Places to go – The Cultural Exposé

What we’ve been up to… Shuffleboarding at The Little Shuffle Club

Matilda — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 18:17:05 +0000

Shufflewhatnow? That’s the reaction I got from my work colleagues last week when I mentioned I spent my Wednesday evening “shuffleboarding”. To the uninitiated, that’s a game that involves pushing discs around for points – and if you google the phrase, you’ll likely find pics of geriatrics holding broom-like sticks as they get their shuffle on (play on, playas!). I’d be lying if I said I completely understood all the rules during my hump day dalliance, but it was fun – and Londoners can give it a go on November 1, when The London Shuffle Club returns to The Truman Brewery.

In the meantime, you can swing by the club’s new permanent kid bro, The Little Shuffle Club on 2 Ebor Street. It’s currently the only bar in the city dedicated to table shuffleboarding – but if you’re not too hot on playing, drop by for the incredible cocktails or watch a tournament in action.

Find out more at londonshuffle.com and check pics from the Little Shuffle Club’s launch below:

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Can you guess the best neighbourhood in London right now?

Matilda — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:30:05 +0000

If you picked up Time Out London this week, you’ll see I did the cover feature which profiles the 15 best neighbourhoods in London nowadays. The list is based on a massive survey we did last year, our editor’s picks and input from the ‘postcode champions’ community I set up a few months ago.

Well, guess which area topped the list (if you don’t already know)?

…

HACKNEY CENTRAL!!! WOOP WOOP!

There’s loads to love about my manor, but it came out on top because it was voted best for green spaces. Check out the full list here.

Do you agree with the list? If not, what’s your favourite area in London? Let me know in the comments!

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9 things I learned on my holiday to Tokyo

Matilda — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 11:03:51 +0000

If you’ve been flicking through my Insta feed of late, you’ll notice I spent the last part of February in Tokyo. It’s a city I’ve always wanted to visit for as long as I’ve been hip to bento boxes, Sony tech, Muji, Uniqlo and Streetfighter’s Ryu (what a bae, eh?). And of course, Lost in Translation. I was out there to run the Tokyo Marathon, but the city itself was quite an eye-opener. Here’s nine things I learned from my trip:

No lie: this is the best ramen I’ve had in my life. So cheap too #tillyinTokyo #photography #iphoneography #japan #vacay

A photo posted by Matilda (@megerecooper) on Feb 22, 2016 at 7:28am PST

Every London street needs an Izakaya

“Izakayas” are these cosy eating and drinking spots that seat like, eight people (?) max – and you can expect to get some of the most delicious food that costs next to nothing. On the night of my arrival, the friends and I visited one not far from our AirBnB for a piping hot bowl of ramen and gyoza on the side. Total cost? Six quid!

Being the only Black American Woman in an entire city is weird – but it has its advantages

I know there were others in town, but they were few and far between (but when I did see a fellow sista, we gave each other that look and nod that basically meant “Black lives DO matter even if we’re in the minority right now. Keep ya head up”). Still, I didn’t catch a whiff of racism and figured if I dropped the name “Kobe Bryant” in all conversations, the Japanese would appreciate I knew their love for US basketball, America and the sixth largest city in Japan that produces some really tasty beef.

Plus, when you’re probably the only Black American Woman running a marathon, people WILL notice you, like this kind chap:

@megerecooper I don’t know you, but you looked elegant so I took these photos. pic.twitter.com/4rFAinQRPF

— Philbert Ono (@philbertono) February 29, 2016

I’m kind of fat in Japan

I was very happy to discover the biggest Uniqlo in the World is in Tokyo. It’s one of my favourite clothing shops, and I’m well aware that I have to pick up most items in a Medium or Large. Not so in Japan. I could only fit in XLs, which my self-esteem didn’t like very much.

The first (and last) time I’ll have sushi (including “sea urchin”) for breakfast… tasted good though #daiwasushi #tillyinTokyo #iphoneography #japan #vacay A photo posted by Matilda (@megerecooper) on Feb 22, 2016 at 6:31pm PST

I’m not 100% sure about sushi now

We all know proper sushi is raw. But in the UK, restaurants aren’t even allowed to roll like that, so even if your sashimi or nigiri looks and feels quite fleshy, it’s been prepared in a way to remove any remnants of life for the sake of our health. Yet when in Tokyo, you get the raw deal. And you know it’s raw. Why? Because you’re eating it in a fish market, at 8am in the morning, because that’s the time you will have the freshest fish that was probably caught 30 minutes before you sat down and ate it. Let’s just say it was an… experience. A tasty one to be fair, but I had to give up on the roe aka “baby Nemo” maki. That’s just going too far now.

Google Maps is my ride or die

The only time I got lost in Tokyo was when my phone died. Thankfully, the good people of Japan that evening went so far as to map out the way to get to my destination (one guy in a shop actually disappeared for 20 minutes to find a computer to print out a map for me, bless him). But even with three maps in my hand, I still struggled to find my way. Never will I underestimate Google Maps again.

