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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The area of London I call home is…New Cross. I have lived here for years now, and it just felt like home from the very beginning. This area is still largely undiscovered and yet you’re in central London in five minutes by train. I live close to a lovely park, and only a short walk away from some of the best pubs in south east London. We’ve recently had some great cafes open up in the area, including the fantastic Maddy’s Fish Bar on New Cross Road.

Photo: Caro Hutchings

I’ve got to have a meal at… The Royal Albert on New Cross Road – I have been going there for years and the food is always delicious. Further up the hill you’ll arrive at Chapters restaurant in Blackheath, which serves a great all-day menu and some fantastic cocktails. If I’m heading into the centre of town, The Grenadier in Belgravia is one of my favourite places for a cosy meal and they also do the best fish and chips in London. If I’m in Soho, I love going to Kettner’s for cocktails, and the main dining room always has a buzzy atmosphere. Andrew Edmunds along Lexington Street is a must for an intimate meal, with an ever changing, seasonal menu.

I tend to get my threads (clothes) from…the high street and secondhand shops. I really like Whistles, H&M, Zara, and I’ve picked up some lovely pieces recently from Anthropologie. If I’m in secondhand shops, I often find some great accessories.

To enjoy London nightlife, you should…take the people you have the most fun with and bespoke a night around what you want – the beauty of London is the sheer amount of choice. For example, if you want a night of glamour, you can’t beat cocktails at the American Bar in The Savoy. Likewise, you could have a more low-key evening, grab a pizza at Pollo Bar in Soho, and then head onto some of the pubs in the local area – The French House is a must. You can design a night around any budget, that’s why London offers something for everybody.

If I was mayor, I would…make London more pedestrianised, particularly during the summer months. This is a selfish decision on my part as I love walking everywhere, and so the more access I have, the more I can easily navigate my way around the city.

My favourite spot to check out art is…the Hayward Gallery along the Southbank. I actually remember the first exhibition I went to which was Antony Gormley’s ‘Blind Light’ – it was years ago now but it was an evening I’ll never forget. I highly recommend this gallery as it is in a great location to make a day of it too – after you’ve visited the gallery, you can sit with friends along the Southbank and just watch the world go by.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to…explore the capital by foot and head towards those places recommended by Londoners, who have a real insight into what the city has to offer. It’s great to see and visit all the usual sights, but you get a real understanding by exploring those places you never thought to visit before.

The things I miss when I leave London are…the incredible array of restaurants and pubs, as I am a real foodie. In fact, when I arrive back in London, the first thing I do is call my husband and suggest we go and try a new restaurant or pub we haven’t been to before – just one of the many reasons I love London.

My soundtrack to London would include…Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks. It is such a beautiful and atmospheric song, and I often think of it as I’m walking around the city. I was listening to it just the other day in fact, and it just gets better every time – the soundtrack to London, in my opinion.

Follow Stephanie Brookes on Twitter: @stephbrookes

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Located in a space originally used for storing coal in the 19th century, the 100 capacity restaurant and bar immediately transports you to the Big Apple before you even take a sip on one of its funky fresh cocktails.

At the official opening last Thursday, guests including TCÉ were treated to some of its seasonal dishes in canapé form, including borscht (Ukrainian beetroot soup) with dill and dark rye, crab on home baked brown soda bread and some tantalisingly tasty Bombay chips accompanied with chutney.

The menu, which focuses on quality seasonal ingredients, will be updated regularly by the team and also includes such impressive-sounding delights as ‘5 hour shoulder of lamb’ cooked in hay and lavender and ‘pulled’ rabbit with smoked black beans. For game lovers, there’s even quail on offer served with with orange and pickled walnuts.

What’s really impressive however is the prices, with all small-plate dishes coming in at between £4 and £9.

The main event at this cosmopolitan venue is of course the cocktails, with one to complement every dish. Forget clichéd staples like Martinis, Mojitos or Sex On The Beach; here it’s a more sophisticated affair with twists on old cocktail classics, like the ‘Manhattan Spring’ made with soda and chrysanthemum vodka.

