outdoors – The Cultural Exposé

What we’ve been up to… Pop-Up Screens

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 10:00:39 +0000

It seems no matter where you turn, there’s an outdoor cinema – but dishing out a hefty amount of cash to watch a cult classic outside is the last thing we’re trying to do in these thrifty times – so we’re kinda liking the idea of Pop-Up Screens. For just £8 per person, you can set up camp in one of a number of parks and bring along cushions, blankets, foldable chairs (we practically brought our entire sofa set), and your own food. So that’s where we could be found last Saturday, as we enjoyed Adam Sandler’s The Wedding Singer on a pop-up screen – literally. It was fun watching the team blow up the gigantic inflatable while we got ourselves nice and comfy on our cushions, before tucking into our chinese takeway. Plus there was a charming host on the evening who was gracious enough to introduce the film and wrap up the proceedings afterwards. But a word of advice – arrive as early as possible so you can stake your claim on a decent spot to watch the film, and you might want to bring something a little bit warmer than a blanket as it can get chilly by the time the film finishes. But if the weather continues to go in this tropical direction, we doubt you’ll have to worry about that! For more info about Pop Up Screens, visit: www.popupscreens.co.uk

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Somewhere you should go… Backyard Cinema

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:00:59 +0000

Remember when going to the cinema was simple and fun? After getting your tickets, you’d buy a huge bucket of fresh popcorn to go with your delicious hot dog and perfectly cold soda. After managing to carry all of your tasty food selections, you’d settle into a nice, oversized clean seat with a great view of the screen, ready to spend the next few hours immersed in another world. Doesn’t quite sound like the last time you went to the cinema? Maybe your popcorn was a few days old or your narrow seat had chewing gum on the arm rest? Well, you’re not alone. A few years ago, a few north Londoners found themselves fantasising about a genuinely relaxing and fun cinema experience and decided to create one for themselves. Backyard Cinema was born: fun and spacious outdoor settings featuring

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a big screen surrounded by comfy deck chairs and bean bags. Instead of stale food stand offerings, the team behind Backyard Cinema provides food straight from the BBQ along with freshly made popcorn. Rather than a cup of ice and a bit of soda, their bar is stocked with wine, beer and cocktails. Their next event is a mini-movie festival taking place July 20-21 under the arches of the London Fields Brewery in Hackeny. Films include The Big Lebowski, The Hobbit, and Life of Pi. Films continue through the summer at Camden Market, where Backyard Cinema has set up a screening area next to the Regents Canal and a stone’s throw from the famous street stalls serving up worldwide cuisines. Almost Famous, Evil Dead 2, and Stand By Me are some of the titles they’ll be showing until the end of August. (Words: Barbara Cole) For more information visit www.backyardcinema.co.uk

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Somewhere you should go… Midnight Matinees at the Globe Theatre

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:00:51 +0000

Walking along the river, you notice the lights start to go out. Restaurants have started to bring in their chairs and tables. Suited workers have begun to collect their things before rushing off for the last train home. It’s midnight on the Southbank and all around you, things are starting to shut down.

But if you continue toward Southwark, you’ll see that one place is just starting its working day, with people queued outside to get in before things kick off at midnight. No, it’s not a new club or trendy bar. It’s the Globe Theatre staging the next in its series of Midnight Matinees.

Two more times this summer, the Globe will be putting on performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (12 July) and The Tempest (9 August) in its open air theatre. Both shows begin under starry skies at 11:59pm. The night-time setting makes for an ideal backdrop for both plays. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is set in a magical forest where fairies play mischievous tricks on a group of wedding-goers. The Tempest, Shakespeare’s final play, also relies heavily on magic to tell the story of the sorcerer Prospero and his attempts to restore his political power.

If you want to truly replicate the Shakespearean experience, you can buy a £5 ground ticket to stand in front of the stage as most theatregoers did in the original Globe (seated tickets are also available for those unwilling to be on their feet for three hours). Regardless if you sit or stand, though, you’re sure to be swept up in the atmosphere and energy of the event which will help you forget the time…until you emerge from the theatre with the first streaks of sunrise in the sky. (Words: Barbara Cole)

For more info about Midnight Matinees, visit: www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on/special-events/midnight-matinees

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Somewhere you should go… Southbank Centre’s Festival of Neighbourhood

Nori Bell-Bhuiyan — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:00:33 +0000

The friendly and vibrant Southbank Centre hosts hundreds of musicians, artists and performers every summer – but this summer is even more special. This summer will bring the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Neighbourhood, a colourful celebration of neighbourliness, exploring what it really means to live side by side. Contributions from local, national and international communities and artists have helped compile the assortment of art installations, performances, talks, gardens and exhibitions that create the three-month long festival.

Pic: Belinda Lawley

The transformation of the Centre’s 21-area site is remarkable. Southbank’s ‘neighbourhood’ has been fitted out with orchards and gardens, murals, graffiti art and brightly painted sculptures and installations made of everything from foliage and concrete to wheelbarrows and doorbells. Amongst all this sits Beanotown, an iconic (if imaginary) neighbourhood filled with dastardly delights created to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Beano comic. The Royal Festival Hall itself boasts a rooftop collection of 42 flags from artists Bob & Roberta Smiths, covered with questions spurring you to consider your own ideas of neighbourhood and community.