Insane in the membrane #takashimurakami #contemporaryart #culture #tillyinTokyo #japan #vacay A photo posted by Matilda (@megerecooper) on Feb 24, 2016 at 12:57am PST

The city is demented and blissful in equal measure

I saw some very strange things out there, not least the Takashi Murakami exhibition at the Mori Art Museum. But that was an intentional kind of weird. On other days, I’d find there was alot going on beyond the city’s flashing neon lights, Hello Kitty references and the occasional spotting of a Harajuku girl. I walked into one shop that looked and sounded like it had a serious case of ADHD. Thank God I was only looking for KitKats, so I could get out of there quickly (speaking of: I brought so many different flavours back home like Strawberry Cheesecake, Green Tea and even Sweet Potato!). But on the flipside, you can walk through an area like Ueno where all calm is restored. How odd. Or as my friend put it: “bi-polar”.

I need some Japanese friends in my life

I’ve travelled to many places in my time, but this is one of the few occasions I’ve felt so welcome. And I liked a lot of their customs – like offering wet cloths at restaurants, the humility of bowing, the meticulous approach to everything or the habit of wearing sterilised masks to protect us from their germs (and here’s me thinking they were trying to protect themselves from us).

A few more flicks from last night’s run: the unusual suspects ( @rkrkrk ) #btgtokyo #bridgethegap #rundemcrew #tillyinTokyo #tokyomarathonsooncome #japan #vacay

A photo posted by Matilda (@megerecooper) on Feb 24, 2016 at 10:25pm PST

Everyone should run the Tokyo Marathon

The organisation, the crowd support, the route (for the most part: there were four nasty inclines at the end, boo!) – I’d give it a ten out of ten. And you get a very lovely medal! Plus, the “Japanese Run Dem Crew” AFE Tokyo hosted a “Bridge the Gap” weekend for all running crews coming in town for the race, and it was great to meet them.

And finally: Tokyo has some kickass toilets (that can actually clean ‘that ass’)

I’d heard the stories and seen the photos but seeing one of these superloos in real life was one of the highlights of my holiday. No matter where I was, every time I had to go, I was met by a mechanical contraption that appeared to take pleasure in my personal waste disposal. But really, the pleasure was all mine.

Have you been to Tokyo? What did you like about the city? What drove you mad? Let me know in the comments!

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A New Year winter day’s stroll around Holland Park

Matilda — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 09:09:46 +0000

I got up to a lot of things in 2015 – running 50k in the countryside; risking my life by swinging on oversized curtains; eating too much fried chicken and not doing enough crunches. But I really wish I took a chill pill, like taking a walk in the park. So guess what I did on the first day of the year?

The destination was Holland Park, one of those rare green spaces in West London that look a bit ‘meh’ on the outside until you wander in. W8ers don’t like everyone else to know about it for fear they’ll head here in droves, killing the good vibes and scaring away the peacocks (yea, there’s peacocks here, go figure).

Not that I would blame them (that’s heading here in droves, not scaring the peacocks). It’s rare you can find a serene space in London where exotic birds roam free and urban ramblers are expected to kick back to take in the idyllic Kyoto Garden. The garden’s beautiful benches are practically begging you to take a seat, exhale and think happy thoughts.

So, about the walk. I can’t say I’m one for strolling out here, in these streets, in the winter, on purpose, meaning it was only right I dressed for the occasion. For the sake of warmth, I went for the classic all-black (my favourite jeggings, Uniqlo; a wool blend coat, H&M; ankle boots, New Look; leather gloves, Gap). But I topped it all off with one of those winter hats everyone’s rocking these days (in this case, the Joules Toni felt trilby hat from Outdoor & Country).

Thankfully, the rain showers didn’t arrive until a few hours later – and in that time, I got my fill of peace and tranquility to get my first resolution of the year off to a lovely start.

Here’s a few more snaps I took:

Have you visited Kyoto Garden in Holland Park? Or, where do you go in London for a little peace and quiet? Leave a comment!

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Go Ape has opened in South London (SW11 to be precise)

Matilda — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:48:59 +0000

It was only last month that I found out that Battersea Park would be getting its very own Go Ape tree top adventure course – and I, for one, can’t wait to try it out (it’s literally on my doorstep). It’s come just in time too – the Tokyo marathon training is starting to feel a bit samey now, so maybe climbing some trees will shake things up a bit!

It opened December 10th and you can find all the details here.

The wait is almost over. Go Ape at Battersea Park opens soon! Join the adventure from 10/12 #goape #goapetribe #battersea #batterseapark #sw11 #london #visitlondon #adventure #adventuretime #skyline #uk Photo by @gdenaeyer @visitlondonofficial @goape_batterseapark

A photo posted by goapetribe (@goapetribe) on Dec 3, 2015 at 1:02am PST

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New pan-asian restaurant to soft launch with 50% off food

Matilda — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:39:07 +0000

A date for your diaries folks: on 31st October and 1st November, Chi Kitchen, a new pan-asian restaurant in Debenhams Oxford Street, will marking its arrival by offering 50% off all food. The new all-day dining spot comes from the team behind Mango Tree and Chai Wu in Harrods, so from the looks of these dishes below, I know EXACTLY where I’ll be having dinner next weekend. To book and for more details, email info@chikitchen.co.uk and quote “The Cultural Exposé”. Chi Kitchen, Debenhams, 334-348 Oxford St, London W1C 1JG.

