Words: Charlotte Cox
It’s Marathon weekend! But if you’re not pulling on your trainers, why not challenge yourself to our alternative marathon of events? More pop-up BBQs, arty vinyls and Japanese whisky; way fewer blisters.
MUSIC: Lights Out! At Kettner’s
We don’t know – *tuts* – the music of today. They just don’t make ’em like like they used to *sigh*. And they certainly don’t know how to party properly any more… That’s why, at Kettner’s in Soho on Friday, we’re partying EXACTLY like they used to – back in the 1940s to be precise. At Lights Out! you’re in for a night of wartime-themed revelry – brass oompah, swing bands, “London’s finest gramophone manipulators” and all. Plus, to keep up morale on the home front, there’s cabaret shenanigans and Tom Collins cocktails aplenty. Dressing up isn’t compulsory, but hey, why not? After all, they just don’t make victory rolls and hairnets like they used to, either…
24 April, £25
29 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5HP
SHOPPING: The Shop At Bluebird Designer Sample Sale
If there’s one thing we love at ELLE, it’s a designer sale. And if it’s a designer sale by multi-brand style haven The Shop At Bluebird? Well, we’re putting our credit card through rigorous warm-up exercises in anticipation. For this weekend only, the Duke Street emporium is clearing its archives of designer buys, with pieces by Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, Maison Margiela, 3.1 Philip Lim, Marni and Rag & Bone among those looking for a new home. We’re more than happy to oblige. Because we’re nice like that.
24-26 April
55 Duke Street, London W1K 5NR
FOOD: Cuisson Luxury Afternoon Tea Pop Up at Burlington Arcade
CAAAKE! OK, now that we have your attention, let us make it clear that we’re not just talking about any old cake. Oh no. This is cake by Hideko Tawa, former head pastry chef at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck. And if watching Hest serve up bacon ice cream has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. So at this afternoon tea, cakes come disguised as burgers, coins and ladybirds, and there’s even a plant-pot cheesecake. It’s all part of a pop-up created by bespoke gastronomy company Cuisson, serving up high-end savouries and CAKE (to which we will only refer in capitals from now on) amid the glamorous surrounds of Burlington Arcade. What could possibly make it better? Laurent Perrier CHAMPAGNE. Done.
£65, including two glasses of champagne
Until 26 June, 66-67 Burlington Arcade, Mayfair,&
FILM: The Age of Adaline
Blake Lively has been a busy woman of late, what with having beautiful babies with Ryan Reynolds and becoming the internet’s foremost ludicrous-celebrity- lifestyle blogger (sorry Gwynneth). So here’s a timely reminder that she acts too. In this romantic period drama-cum-fantasy, Blake stars as the titular Adaline, a woman who has miraculously stayed a youthful 29 for eight decades – and with nary a pot of Crème de la Mer in sight. What could possibly go wrong? Well, when she falls for a charismatic philanthropist, she has his mum and dad (played by Harrison Ford, FYI) to deal with. Kind of Benjamin Button crossed with Meet The Parents, then.
FOOD: The Secret Garden by Jimmy Garcia
Behind an ordinary looking wooden door on Clapham Road, an adventure awaits. Better yet, a culinary adventure. Better again still – a culinary adventure involving tabletop barbecues. Because pop-up restaurant supremo Jimmy Garcia is back with his newest immersive dining experience: The Secret Garden restaurant and bar. In a whimsically wonderful garden setting (accessed only by whispering the password, obvs), Jimmy will be serving up the most inventive seasonal dishes, the most delicious indoor BBQs with his own secret marinade, small plates, snacks and even “edible garden” desserts. And botanical-themed cocktails? All part of the adventure. Alice can keep her rabbit hole, quite frankly.
25 April-31 August
409 Clapham Park Road, SW9 9BT
EVENT: The London Marathon
Yes, it’s that day of the year again, the one where mere mortals get to feel ridiculously lazy/unfit/ashamed of Sunday-morning hangovers while watching otherworldly, godlike beings in all manner of Lycra (and the odd pantomime donkey) take on 26.2 miles around London. Otherworldly, godlike beings: the very best of luck to you. Mere mortals: see you at one of these well-situated drinking spots to watch on. Warning: the more wine you drink, the more convinced you’ll become that you’ll run it next year…
Sunday 26 April, free
FOOD/DRINK: Bull In A China Shop
What do you get if you cross hipster sensibilities with a LOT of specialist Japanese whiskies? Well, very drunken skinny jean-wearers struggling to pronounce the name of their next drink, we’d say… We’re joking, of course. What you actually get is the latest addition to Shoreditch’s bar scene, Bull in a China Shop, and a fine one at that. It has all the hipster trappings you want from east London – eclectic decor, cool DJ playlists and, we imagine, beards – mixed with rare drinks you never even knew you wanted from East Asia. Hibiki Suntory single malt whisky, anyone? Throw in the Asian-inspired menu of baos (buns) and whisky glazed rotisserie chicken, and we’re there. Open now, 196 Shoreditch High St, E1 6LG
OUT AND ABOUT: #BlackCabBooks
Now, we do like to make sure you're getting home OK, and we also know how well-read and cultured you folks are (hey, you're on this page, aren't you?). So we knew you'd like it that, this week, Hailo is leaving free books in the back of its taxis as part of its #BlackCabBooks campaign. You could find a fiction book by a top author, Arianna Huffington's Thrive, or even a copy of Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway (best read en route to Tinder dates). There'll also be one audiobook extract available through the Hailo app every day. 23-27 April hailoapp.com
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