Transit, The BAR Gallery at Willesden Green Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2SF; Running until 10th February. Open daily including weekends, 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Until 5 February

International Film Festival, Rotterdam

One of the largest film events in the world, and one of the biggest supporters of global independent filmmaking, Rotterdam’s stonkingly colossal film festival – 1,000s of screenings over 12 days – is the only place for cinephiles this month. And with a whole host of parties, events, fringe activities – and even an Ai Weiwei café cum exhibition space – it’s a destination for more than just movie-buffs…

41st edition International Film Festival is taking place at various locations in Rotterdam’s City Centre; Running until 5th February

27 January

Flamenco Fix at Proud Brighton Ballroom

The fine folks behind London’s Proud venues have taken over Brighton’s Hanbury Ballroom – transforming it into a delightfully decadent retro supper-club. This weekend it plays host to a passionate celebration of fiery flamenco; with live performances, kitsch visuals and rare grooves. The venue alone is worth a visit, but this lavish night of Latin passion makes it a must…

Flamenco Fix at Proud Brighton Ballroom, 83 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF; Friday 27th January from 8pm. Show only tickets £8.00

29 January

Chinese New Year Celebrations, locations throughout London

And finally…

Lion dances, Asian stalls, general drum beating havoc – it’s the Chinese New Year and this weekend’s the time to celebrate. As well as London’s famous celebrations, there’s also plenty going on at both the World Museum, Liverpool, and throughout Manchester’s Albert Square and Chinatown…

Year of the Dragon Celebrations; Parade begins 10:15am at Trafalgar Square, proceeds through China Town ending at Rupert Street 11:30am. Official opening ceremony at Trafalgar Square; 12:00pm with performances through to 5:40pm. Shaftesbury Avenue has performances 12:00pm – 6:00pm whilst Chinatown hosts a parade of Lion dancers and various traditional Asian stalls

So, if you’re relatively new to whisky and want to find your feet, or a veritable connoisseur who doesn’t fancy shelling out a pretty penny on a classic that was bottled way before England last won the World Cup – whoever you are, whatever you are, if you drink the ‘water of life’, then Drinks by the Dram are for you.

We were treated to a dram of Johnnie Walker’s £150 a bottle Blue Label, a rare 1990 Rosebank and other rich, complex tipples from Glenfarclas, Elmer T Lee and Balvenie. This is exuberant indulgence, it’s Saturday night in with a prime cut of beef fayre. Have one of these drop through your door and you’ll be giving yourself smug little grins in the mirror for the rest of the month. And from eighteen-quid for a set, you’d be positively barmy not too…

Daniel Arsham
Floor Drip, 2011
Fiberglas, plaster, and paint
44 x 45 x 16″

20 January – 6 February

Daniel Arsham, the fall, the ball and the wall at OHWOW

Gallery/publisher/community/retailer… OHWOW is many things, but most of all, it continues to serve up its effortless cool on a conveyer belt of arty style and swagger. We’ve featured their beyond-hip retail spaces here, here and here; and their LA gallery has a steady rotation of the most forward-thinking art around. Their latest exhibition, opening this weekend, showcases the work of New York-based artist Daniel Arsham and his curious architectural manipulations. And rather spiffing it is too…

Daniel Arsham, the fall, the ball and the wall at OHWOW Gallery, 937 N. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069; 20th January to 6th February

Until April 2012

WigWamBam; Queen of Hoxton Rooftop Pop-Up

The Queen of Hoxton‘s rooftop terrace is one of the capital’s very best, and, following the resounding success of their Rooftop Cinema in the summer, they’re back with a cosy al fresco bolthole to see us through till spring. With a schwenkgrill throwing out bratwursts and winter tipples like hot buttered rum and hot’n’spicy cider; their WigWamBam is a perfect wee spot from which to escape the hustle and enjoy acoustic sessions, candle-lit readings, and all manner of fun and frolics. It’s a little bit like a hazy Glastonbury evening in the middle of London city…

WigWamBam at The Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX; Open Monday to Friday 4:00pm – 10:00pm and Saturday 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Anna Gaskell
Untitled #6 (Wonder) 1996
Chromogenic Print
Courtesy of Yvon Lambert Gallery