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What we’ve been up to… Rocket, Holborn

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 11:27:43 +0000

Rocket is a pizza restaurant in Holborn where everything – from the super-mod interiors to the genius cocktails – goes out of its way to impress.

The USP: For starters, they don’t just do pizza (scan the menu here). And it’s the sort of place that toes the line of fancy fine dining with plenty of creative, tasty dishes to choose from; I never would have imagined a chorizo, halloumi and butterfly king prawns pizza could work, but it did!

Their cocktails don’t miss the mark either and if you want something with a bit of pizzazz, you might want to give the French Passion a whirl – it’s made with Absolut, Chambord, passion fruit purée, pineapple juice and fresh passion fruit and is truly as sexy as it sounds.

Budget: Meal for 2? At least £60 for a starter, mains and cocktails

Good for: File it under date night, ladies night or let’s just get some damn good pizza night.

For more information about Rocket, visit: www.rocketrestaurants.co.uk

Check out some of our insta pics below:

Tonight’s dinner plans… @rocket_holborn

A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 11:06am PDT

Let the carb loading commence! Halloumi, chorizo and butterfly prawn pizza! Geeeeeeez…. #main #foodiesdelight A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 12:01pm PDT

That Key Lime pie life… #dessert #foodiesdelight thank you so much Rocket London!

A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 1:24pm PDT

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What we’ve been up to (in Paris)… Musée d’Orsay

Matilda — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:30:16 +0000

After visiting the D’orsay on the Sunday afternoon , I can say I have a new-found appreciation for the movements that shaped art from 1848-1914. This museum, which used to be a former train station, is home to the world’s largest haul of impressionist and post-impressionist art, and it’s such a precious collection that they’re not letting you take any photos beyond the main hall. But to be fair, this isn’t the type of stuff you want to appreciate via a mobile device; the uniqueness of styles and techniques used by the liked of Gaugin, Van Gogh and Monet has to be seen in reality. Entry is €11 and the museum is closed on Mondays. www.musee-orsay.fr/en/ (nearest Metros: Solférino and Assemblée Nationale)

Friday’s post: Somewhere you should eat (in Paris)… Le Bistro du Pientre and Chez Janou

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What we’ve been up to (in Paris)… The Centre Pompidou

Matilda — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:30:27 +0000

I love pop art, so hitting up this show at the uber-modern The Centre Pompidou was a no-brainer. Jeff Koon is considered to be one of the world’s most expensive artists (his work can fetch for $25 million upwards) an he’s produced a collection of iconic and controversial pieces in the last 40 years, many which feature in this small retrospective. There’s the 1989 Made in Heaven piece of him and his wife, tha MJ and Bubbles sculpture and of course, the Balloon Dog (Magenta), which appears to be the show’s centrepiece and clearly a favourite amongst the visitors. It’s unbelievably metallic, but such is the incredible level of detail that you’ll be tempted to touch it to find out. While the show features plenty of fun stuff to take selfies with, one of my friends who came with me found it all a bit “meh”, and I could understand why – without

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the Koon backstory, the work here is just a pick and mix of kitsch and quirky artwork without the meaning that comes from a more meticulously curated (or larger) show. Still, it’s a whistle-stop education in a contemporary American artist who, though a bit Marmite, does what he does quite well. Had we stayed a bit longer for our €13, it might have been worth checking out some of the other Pompidou exhibitions, including a Hervé Télémaque retrospective (on until 18th May) and the What Is Photography? exhibition, an exploration of the medium in modern times (on until 1st June). www.centrepompidou.fr/en/The-Centre-Pompidou (Nearest Metros: Rambuteau)

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What we’ve been up to (in Paris)… The Louvre

Matilda — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:30:36 +0000

Much love to everybody who sent me recommendations of things to do for this trip! As it was a quick one, I decided to go for the art and cultural biggies and make it my mission to see Mona at The Louvre, Jeff Koon at The Centre Pompidou and learn more about impressionist art at the Musée d’Orsay:

You could spend a week at The Louvre

The Louvre is one of the largest museum’s in the world and houses a breathtaking collection of classics that have to be seen in real life. To save time, I bought my €12 ticket in advance through the Fnac website (I picked them up from a local ticket outlet merely 10 minutes away from the museum), which ensured I could avoid waiting in the ridiculous queue when I arrived. Once inside, it felt like I’d walked into a mini-city: so I decided to do a little bit of the 90 minute Masterpieces Trail and whatever else I could come across. In two hours, I managed to marvel at a number of paintings and sculptures including the Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, The Wedding Feast at Cana, Cupid and Psyche and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. I’ll definitely return to see more – and next time I’ll plan my trip to coincide with the first Sunday of the month, when entry to the Louvre is free! www.louvre.fr (nearest Metros: Louvre Rivoli and Palais Royal Musée du Louvre)

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