Pic: Belinda Lawley

The festival’s programme includes archive photography exhibition Lambeth Treasures, an exhibition dedicated to mapping the incredible 2000 year-old cultural history of Lambeth. Performances are also in demand, with family circus troop Cirque Alfonse’s Timber!, a daring and acrobatic display involving lumberjack saws, and a world premiere of youth dance company ZooNation’s Groove Down The World retelling The Wizard of Oz with a hip-hop twist. Another highlight is cultural icon Yoko Ono’s Meltdown, a collection of music and film featuring artists from all over the globe in a dedication to music, feminism, environmentalism and peace activism.

Pic: Linda Nylind

In fact, the list of wonders taking place during the Festival of Neighbourhood seems nearly inexhaustible. If there was ever a time to get into the neighbourly spirit then now is it! The next few months at Southbank don’t just offer a wealth of fun cultural goings-on but a real close-up look at what makes a good neighbourhood, and what we can do to be better neighbours to each other – not just in Southbank, but everywhere we go. (Words: Nori Bell-Bhuiyan)

On until September 8th. For more information visit: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/festival-of-neighbourhood

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What we’ve been up to… The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Matilda — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:00:46 +0000

We struggled to get a decent view, so enjoyed people-watching some of the millions who lined the banks of the Thames to watch the seven-mile flotilla – one of the largest ever assembled on the river – between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

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Win a pair of tickets to Pop-Up Screens!

The Cultural Exposé — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:00:32 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve treated you lovely readers, so to mark our brand spanking new wensite design, I hope you don’t mind us offering you a pair of tickets to check out Pop-Up Screens! From July onwards, seven locations in the capital will be hosting open air screenings of generally awesome films including Anchorman, Napoleon Dynamite, Ghostbusters, Zoolander, Top Gun and much more!

We’re giving away a couple of pairs, so for your chance to win and see any film of your choice, simply ‘like’ us on Facebook, complete this sentence: “If I won a pair of tickets to Pop-Up Screens, I’d like to see…” and post it on our page – easy peasy.

The competition closes on June 20th and two winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!

For more info about Pop-Up Screens, visit www.popupscreens.co.uk

Click here to read our Competition T&Cs…

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Somewhere you should go… The Book Club’s Jubilee Street Party

Matilda — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:00:39 +0000

We’re just days away from honouring Her Majesty’s 60 year reign, and with that, there’s a host of festivities and celebrations kicking off that’ll no doubt be fit for a Queen. But our personal pick is a boisterous street bash taking place on the East side this coming Sunday, because if anyone remembers the party The Book Club threw last year for Will and Kate last year, they would have already swiped the last of the priority entry wristbands as it’s guaranteed to be another roadblock.

But never fear – if you haven’t got a band, you can still head down and enjoy the brass bands, bunting and good brew – not to mention worthy tunes from the pop-loving Guilty Pleasure DJs, old-schoolers Amp & Deck, and performances from the retro Underbling and Vow and alt-folkster Gorgeous George who’s get us revved up as we enjoy a screening of the Jubilee Procession. Then there’s the food, glorious food, which includes lovely cakes courtesy of Lilli Vanilli, Burgers by way of Bukowski, Hurly Burly veggie delights and the nation’s fave – chicken tikka masala. So get your glad rags ready folks because Sunday, June 3rd is gonna be another brilliant – and British! – day and night to remember.

For details, visit: www.wearetbc.com/the-royal-jubilee-street-party

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Somewhere You Should Go… The Long Table, Dalston

Aoife Moriarty — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:00:18 +0000

Ever since the August riots, trendy, energetic areas like Hackney and neighbouring Dalston have felt distinctly less boisterous and a little more subdued.

However, it’s clear that the east end’s manifesto of creativity and entrepreneurialism is still very much alive. Evidence of the area’s continued regeneration includes the recent opening of the impressive new Hackney Picturehouse cinema on Mare Street, based in a truly gorgeous venue and set to be a massive hit with both locals and those further afield.

The latest venture by the Dalston-based Bootstrap Company is also sure to pull in the punters. It’s a night-time street food market just off Kingsland Road, taking place every Friday night from November 25th (6pm until 1am) until Christmas. If you live close by, you won’t want to miss out on a chance to sample culinary delights such as a signature dish from London’s prestigious Hawksmoor restaurant, Big Apple hotdogs or The Bowler’s meatball mayhem, out in the fresh night air. Whether on your way to or from a night out, it’s sure to beat the sub par grub of your typical fast food joint and the atmosphere is certain to be much better too (minus the neon glare and grotty tables).

Happily, they’ve also installed fire pits in the secret location on Abbot Street to keep our mitts nice and toasty whilst we munch alongside our fellow eastenders. Bon appetit! (Words: Aoife Moriarty)

For more information, go to: www.thelongtable.net

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