Until 29 January

Alice in Wonderland; Tate, Liverpool

From Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, to Peter Blake and Yayoi Kusama; Lewis Carroll’s iconic novels have influenced generations of visuals artists, and Alice in Wonderland at Tate Liverpool is the first exhibition of its kind to explore these inspirations and relationships to contemporary art. It’s quite a collection, an absolute must for anyone with the slightest of a psychedelic persuasion, and it closes next week; so get there while you can…

Alice in Wonderland at Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, L3 4BB; Running until 29th January

Launches tonight

Raarr at The Book Club

Shoreditch’s cultural hotspot The Book Club, is playing host to one of the most adorable, and worthy, exhibitions we’ve come across for some time. Raising money for the NSPCC, 22 of the world’s leading illustrators have produced specially commissioned animal portraits, all without heads or faces. The script is simple (but the results quite brilliant) a gang of kids from around the country – each brandishing an arsenal of felt-tips – were invited to complete the works. It’s fun, hugely original, and supports one of the country’s most admirable charities. Get down there, and show your support…

Raarr at The Book Club, 100 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH; Exhibition Launch starts 6pm this evening. Free Entrance

Photograph by Constantin Meyer

Until 22 January

Design Post Cologne

imm Cologne is underway, and one of the best spots for unearthing new work from some of the world’s top cutting-edge interiors talents is Design Post; with their 3,000 sq mt of high-end interior and product design, from the likes of Moooi, Nimbus and Rosso. One of the highlights kicks off on Saturday, when the ʻCHAIRityʼ event can see you trade in your unwanted seat (and a donation of 100€) in exchange for an iconic designer chair from the likes of Fritz Hansen, Kartell or Vitra…

Design Post Köln, Deutz-Mülheimer-Straße 22a 50679 Cologne; Running until 22nd January. Opening hours, 9:00am – 8:00pm Weekdays and 10:00am – 6:00pm Saturday & Sunday

Until 21 January

Thornback & Peel Pop-Up Shop

Thornback & Peel’s elegant hand-printed accessories are a delightful example of nu-Victoriana – steeped in quaint English heritage. Catch their sale pop-up event in Clerkenwell to grab some of their eccentric classics; with a further 10% discount by signing up for their mailing list, over here…

Thornback & Peel Pop Up Shop, 21 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DX; Running until 21st January. Open Monday – Friday, 12:00pm to 7:00pm, Saturday 12:00pm to 8:30pm and Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm

25 January

Auchentoshan Presents; The William McGonagall Burns Supper

Keen readers will know that we’re fond of a wee dram; whisky has enjoyed somewhat of a revival in the last few years, and Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan (pronounced Ock-un-toshan, in your best Scottish accent please), are rethinking the tradition of Burns Night – 25th January – with a decidedly more irreverent approach at venues across the UK. Celebrating the work of William McGonagall – a Scot noted for challenging perceptions of poetry with his famously bad prose – as opposed to Robert Burns’ landmark works, Auchentoshan Presents… The William McGonagall Burns Supper will start with pudding, and end with the starter (turning the supper on its head as McGonagall turned Scottish poetry on its), whilst tweed wearing guests are invited to write and recite their own McGonagall styled pieces. Toying with the conformity of a traditional Burns Night supper, whilst staying true to its roots, Auchentoshan’s anarchic approach looks set to be one of the most inspired ways to spend next Wednesday eve…

The William McGonagall Burns Supper at The Charles Lamb, Islington, London, N1 8DE; Starts 7:00pm and costs £27.50 per person

Chinese New Year 23 January

Year of the Dragon

It’s the Chinese New Year on Monday. And what better way to celebrate than with a shiny new pair of sneakers? Perhaps not the most authentic way to see in the year of the dragon, but it’s a bloody good excuse to show you these opulent limited edition Kobe VII System Supreme in custom-crafted shoebox, that we saw over on Hypebeast…

NIKE “Year of the Dragon Collection”; Available Now

Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay

Having graced these very pages, Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay, will be a familiar name. Known in the world as The Nose – self explanatory really, but an olfactory talent so developed as to have once warranted insuring for £1.5 million – he is responsible, together with team of scientists, for what has become the whisky story to beat all whisky stories: the Mackinlay Shackleton Replica – 47.3%, blended malt.