The space also includes five additional separate vaults for private dining, which could prove ideal for a West End night out on the tiles or a big birthday bash.

Open seven days a week from 4pm to midnight, the restaurant and bar is the brainchild of young entrepreneurs Martyn Simpson and Felix Leuschner.

The two have brought together a team of young idea-driven talents to bring their latest venture to life, including Chef James Knox Boothman – previously involved in GRUB at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.

Packed to the rafters on Thursday, if its opening night is anything to go by, Coal Vaults is set to be a pretty bustling and happening spot indeed. We strongly urge you to go and check it out for yourself. (Words: Aoife Moriarty)

For more info, visit: www.coalvaults.com

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In Act 2, the crowd are treated to a mix of songs from Bad, Dangerous and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1  – with Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean being the undeniable highlights of the section – but the Thriller performance makes its mark, with zombies running through the audience and that legendary dance executed to perfection. The show doesn’t end here, however, and there’s an extra performance of Bad and Black or White before a sensational reprise of Smooth Criminal and Thriller wrap up what’s not only been an amazing sing and dance-a-long, but the sort of heartfelt tribute that Michael Jackson himself would have been proud of – especially as it’s his music that does all the work. One for the weekend.

For more info, visit: www.thrillerlive.com

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I stayed in Chungking Mansions on Nathan Street, Kowloon, home to hundreds of guest houses and ideal for travellers on a tight budget. On average, a single room will cost around $200 HK (approximately £18) a night. The accommodation is cell-like, just room for a tiny bed, a TV, and nothing else, though there is usually space under the bed to store your belongings. The rooms are generally clean, but you get what you pay for.

As for food, there’s no shortage of good Indian food in and around Chungking, but I was craving some greasy noodles and dumplings. The area surrounding Jordan Station is great for cheap local food, especially if you visit the night market. For awesome wonton and beef noodles, I highly recommend Mak Kan Kee. I also have to give a shoutout to Ned Kelly’s Last Stand Pub in Kowloon for inviting me to play drums with their phenomenal jazz band.

Pic: Carys Jones

If you find yourself in Hong Kong, a trip to Lantau Island is a must. On my second outing there, I took the subway to Tung Chung Station then rode the cable car to the Po Lin monastery and the gigantic Tian Tan Buddha, more colloquially known as the ‘Big Buddha’. From there we took the number 21 bus to Tai O Fishing Village where I was told we could see pink dolphins if we were lucky, but unfortunately we didn’t spot any.
I’ve been told that one of the must-see attractions is The Peak. The best way to get there is by tram, but when I attempted to visit there was over an hour wait. I began to hike alongside the tram route, but as summer dresses and sandals don’t make for good hiking gear, especially in 34 degree weather and 69 per cent humidity, I eventually gave up and went to the nearby botanical gardens instead.

Pic: Carys Jones

My next destination will be Shanghai. Word of advice, if you’re travelling to mainland China you will need a visa. These are easily obtainable from most travel agents in Hong Kong, but don’t make the rookie error I made and leave it until the last minute (I applied on a Friday, I needed the visa for the following Tuesday) as you could end up paying up to quadruple the base price.

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But it’s the food that impressed us the most: you get a generous selection of granola, grilled chicken caesar salad, welsh rarebit, smoked salmon bagel, a smoked haddock and salmon scotch egg, roast beef with yorkshire pudding and season vegetables AND truffle macaroni cheese – then there’s a sweet stall with cookies and cakes to top it all off.  Not bad for £25 and a spare Sunday afternoon!

For more info, visit: hwww.wlondon.co.uk/en/media-w-does-brunch

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This take on the classic Wizard of Oz story is set in a classroom where creativity has no place. Dorothy (played by Portia Oti) is a dreamer, turning in poetry instead of equations. The Scarecrow (played by Jaih Betote Dipito Akwa) is teased for his dyslexia. The Tin Man (Michael Ureta) and Lion (Corey Culverwell) are outcasts.