Mackinlay? Shackleton? Yes. Check this. Released the backend of last year, with an early taster curated, in October, by whisky writers Dave Broom and Martine Nouet, and then, at a typically ribald masterclass, by Paterson himself, the Shackleton Replica is the exact (almost) copy of a whisky unearthed beneath a depot hut in Cape Royds, Antarctica. And not any old whisky: 3 cases of Chas. Mackinlay & Co’s Rare Old Highland Malt – bottled over 100 years ago.

Shackleton Nimrod Crew 1909

The back story. Ernest Shackleton, he of the (heroic) attempt to cross the Antarctic in 1914, had in 1907 set off for the South Pole. Another grand failure (this being then, when process – adventure, low odds, maybe dying – far outweighed product), the trip had resulted in the aforementioned depot, abandoned and – for the next century or so – hardly visited, useful only in so much as the freezing temperatures gifted archaeologists an almost perfectly preserved artefact.

All this changed in 2007, upon discovery of the whisky, and exactly at the right time, when that is brown spirits was beginning to give the likes of vodka a righteous kicking. Excavated in 2010, the find made world news, and sensing something extraordinary in the story, Whyte and Mackay, who own Mackinlay, despatched Paterson to New Zealand, to find out whether the whisky was still, well, whisky.

Hang on. Rewind. New Zealand? Yup. They own that bit of Antarctica; they own the depot: ergo, their whisky – and, it being an artefact of national importance, a whisky therefore deemed untouchable. In other words, the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust wasn’t prepared to dance, no way, not even with Richard Paterson. Anyway, they did (cometh the hour, cometh the dancer etc.), and Paterson duly returned to Scotland, handcuffed to a freeze-box containing 3 bottles of Old Highland.

Which brings us back to the Shackleton Replica, or as it is fast becoming known The Shackleton Whisky. Having had the whisky analysed (and discovered thousands of chemically things, including Orkney peat, American white oak, 47.3% ABV), Paterson used a range of youngish to old malts, the backbone being a (rare) 30 year old portion from Glen Mhor, to create a whisky so similar to the original as to be virtually indistinguishable. Or so says Dave Broom, one of the few people ‘allowed’ a taste of the old – about which, incidentally, the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust was not best pleased. Quite annoyed, actually.

So, that’s the story. Good, eh? And the whisky? Bloody fine. Really. Strong, peaty, spicy to taste, but sweet too, with elements of honey and apple, cinnamon and vanilla, the finish (which lengthens with time, so stick to it) full of smoke. Best drunk wearing a vest (white) and pants – and off the back of a roll-up or, better still, and if you can find it, a Woodbine. Delicious.

Photography: Ross Hallard

15-17 January

English Hedgerow at Home

It may be trade only but, if you can get yourself in, new Earls Court interiors and homewares trade show, Home, is playing host to a world exclusive ceramics/augmented reality mash-up. English Hedgerow is a very modernist take on chintz, comprised of a plate design by Andrew Tanner – with Jason Jameson and James Hall – that’s brought to life by a painfully cute app from Unanico…

English Hedgerow World Exclusive, Earls Court Two, London; 15th – 17th January 2012

Until 26 February

Republic of the Moon, FACT Liverpool

Liverpool’s quite brilliant arts organisation, FACT, is hosting – and co-curating with The Arts Catalyst – a curious exhibition that explores visions of life on the moon. Seven international artists offer their take on lunar habitation, whilst a series of screenings and events accompany the celestial exhibition.

Republic of the Moon at FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ; Running until 26th February

Image: Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin,
Gaddafi killed. That’s for Lockerbie. And for Yvonne Fletcher. And IRA Semtex Victims. The Sun, October 21, 2011,
Unique C-type print, 150 x 190 cm

14 January – 18 February

Portable Monuments; Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin

Amsterdam’s Galerie Gabriel Rolt introduce a new solo exhibition from UK-based duo Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin this weekend, and high-brow stuff it is too. Deconstructing press images of war into a visual language comprised of coloured blocks. You’ll have to engage your brain to decipher this particular code, but rest assured the exhibition will look pretty whilst the cogs are clicking into place.