Through a set of upbeat dance numbers set to the likes of Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, the characters slip into the wondrous world of Oz. This time, though, the story is told  only by the brilliant young dancers’ expressions and movements. When Dorothy, shod in her ruby sneakers, sets off to Emerald City High with Toto (the accomplished Michael McNeish), she dances around the audience with such joy and hope, that the audience can’t help but to feel part of her journey.

The set is cleverly designed to draw the audience into the fantastical Oz. A screen flashes drawings, like sketching made during a boring lecture, that help flesh out the production. But the true standout is the dancing and young people that bring it to life. Kate Prince’s choreography keeps the story exciting and energetic, while also showcasing the dancers’ talents. Culverwell’s Lion particularly steals the show with his acrobatic and soulful movements.

The show, running until 1^st September, is entertaining and intelligent, and wonderful for both adults and kids –  you’ll leave in awe. (Words: Barbara Cole) 

For more info, visit: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/zoo-nations-groove-on-down-th-74861

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Well, it’s legendary status in New York has understandably peaked the interest of ex-pats and burger lovers, despite coming into an arena already heaving with every kind of burger outlet you can think of. So if you’re after a meal that will trump some of the finest in town and absolutely blow your mind, you won’t quite get that here. However, what you will get is pretty darn good meal that prides itself on freshness, in fanciful surroundings (gotta love Covent Garden!) and presented with a neatness that adds to the novelty of a fast food-cum-bougie burger bar.

The Shack Burger is a simple, compact sandwich that can come as a double and is served with the softest bun we’ve ever tasted – so a definite  thumbs up for that. But we preferred the super tasty Shack-cago dog, and it’s lavish dressing of relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport pepper, celery salt and mustard.

Add to that a side of awesome crinkle fries washed down with a shake-made lemonade and you can see why Shake Shack’s quite a fun visit as they do what they do well. But If the mains don’t woo you, the frozen custards probably will, coming plain and simple or in a range of creative flavours that change every month.

Much has been said about the pricing at Shake Shack (which is a tad steepish for what you get), but the trade-off is a uniquely American experience with a pretty cool menu that’ll save you the plane ticket abroad.

For more info, visit: www.shakeshack.co.uk

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A Good Day for Cyclists, British Pavilion 2013

In 2011, the biennale came under fire for its excessive opulence and downright commercialism, so this year the central pavilion has taken on a more sombre, humble tone. Organised under the title of ‘Encyclopaedic Palace’ and curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the central exhibition is a wealth of information, drawing on a fantastically diverse range of artefacts from Carl Jung’s sketches to Aleister Crowley’s redesign of tarot cards.
If you haven’t heard, Jeremy Deller has taken on the duties of the British Pavilion, in the form of ‘English Magic’. Now that Wales and Scotland have developed their own space, Deller has taken it upon himself to focus his artwork on ‘Englishness’ – in only the way his skill to observe and connect with the quirks of culture can. Deller corrects moments of injustice in the pavilion. Murals line the walls: a giant Hen Harrier crushes a Range Rover, a colossal William Morris throws Roman Abramovich’s pesky Superyacht out of the Venice harbour and the sound of Voodoo Ray by the brass band echoes through the gallery. The pavilion is alive and oozing English charm, complete with a tea bar for those who can’t find a decent brew around the town.

Eva Kotatkova

There is a little upheaval throughout the national pavilions. France has this year been swapped with Germany. And, Germany has employed the skills of Chinese rebel artist Ai Weiwei. New ‘nations’ include the Vatican, Catalonia and Angola, who have won the National Pavilion award for their Angola in Motion piece. There is so much to see, and it will take days to get through. While the event itself is often sneered at for its drama, theatre and pomposity, this time the politically charged works are what make this Biennale all the more interesting. Chile’s pavilion in the Arsenale criticises the nature of inclusion and exclusion at the Biennale and Greece’s pavilion ponders its own economy zero situation. This is a biennale of political reflection. And, if you can get a chance to experience it, you won’t be disappointed. (Words: Laura Thornley)

The  55th Venice Biennale runs until  24 November 2013. For more info, visit: www.labiennale.org/en/art

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