Portable Monuments at Galerie Gabriel Rolt, Elandsgracht 34 1016 TW Amsterdam, Netherlands; 14th January to 18th February

19 January – 4 February

The Stew House Pop Up Experience

Artists Katy Gray and Dan Hillier are working on the interiors of a specially designed banqueting hall, at an undisclosed London Fields location, for the return of cult supperclub/pop-up event; The Stew House. Based around a 70-person dining table, the team are delving into history to present 8 slow-cooked classics that are sure to be as heart-stoppingly good as the elaborate designs.

The Stew House, secret location in London Fields, London;
At time of going to press there are only 2 dates left in January; 19th and 26th.
Two new dates have been released for February with tickets still available; 3rd and 4th

Until 21 January

The Market of Everything; Traffic, Dubai

An art-based event in Dubai, that “promotes community involvment and supports social sustainability through the exchange and recycling of our belongings”? It might sound a bit off-kilter for the land of the mega-rich, and – with a series of events that also include a drum circle and a series of film screenings and ping-pong tournaments – it’s perhaps one of the more ‘real’ things you’ll see in the UAE city; and surely that’s a good thing.

Traffic; The Market of Everything, Buy/Sell/Trade/Donate, 179 Umm Suqeim Road, PO Box 6716 Dubai, UAE; 12th – 21st January 2012

Now Open

Wine by the Bay, Miami

Owner of the Design District’s Etra Fine Art gallery; Stefano Campanini is one of the Miami art scene’s major players, and a lover of good wine to boot. Bash the two fields together and you get Stefano’s latest pet project, a delightful 1,200 sq ft wine boutique cum art space, located directly across from the under-construction new Miami Art Museum and with a terrace view of Biscayne Bay. If you’re enjoying some Winter sun in Miami this weekend, there’s no better spot for a bit of artistic refinement. Bravo.

Wine by the Bay, 888 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 112, Miami, FL 33132. Opened beginning of January;
Opening times are Monday – Saturday 12pm – 9pm

13-14 January

London Ice Sculpting Festival

We may well have had ourselves a mild little Winter so far, but as the forecasters are predicting a cold snap over the weekend, why not get yourselves down to Canada Square (someone has to) for a theatrical display of drills, chainsaws and hefty, bearded Europeans.

London Ice Sculpting Festival, located across Montgomery Square, Canada Square Park and Jubilee Place Shopping Mall (right by Canary Wharf tube station); Open Friday 13th and Saturday 14th January

All Through January

Maggie Mania at Maggie’s

There’s been plenty who have called for Maggie’s head over the years, and now – with a little help from a swanky Chelsea night club – every miner’s dream’s come true. The 80s are back in all their disgustingly superficial splendour at this Fulham Road favourite, where you can party all night; just like a Liverpudlian who’s found out Maggie’s dead…

Maggie Mania, Maggie’s, 329 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9QL;
Open every Wednesday and Thursday 10:30pm – 2:30am & every Friday and Saturday 10:30pm – 3.30am. Cocktail available now!

Evoking memories of Roy Castle and the McWhirter twins seeing how many badly clothed, spotty teens could be squeezed into a Mini Cooper; Renault have decided to see how much originality 4 artists can cram inside their new Twingo. Now this isn’t ‘art car’ as in Jeff Koons’ BMW – one of the “artists” is the delightful pop-starlet Nicola Roberts – but it’s a fun little marketing ruse nonetheless; as French fashionista Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, creative Italian chef Davide Scabin, and German designer Nils Holger Moormann join the aforementioned Girls Aloud popster in stamping their mark on the French company’s latest model. There’s a library, an Italian kitchen, recording studio complete with golden hairdryer and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s austere-era interpretation of a presidential state car, all demonstrating just what you can do with a compact city car if you put a little thought into it. Just don’t expect to see these as optional extras down your local dealership…

Twingo 55 FBG by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
© Renault UK Limited

Twingo Wagon-Lire (Reading Room) by Nils Holger Moormann
© Renault UK Limited

Scabin Pasta Twingo by Davide Scabin
© Renault UK Limited

Twingo 55 FBG by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
© Renault UK Limited

Twingo Goes Pop by Nicola Roberts
© Renault UK Limited

Twingo Wagon-Lire (Reading Room) by Nils Holger Moormann
© Renault UK Limited

Twingo Goes Pop by Nicola Roberts
© Renault UK Limited